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Did you set a goal for this year to improve your eating habits? Are you hoping that 2025 will be the year you finally lose those extra pounds? Would you like to cultivate a healthy eating lifestyle rather than jumping from one diet to another without seeing any real change?
To celebrate the spirit of good intentions this January, Affordable Eats will showcase healthy dining options that are packed with flavor while also prioritizing health and nutrition.
Welcome to First Option Juice Hub and Salad Bar in Scotch Plains, where eating healthy does not have to be boring or tasteless. It offers tasty juices, smoothies, power shakes, grain bowls and salads; all made fresh and with organic ingredients.
As you step into First Option Juice Hub and Salad Bar, you're immediately greeted by enormous fruit baskets adorning the space, a delightful preview of what's in store. The air is infused with the invigorating aromas of ginger and turmeric, celebrated for their remarkable health benefits.
Conrad and Cardela Matthews, a couple hailing from Guyana, located on the Caribbean mainland, are the proud owners of the establishment. They relocated to the United States in 2012, bringing with them a passion for healthy cuisine.
"I have a passion for health and a deep appreciation for people. You truly are what you consume, and the nutritional advantages of our offerings at First Option are outstanding," Conrad Matthews remarked, flashing a smile as he continued, "And let's be honest, healthy food can actually be quite delicious."
I began my experience with the green magic juice priced at $8.89, a delightful blend of spinach, kale, pineapple, mango, apples, and ginger. I was pleasantly surprised by its refreshing taste, which had a hint of herbiness. Among the other favorites are the heart beet juice, available for $8.55, featuring beets, apples, carrots, and ginger; and the glow up juice, also priced at $8.55, which combines carrots, apples, cucumber, and ginger.
Next, I opted for the salmon salad to take with me, priced at $15.84. It was packed with succulent pieces of salmon, olives, tomatoes, onions, and fresh lettuce. I also sampled the roasted vegetable bowl for $13.75, which included wild rice, chickpeas, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and savory roasted mushrooms.
The salad was satisfactory, but the grain bowl was absolutely delightful. The flavors of the ingredients were well-balanced and enhanced one another. Plus, it was generous in portion size, making it perfect for two meals.
The final thing I tried was a wheat grass shot, priced at $4.95. I’ve sampled it in the past and didn’t particularly enjoy it, mainly because of its grassy flavor. I know, surprising, right? However, wheat grass is recognized for its advantages in digestion and reducing inflammation, so I decided to give it another go. This time, the shot tasted decent and wasn’t as overpoweringly “grassy” as I remembered. Nevertheless, I was relieved it was a quick shot to down!
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For a healthy kick in North Jersey, you can visit LiveRite Health Bar, where the kale-me-crazy salad, ($11.75) includes kale, apple, carrot, cucumber, lemon and a ginger dressing. Also yummy is the avocado tomato toast, ($10.50), and the sack attack smoothie, ($9.75) with strawberry, banana, mango, cherry and apple juice.
In South Jersey, I recommended Greens and Grains with several locations. I’ve been to the one in Voorhees, and I had the falafel pita, ($12). The sandwich came with falafel patties, tomatoes, onions, cucumber and a tasty sriracha tahini sauce. Also perfect for the winter is the coconut curry lentils, ($7) with sweet potato and a creamy coconut sauce.
Join us again next Friday for three additional healthy locations in the Garden State. Who knows, 2025 could be your breakthrough year!
Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram.
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