As “eating good” starts to more closely align with “eating well,” some local restaurants are redefining dining by blending vibrant, nutrition-packed ingredients with creative, mouth-watering flavors to offer some positive and refreshing options. Whether you're a dedicated health enthusiast or simply looking to make smarter food choices in the new year, there’s a growing number of great choices to tickle your tastebuds.
EAT THIS
Nezi Whiteman, owner of Eat This, a self-described ‘grab-and-go-eatery’ which opened this past year at 442 Sawdust Road, understands on a personal level the importance of knowing what exactly is in the food she eats. Diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and osteoarthritis, it is critical she avoid the processed foods of the standard American diet and any ingredient that can cause inflammation.
“We make everything from scratch with fresh ingredients in a gluten-free kitchen: no seed oils, no butter, no wheat flour, and no fryers. We make our own dressings, our own teriyaki, and we use actual pumpkins for our pumpkin cheesecake. Not out of a can,” she said. “All our chef-crafted meals are designed with a purpose and are based on macros to be higher in protein and lower in fat and carbohydrates.”
The Eat This menu offers tempting options from tacos and gluten-free pastas to salads and the comfort foods and desserts we all crave. Each entrée is sizeable enough for two people or one hearty appetite and is packaged in containers that are microwave and oven safe and fully compostable.
“We’re here for busy, on-the-go people who still want to stay healthy,” said co-owner Jason Viada. “Health food can still have great taste and not break your bank or your waistline.” Because most of the Eat This meals require some reheating, there is no additional sales tax on the already very affordable price.
Order online through their website EatThisTheWoodlands.com and choose delivery or stop by their store to pick out and pick up the answer to the “What’s for dinner (or lunch)?” question.
KNEAD ME BAKERY
Both of Kristy Tamayo’s grandmothers were neighborhood bakers in their small, German, Central Texas town. When she inherited a suitcase of their handwritten recipes, she immediately applied her background in biology and a scientist’s mind to them.
“In 2016 I started dabbling in sourdough starter. It’s a living thing that will either give you a great sense of confidence or make you question your place in the world,” she laughed. “Sourdough takes a lot of science, but it’s easy when you understand it. That’s where I geek out!”
She and her husband, Anthony, created such a following and demand for their breads through the Courtyard Collective Farmers Market in Shenandoah, they outgrew their home kitchen and are now opening a storefront in 2025 at 8920 Metropark Drive, Suite 800 next to the AMC Theater and across from Dave and Busters.
Because of the natural fermentation process, which is markedly longer with Knead Me breads, sourdough promotes improved gut health through a combination of probiotics and prebiotic fiber. It also has a lower glycemic index than regular breads which can help regulate blood sugar levels.
“We have a very specific process of 48-hour cold fermentation and only use eggs from pasture-raised, free-range happy hens, unbleached flours and old-fashioned oats,” Kristy explained. “Because of this process, many people who are gluten-intolerant can eat our bread. What you put in your body matters. If we can help someone enjoy what they haven’t been able to for a long time, sign me up!”
Along with regular sourdough, Knead Me Bakery is also baking up Scottish scones, cinnamon rolls, cookies, crackers and granola. Loaves of whole wheat, English white, Italian herb and rosemary, among others, are coming out of the ovens. All pair beautifully with their freshly brewed coffee. They even have starters available, born from Gary, the starter they’ve cultivated for over nine years, for those who also need to knead.
FLOWER CHILD
Self-confessed of being “on a simple, soul-satisfying mission to serve positively delicious vibes,” Flower Child restaurant, located in the Lake Woodlands Crossing shopping center at 1900 Lake Woodlands Drive, caters to the full spectrum of healthy lifestyles from vegetarian and vegan, to meat-eating and gluten-free to keto and paleo. Their menu of bowls, wraps, salads and a variety of mix-and-match veggies, grains, fruits and healthy proteins distinguishes them as more than the typical healthy eatery and more of a place to fill your soul (and your belly) with goodness.
“We try to source as much produce as possible from local growers. Our produce partners always seek to supply us with products as close as possible to the region a particular store is in,” said Flower Child’s Regional Chef. “We also need to search globally for great products. For example, our grass-fed beef comes from a farm in Australia; our yuzu juice is sourced from Japan, and our heirloom beans originate in South America.”
As the demand for clean dining options has increased, he points out that Flower Child works hard to accommodate dietary needs and preferences by tweaking and changing whenever possible to remain a great option for everything from date night to crowd-pleasing family meals.
Eating well doesn't have to mean sacrificing taste. From farm-to-table fare to plant-based innovations, it’s becoming easier—and more delicious—than ever to nourish both body and soul.
What you put in your body matters. If we can help someone enjoy what they haven’t been able to for a long time, sign me up!” Kristy Tamayo, Knead Me