8 best healthy restaurants in Boston

With 10 locations and counting open around Boston, this locally founded chain is a go-to for  quick, nutritious meals made with organic ingredients. Life Alive calls it “positive eating,” and it looks like the likes of gluten-free blueberry superfood waffles for breakfast; and filling lunch and dinner options like grain bowls, noodles, soups, wraps and small plates. Be sure to check out the extensive juice and smoothie menu as well as cold-brew coffee, tea and more soft drinks. Takeout is available, but the funky vibe unique to each location of Life Alive makes it a great place to sit and slow down.

The hard-to-miss pink and black art deco-theme among the North End brownstones alerts you that something is different at Pink Carrot. As the first place in the carb-hearty neighborhood to specialize in healthy eats like smoothies, salads, wraps and juices, this café is a welcome change of pace. All-day menu items such as breakfast wraps, grain bowls and loaded sweet potatoes are a well-rounded meal when paired with one of the shop’s signature juices.

Over the past decade, Cambridge-born Clover has become something of an empire with more than a dozen locations around the Boston area. Healthful vegetarian sandwiches, soups and salads are Clover's calling card. While waiting in line you may hear chatter about the chickpea fritter, a vegan-friendly Clover classic; or the Bridgewater, a jalapeño popper-inspired sandwich made with buttermilk-battered cremini mushrooms. One of the first restaurants in New England to carry Impossible products, the meatball sub is popular, too. 

Southie’s plant-based haven Lulu Green strives to satisfy vegans and omnivores alike. Dishes like the hummus bowl with spice-roasted squash, shaved apple and arugula; and the hot honey-glazed crispy chick’n sandwich make for substantial and healthy lunches, while acai bowls are tasty for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up. Don’t sleep on the cold pressed juices: Coming in combinations that feel more like treats than cleanses, these are just the thing to get you back on a healthy kick. After hours, Lulu Green also offers clean craft cocktails and a curated selection of organic wines and craft beers.

A colorful mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes are served throughout the day from this busy South End spot, which caters to residents and medical professionals in the neighborhood in search of fast, healthy meals. Use the warm, thin m’anoush (flatbread) to scoop up flavorful dips and spreads made from local, organic ingredients—we’re partial to the Sabich, topped with hummus, grilled eggplant slices, hard boiled eggs and more aromatic vegetables, drizzled in tahini and spicy zhouk sauces. There are also salads, soups and a labne bar to make yogurt bowls with customizable sweet or savory toppings. You can also enjoy anoush'ella's fresh flavors at its outlet in the slick Time Out Market Boston. 

Cocobeet is loved for an extensive range of cold-pressed juices and superfood smoothies, like Blue Mist (tinted with Blue Majik, a spirulina extract) and Green Monkey, a fruity blend enhanced with kale. The Government Center spot has also built up quite a following for its selection of organic, vegan, grab-and-go meals. There are options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time, all made with natural ingredients. A changing menu features variations on avocado toast, refreshing salads, quinoa burgers and “un-tuna” sandwiches, plus energy-boosting raw snacks.

Whether you crave a total reset or a nutrient boost, the offerings at Pressed are designed to support your wellness goals on-the-go. It’s not all cleanses, wellness shots and products for fasting, though. It’s also a stop for indulgences like acai smoothie bowls, snack bars, trail mix, fruit bites and non-dairy soft serve. A few new brain-boosting coffee drinks and matcha products just landed on the brand’s menu. Try them at local locations, which include a minimalist, subterranean café on Newbury Street as well as a Fenway outpost.

This plant-powered eatery with two Brighton locations has nourishing salads and organic bowls that promise to fill you up with the best for your body. You’ll also find “liquid meals,” or smoothies meant to help you tackle things like post-workout recovery and mid-day slumps. Fulfill hungrier cravings with toast topped with avocado or your preferred nut butter; or a pita pocket sandwich filled with avocado, carrots, kale, brown rice, raisins, sweet potatoes and a crunchy walnut-sunflower pesto.