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(Photo by Kelly Jones)
They say you are what you eat. And these days, Southwest Floridians are all about healthy, mindful meals—even when there’s no time to cook—thanks to a roster of fast-casual restaurants.
Before the trend fully caught on here, Summer Day Market & Cafe—located inside a family-owned health store—has been Marco Island’s go-to stop for organic smoothies and juices, plus a selection of made-from-scratch, gluten-free soups for more than 15 years. Then, there was Food & Thought organic grocery store and cafe that opened in Naples more than a decade ago (and expanded with Food & Thought 2 in North Naples last year). The health cafes created fertile grounds for a boon of like-minded eateries.
Opened in 2016, Cafe Nutrients has become a go-to hangout for artsy millennials in the area after chef/owner Ming Yee built a loyal following at local farmers markets. Ming’s globally inspired menu offers low-carb, plant-based options made with whole ingredients, sourced locally. “It’s honestly a real treat to have a restaurant that sources from local farms,” he says. Down the road, Bayshore Arts District’s new, intimate convenience store, Bodega Verde, stocks pre-packed vegetarian, keto-friendly and vegan snacks. For a sporty spin, North Naples’ Fit & Fuel Café and Tap House offers wholesome breakfast and lunch up front and cycling fitting services in the cycle shop connected to the cafe.
Further north, Fort Myers welcomed Big Energy Cafe last year. Inside the tropical space, owner Barby Mercado and her team craft a visual feast of protein-packed entrees, smoothies bowls, and diet-friendly snacks, such as paleo brownies or muffins. The cafe adds ‘big energy’ to fresh fruit smoothies with antioxidant supplements and immune-boosting elderberry and mushroom extracts. And in the Cape, Café YOU acts as a health-focused bakery and cafe with a from-scratch menu during the day. Every other week, the space shifts into a fine-dining restaurant, with chef Sam Wood preparing internationally-themed tasting menus and wine pairings.