When you go out to eat with the family, it can be a challenge to find a yummy restaurant that also serves healthy options. Maybe you need a restaurant that has gluten-free or meatless options, or maybe you have a picky eater who’s hard to please. At Crème de la Crème of Port Potomac, we know how important your family’s health is to you. That’s why we’ve put together this list of five healthy eateries around the Ashburn, Virginia, area that you should try the next time you want a nutritious and delicious meal out.

Thai Ashburn

“P1080299” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by @iannnnn

Explore the diverse flavors of Thailand at Thai Ashburn. This authentic Thai restaurant serves up traditional dishes with modern flair without compromising on the nutrition of each dish. Thai Ashburn’s cuisine combines fresh vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, green beans, and tomatoes in many of their dishes. 

Skip the fried options, and stick with steamed, grilled, or sauteed dishes like steamed dumplings, chicken satay, pad Thai, and the Thai Garden entree. Consider ordering steamed rice or brown rice instead of fried rice for an even healthier option. You can also opt for a delicious salad, robust soup, or curry. Kids can order steamed vegetables with meat and noodles or steamed rice of their choice.

You can find Thai Ashburn in the Ashburn Village Shopping Center at 44301 Ashburn Village Road in Ashburn. This location is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9:30 p.m.

Malgudi Veg Indian Restaurant and Bakery

Indian cuisine uses a wide variety of ingredients that make these dishes incredibly flavorful and healthy. In fact, many Indian dishes are naturally vegetarian and vegan-friendly, making vegetables the focus of many recipes. At Malgudi Veg Indian Restaurant and Bakery, that’s all they serve.

Start with a vegetable-based soup cooked with Indian spices. Have a curry made with mushrooms, peas, onions, lentils, and more atop a bed of fluffy rice. Try a lentil crepe filled with fruit- and veggie-based chutneys. Or, order one of their Indo-Chinese noodle dishes packed with fresh vegetables. What’s more, the menu actually indicates whether each dish is vegetarian or vegan, so you can easily find dishes that have the ingredients you want. 

On the kids’ menu, you’ll find simpler versions of main menu dishes, including a variety of dosa (lentil crepes). Have your kids try the Pizza Dosa for a dish that resembles their favorite food.

Malgudi Veg Indian Restaurant and Bakery is located at 43150 Broadlands Center Plaza #166 in Ashburn. They’re open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Shoe’s Cup & Cork

If you’re looking for dishes inspired by a variety of cuisines with healthy alternatives, then you’ve got to eat at Shoe’s Cup & Cork. This Leesburg restaurant is a scratch kitchen, so they like to experiment with traditional recipes and ingredients. They create all of their dishes using sustainable, local ingredients, so eating here supports this local business and dozens of local producers. Shoe’s Cup & Cork serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day and brunch on the weekends. That means you have to try them for every meal of the day to fully experience the fantastic menu. 

Start your meal with homemade hummus or olive tapenade with naan bread. Order one of their stacked salads for your entree, especially the house Shoe’s Salad that has sun-dried tomatoes, avocado, red onions, and grapes atop iceberg lettuce. In the sandwich department, you can get a roasted veggie sandwich, black-bean-and-quinoa burger, or the Brie L.T. Panini. For healthy entrees, try the Veggie Pasta with roasted zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, red peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes. 

You can find Shoe’s Cup & Cork at 17 N. King St. in nearby Leesburg. They’re open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Difference Baker

Even if you don’t eat a gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan diet, you are sure to find a bunch of delicious eats at the Difference Baker. This spot specializes in gluten, peanut, tree nut, soy, fish, and crustacean-free baked goods. You can order amazing homemade baked goods, including cakes, cupcakes, donuts, sweet rolls, breads, pastries, and cookies that are completely vegan. Get them fresh from the bakery, or grab them from their freezer section and heat them up at home for nearly fresh treats.

If you do have an allergen yourself or have a family member who does, you can trust the Difference Baker because their facility prevents cross-contamination with allergens. Any of their fried goods are fried in 100% organic vegan sunflower oil.

You can find this healthy spot at 20937 Ashburn Rd. #130 in Ashburn. They’re open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rupa Vira’s The Signature

Rupa Vira’s The Signature is another fantastic Indian restaurant in the Ashburn area. This restaurant serves Thali, Indo-Chinese, South Indian, and Jain-Swaminarayran food, providing your family a large collection of delicious and nutritious dishes to choose from. In addition, this restaurant offers upscale dining that makes the perfect spot for romantic evenings or special occasions with your family.

You’ll find traditional dishes like kabobs, chaat (snack foods), tikka (meat marinated in spiced yogurt sauce), and many more. Many of their dishes are veggie-focused, perfect for those looking for the healthiest foods. Try the aloo gobi, which is potatoes and cauliflower cooked in a tasty spice blend with rice. Or, try the baingan bharta, which is mashed eggplant, onion, and tomato with spices over rice.

Rupa Vira’s The Signature is located at 21760 Beaumeade Circle Unit 120 in Ashburn. They’re open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

So there you have it, five of the best healthy eateries in and around Ashburn, Virginia. Did we miss any of your favorite healthy restaurants in our hometown? If so, contact Crème de la Crème of Port Potomac to let us know. We’ll be sure to add it to our list!