As we start to see some warmer weather slowly coming through, we’re getting our wardrobes – and appetites ready! If you’re looking to clean up your eating for a little pre-summer prep, Takapuna’s got heaps to offer.
It doesn’t have to be hard to eat out with friends while you’re eating healthy. You can have food that tastes good, looks good and makes you feel good! Check out these healthy cafés and restaurants to treat your tastebuds.
These are the kinds of places that can help you hit your macronutrient targets, and that take care of any special dietary requirements.
Jump into some wholesome food for an active lifestyle at Street Organics
Take a walk on the beach with a smoothie in hand. Or nourish your body with a nutrient-dense dish. Street Organics is the perfect place to support your health goals.
The team makes food from scratch and specialises in catering to diets and allergies – paleo, vegan, gluten free and low FODMAP foods.
Our recommendation: LCHF Blueberry Protein Pancakes – famous for being light, fluffy and packed with goodness for all-day fuel, AND absolutely delicious too. Or for something a little lighter, try the Green protein smoothie, with spinach, kale, banana, vanilla protein powder.
Salads you’ll keep going back for at bowler
Bowler are known for creating delicious, hearty, nutrient-packed salad bowls, with layers of flavour, texture, and goodness designed to keep you fuelled, focused and satisfied.
Not only are they tasty, but these bowls are also gluten free, nut free, dairy free, and halal – so no one can miss out on these epic lunch options.
Not a salad person, but still want a bowl of deliciousness? Bowler also have acai bowls, yoghurt bowls, overnight oat bowls, AND smoothies, protein shakes and their famous protein cookies!
Our recommendation: Bowl #5 – Grass-fed Beef Brisket: Nice Spice Chilli, Kale, Beets, Pickles, Furikake, Shallots, Spring Onion, Sesame & Miso Dressing. OR try the best of both bowl-worlds: bowl #8 – Miso Snack Bowl, with #11 – Acai Bowl small OR a #18 Acai Berry Smoothie for a tasty, healthy, sweet finisher.
Award-winning sushi from DoDo Sushi & Donburi
Takapuna is lucky to have a number of fantastic places to enjoy your sushi fix, but DoDo Sushi is one of our absolute top picks.
Back-to-back Taste of Takapuna People’s Choice winners, DoDo Sushi & Donburi are locally owned and operated, and not only have a range of beautiful freshly-made sushi, their menu also includes donburi and bento meals, ramen and udon soups, plus salads and yakisoba options.
Our recommendation: grab a selection of fresh, delicious sushi from their cabinet, or the Salmon Sashimi Bento for a little of everything that DoDo do best!
Grab a Japanese and Hawaiian health hit at Poké Poké
Poké Poké is a choose-your-own adventure-style eatery.
You can mix and match any combination you desire. Make it colourful, make it delicious. Maybe you want white and purple rice.
Maybe you want salmon, seaweed and beans. Or chicken, salad and avocado with a garnish of edible flowers.
Our recommendation: Kimchi aioli sauce with salmon.
Feast on light meals from the Middle East at Fatimas
Fatimas makes food with fresh herbs and punchy citrus. We love the pitas, chawarmas (served in a wild wheat bap). Our particular favourite is the Nu-Shiek Salad with baby spinach, lettuce, red cabbage, green slaw and more.
Our recommendation: Add extra falafel to any dish for a tasty plant-based protein boost.
Have harmonious food from far away lands at Sam’s Mediterranean Eatery
Sam’s Mediterranean is like a mini vacation in Italy, Greece, and Turkey all at once. Think sunshine, good times, juicy grilled meats and homemade salads.
These recipes have stood the test of time and bring a taste of the Mediterranean Diet to Takapuna.
Our recommendation: Halloumi salad.
Wholesome goodness at JAM Cafe
Voted Best Cafe and Best Coffee in the last two Taste of Takapuna People’s Choice Awards – you can’t go wrong with stopping for a bite or drink at JAM Organic Cafe.
Picture this: summer sips of coffee (why not try one of their alternative latte’s with tumeric or beetroot?), delicious and nutritious, made-from-scratch food, and sun streaming in while enjoy both in the middle of Takapuna with the sound of the ocean in the distance.
Our recommendation: Summer Bircher Bowl with seasonal fruit, honey and yoghurt (dairy-free options available) – or Sweetcorn fritters for the savoury-fiends.
Bonus read: Healthy activities on the North Shore
Check out these articles on yoga and Pilates on in Takapuna, top things to do in Takapuna, and kids’ activities.
