With a combination of bitter cold, darkened skies, and for many people, a new diet, January can be a long, chilly drag.
There are a huge variety of Indianapolis restaurants that are diet friendly, whether you're going paleo, Whole 30, keto, vegetarian, vegan or juice cleansing. We’ve picked out a few of our favorites for dining on a diet that won’t plunge you into a hell of temptation. Click the link to jump right to the menu.
Multiple Locations // Vegan - Vegetarian - Keto - Whole 30 - Paleo - Gluten-Free
We’re unabashed fans of Public Greens over at Do317, both for the menu and the mission. Tyler Herald’s cafeteria-style menu is entirely made of clean, whole foods with minimally processed sugars, and the entirely a la carte menu means you can scale your calories and your budget to what fits your appetite. Best of all, you’re also supporting the Patachou Foundation, a non-profit that feeds whole, organic meals to school kids in food deserts.
870 Massachusetts Ave // Keto - Paleo - Vegan - Vegetarian - Gluten-Free - Whole 30
It probably goes without saying that a restaurant with “Meatball” in the name will serve the needs of the keto and paleo diet crowd. You might also be surprised to learn that they have multiple selections and sides available that are completely vegan as well — and they’re delicious. Consider it a kind of meeting ground between two very different approaches to New Years dieting.
Multiple Locations // Keto - Paleo - Whole 30
There are so many places in Indianapolis where you can get delicious, fresh, coastal Mexican food that bears almost no resemblance to their greasy Americanized counterparts, and Guanajuato is without a doubt the best one. If you’ve cut out all or most carbs, order a huge sizzling platter of meats, seafood and veggies to share with your gym buddies, with a squeeze of lime and a splash of hot sauce.
Mass Ave / 342 Mass Ave // Broad Ripple / 908 E Westfield Blvd // Vegan - Vegetarian - Whole 30 - Paleo
You know it, you love it. The Garden Table was, like Mimi Blue Meatballs, one of those restaurants that opened and was immediately, massively embraced. Striking the perfect balance of healthy and comforting, the Broad Ripple location is brunch-only while the Mass Ave location serves dinner and a cocktail menu.
Fountain Square / 1106 Prospect St // Paleo - Keto - Gluten Free - Vegan
We know what you’re thinking: how could a charcuterie and sausage shop serve both vegans and meat eaters? Well, they do it and they do it well. With a Meatless Monday sandwich featuring eggplant “bacon,” and a “tour” option of each house salami, Turchetti’s really can cover all the bases if your friends are going all-meat while you’re doing all-veg.
Multiple Locations // Vegan - Whole 30 - Paleo - Juice Cleanse
With only 2 locations so far, Indy and Portland, this little juice company on the rise is offering Indy one of the most varied juice bar menus in the city. They promise each cup of regular juice contains two pounds of juiced produce and nothing else — no sugar, no fillers. Get anything from smoothie bowls to cashew milk concoctions. Oh, you’re already glowing.
The Garage / 906 Carrollton Ave // Vegan - Vegetarian - Whole 30 - Juice Cleanse
Another juice and smoothie company that started out life on wheels, Twenty Two is now headquartered out of The Garage. They make a “no-ice promise,” ensuring that all their smoothies and acai bowls are made of whole fruit and whole flavors.
Broad Ripple / 842 E 65th St // Vegetarian - Vegan - Whole 30 - Keto
There’s no better brewery menu in Broad Ripple than BRBP’s, with lots of international influence and vegan options. On the flipside, you can get a steak ceviche salad if you’re cutting the fat while you cut the carbs. Think of BRBP as the ace up your sleeve when your friends want to go out for beers and burgers and you want to stay on track with your macros.
Englewood / 2830 E Washington St // Whole 30 - Vegetarian - Paleo
Don’t let your dinner become “diet food” just because you’re trying to eat a little better. Tlaolli can provide the kind of bright flavors that often go missing when folks start slashing their caloric budgets. Get fresh-made vegetarian-friendly Latin food, many of it packed up and ready for customers to take home and enjoy in their own time.
Washington Township / 3832 E 82nd St // Keto - Paleo - Whole 30 - Pescatarian
If this is the year you really get serious about your fitness and nutrition, consider looking over the menu at Herculean Meal Prep first. These folks are serious about both flavor and nutrition, with each meal’s calories, protein, fat, and carbs clearly marked on each container. They also have a separate, extra low-carb menu specifically for keto dieters, and can accommodate pescatarians with their fish-heavy menu.
Know of a diet-friendly spot we missed? Let us know at [email protected]!
