Fit Is The New Black

I never get sick learning of new ways to improve my hair, skin or body. Say what you want, but you don’t have a supermodel to be on the vain side. I’m a firm believer that how you look can directly effect how you feel. And I’m not alone. Check out this article from Women’s Health.

See? There has been scientific studies on this! Sometimes when I feel down I may run out to the local CVS and pick up a new Maybelline mascara, but more often than not, I look to my diet. You can buy new threads and makeup all you want, but if your diet sucks it’s only a matter of time before it becomes apparent on your face, bum, whatever. Also, it works the other way around. If you don’t feel good on the inside you may very well look crappy. It isn’t a coincidence that when a person’s depressed they stop washing their hair or showering. All these things are interrelated. Having a good diet is a great way to make sure you’re good to go on the inside and outside! I’ve been eating vegan on and off for 2 years, and I know from experience that when I avoid ingesting animal products I look and feel fantastic. I’ve fallen off the vegan wagon as of late, but I find my willpower renewed after a trip to the city yesterday. I had dinner at Zen Palate, followed by dessert at Pure Food and Wine. Both places are vegan. One is vegan and raw. Before I go any further, let me share some photos of the eats my familia and I chowed down on.

First things first, let’s take a look at what I wore! Maxi dress, JCP, $30; Open toe faux snake skin heels, Jessica Simpson, Marshalls, $35.

ZEN PALATE

A few words about Zen Palate, located in Union Square. It’s a place where east meets the club scene. Think Buddha statutes, dark hard wood floors, and couch seats. Dance and trance beats play in the background. When I wasn’t eating I was sort of just sitting in my seat, bopping my head, fighting the urge to fist-pump at the table. I went around 4:40 in the afternoon. It’s the sort of place where you can find yourself sandwiched between a 20-something couple and a group of 40-year-olds. It’s hip, but not to the extent where you feel like you have to pull out the hair extensions and faux eyelashes.

Carrot juice-My dad’s drink.

Ginger Beer- My mom’s drink.

Seaweed and Kale salad, topped with tofu cubes.

Steamed dumplings, stuffed with veggie meat, cabbage, scallions and carrots.

Tofu and Broccoli

Curry tofu, with mixed vegetables. Oh, and that “bowl” the food is in is actually a crispy wonton thing. Mini meatloaf, topped with spaghetti-this was my dish!

 Pure Food and Wine

I don’t know how I found out about this place, but when I read up on the owner Sarma Melngailis I knew I wanted to go there. She just seems so cool. She’s also gorgeous, which doesn’t really hurt. Photo Credit: OneLuckyDuck.com
Sarma! And she’s rocking a Metallica shirt!!!

The restaurant is organic, vegan, and raw! It’s also not cheap! My family and I only ordered non-alcoholic drinks and dessert. The bill? $98 bucks. Yeah, not budget friendly. But it’s totally worth it. The food we had was tres delicious. Oh, a little warning though. Like Zen Palate, the crowd is a mixed-age group, but it’s uber swank. The waitstaff, like many of the diners, are young, gorgeous, and glow to the extent that you feel like you should have gotten a facial before entering! It took all my strength not to ask our waiter if he ate there everyday. His skin was perfect. No pores to be seen!!!! Mean Green Drink-My dad ordered this. It tasted a lot like liquid salad with Italian dressing.

.

Ginger Spice Drink- My mom ordered this, and when I saw the frothiness of it I just had to take a sip. It was bordering on orgasmic! It’s a juice made from pear, ginger, and something else I can’t currently remember. Sooo good!

That’s me, enjoying my Ginger Spice drink. Dark Chocolate Semi Freddo-chocolate cake, passion fruit gelee, coconut cream, passion fruit sorbet. This was my dessert. It was FANTASTIC!! The center was like a ganache or mousse. The cake part tasted a lot like the chocolate macaroons from Hail Merry. My dad tried some and ordered himself the same dish.

.

Caught with food in my mouth. Oh, and can you check out my bicep, please!

My mom ordered a Creme Brulee. It had coconut and mango. 

Each restaurant met my expectations, which I admit, were pretty high. Manhattan really is the haven for all vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodist. There are so many places that show how creative you can get with vegetables, fruits, soy, nuts, and beans. I feel inspired more than ever to reclaim my healthy eating habits. Eating a diet high in vitamins and minerals can only benefit the body, and with report after report of the unhealthy state of our nation, I feel determined to be vigilant on how I treat myself. This morning I fixed a smoothie made of blueberries, mango, pineapple juice, and a splash of flax seed oil. I feel my skin glowing already;)

Recipe

4 slices of mango

1/2 cup of blueberries

1/2 cup of 100 percent pineapple juice

2 TBS of vanilla vegan protein powder

1 TBS of flax seed oil. 

What are your favorite healthy vegetarian and vegan restaurants in your area??