In the digital age, information spreads quickly, and as more studies and information gain attention online, the cultural shift toward clean eating continues. Clean eating has many definitions, but the intention is to maintain health and promote longevity by eating whole foods and prioritizing key nutrients. While clean eating may be a worthy effort, it can prove inconvenient when a homemade meal is not on the menu. Luckily, we have compiled a simple guide to clean eating in Birmingham.

 

BLUEROOT

Pepper Place

The story behind BLUEROOT is one many of us can resonate with and perfectly outlines the struggle faced by those who commit to clean eating. “In 2019, Jennifer Ryan, the owner of BLUEROOT, faced a daunting challenge in Alabama – finding food that was both delicious and nutritious. Having grown up in southern California, where eating clean and wholesome food was the norm, Jennifer found it difficult to find similar options in Alabama. Despite being impressed by Birmingham’s fine dining scene, she missed having quick and healthy options available.” BLUEROOT was her answer.

With the help of James Beard award winner Chef Robin Bashinsky, a carefully curated menu was created that would shine a spotlight on the state’s stunning produce. The duo insisted on sourcing ingredients from Alabama and found great collaboration with many local farmers. The menu reflects this beautifully, offering salads and warm bowls full of fresh, local produce.

Our Top Recommendation: Spring Fling Salad  

Arugula, mint-marinated farro, shaved fennel, kalamata olives, cukes, roasted red pepper, radish, tomato, toasted pepitas, red wine vinaigrette

 

Farm Bowl + Juice Co.

Homewood

Located in Homewood next to Urban Cookhouse, Farm Bowl + Juice Co. is one of the city’s go-to places for next-level açai bowls. The team at Farm Bowl is dedicated to using produce from Alabama farmers and has a great lineup of locals onboard. Eastaboga Bee Company supplies honey, Smitherman Farm brings in blackberries and blueberries, Seeds provides coffee, Heyday Greens grows the wheatgrass, and Dwight Hamm of Hamm Farm grows the watermelon, spinach, kale, and cucumbers. They regularly support local organizations, with a portion of the proceeds from a recent pressed juice going to Unless U, a non-profit that provides support and growth opportunities for adults with disabilities.

The menu offers a great assortment of açai and dragonfruit bowls, oatmeal bowls, smoothies, toast, wellness shots, cleanses, coffee drinks, and their coveted cold pressed juices. While everything on the menu is energizing, they have a great range of choices from lighter to more decadent.

Our Top Recommendation: Nutty Professor Açai Bowl

Farm Bowl açai blend, strawberry, almond, gluten-free granola, peanut butter, local honey

 

Real & Rosemary

Homewood, Mountain Brook, The Summit

Real & Rosemary offered Homewood its first introduction to clean eating. The owners sought a solution to dining out while avoiding trouble ingredients for both themselves and their children. “It’s the extension of our homes. It’s the inspiration of our family recipes and the memories of sitting around the kitchen table talking about our days. It’s the fresh vegetables growing in the garden combined into simple and fulfilling meals. Real & Rosemary is the gathering of family, friends and neighbors to break bread and enjoy each other’s company. It’s the food worth feeling good about.”

Real & Rosemary has a comforting, but unique menu that offers fun starters liked a grazing board featuring pistachio encrusted goat cheese and a fresh take on a Southern classic— fried green tomatoes with chipotle mayo. Their white chicken chili and vegetable soup are favorites, but their salads, sandwiches, and sides may steal the spotlight.

Our Top Recommendation: Grilled Chicken Salad

Spring mix, grilled chicken, pumpkin seeds, feta, chickpeas, balsamic vinaigrette

 

Kale Me Crazy

Homewood

Kale Me Crazy is another clean-eating establishment built on the back of a strong interest in promoting long-term health. “Kale Me Crazy was born out of a personal desire by our Founder and CEO, Roi Shlomo, to change his diet. Several years ago a documentary about GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) changed his life. He learned of additives, growth hormones, and other chemically altered processes prominent in the food industry so he set out to fulfill an all-organic diet. What surprised him was that there were so few places to eat this way, and when he did find one, the food wasn’t good.” Kale Me Crazy seeks to change that.

The menu is a refreshing range of light options that won’t weight you down. Stop in for a simple smoothie or pressed juice, or drop in for lunch or early dinner for an açaí bowl, wrap, salad or sandwich. They also offer a number of specialty drinks from a classic cafe au lait to a refreshing matcha rose latte.

Our Top Recommendation: Deluxe Açai Bowl

Traditional açai bowl topped with banana, granola, chia seeds, hemp seeds, goji berries, sliced almonds, blueberries, raw honey

 

Deliciously Market

Mountain Brook

Tucked away in Mountain Brook Village, Deliciously is a local market that often flies under the radar. Deliciously is definite in what will not be found in their dishes. “We want you to never have to pick between the food you love and feeling your best. We’ve carefully crafted and curated our market, scrutinized every ingredient, so you don’t have to wonder and worry what you’re putting in your body. Because we believe real is better — ingredients from nature, not a lab — we are strictly: no high glycemic or refined sweeteners, no seed oils, no ultra-processed anything, no artificial anything including sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives.”

They specialize in grab-and-go dishes and take-home meals, and the menu rotates weekly. This week’s menu is a great example of what you can expect: coconut chicken curry, curry chicken salad, garlic chicken and sautéed greens with sweet potatoes, macro bowl salad, pumpkin soup, strawberry halloumi salad, and strawberry salsa. They also offer snacks and sweets like their s’mores kits that cannot be overlooked.

Our Top Recommendation: Coconut Chicken Curry

No corn or soy-fed pastured organic chicken breast, organic broccoli, organic yellow bell pepper, organic orange bell pepper, organic cauliflower (riced), organic coconut milk, organic curry powder, organic garam masala, organic turmeric, organic ginger 

 

Urban Cookhouse

Homewood, Mountain Brook, Downtown, The Summit

Urban Cookhouse has become a local staple for those looking for a delicious, convenient, and comforting meal. With the tagline Buy Local, Eat Urban, they have a strong commitment to serving dishes that simultaneously spotlight local produce and support the community. “At UC the commitment to ‘Buy Local, Eat Urban’ extends beyond the quality ingredients we cook with every day. We are unwavering in our commitment to creating local value in every community through the way we serve our guests, the quality of life for our employees, and the manner in which we do business with suppliers and partners, big or small.”

Urban Cookhouse is known for its simple menu with a strong selection of sandwiches, wraps, and salads. There is something for everyone from lighter options like the Berry Good salad with seasonal berries, spiced pecans, feta, and citrus vinaigrette to more savory options like the Urban Cowboy sandwich with lime-marinated steak, caramelized onions and peppers, pepperjack, and aioli.

Our Top Recommendation: Berry Good Wrap

Grilled chicken, seasonal berries, tomatoes, spiced pecans, feta, citrus vinaigrette

 

Ono Poké

Homewood, Downtown, The Summit, Hoover

With most bowls featuring fresh seafood and veggies, poké usually finds a place on clean eating lists, and for good reason. Ono Poké, owned by Vinh Tran, is often regarded as one of the best poké spots in the state. “When Vinh Tran moved from the West Coast to Birmingham, AL, he wanted to open up a restaurant that the city had never seen before. Tran decided that poke bowls were the best way to bring the West Coast all the way down South. From this idea, Ono Poke was born.”

Ono Poké’s menu is both simple and customizable. They offer a range of bowls featuring everything from fresh tuna and toppings to a great lineup of greens—cucumber, edamame, scallion, seaweed salad, and avocado. Choose from one of their carefully crafted bowls or create your own.

Our Top Recommendation: 808 Bowl

White rice, ahi tuna, cucumber, sweet onion, scallion, jalapeños, pineapple, ponzu and samurai sauce