Eat Better, Spend Less!

Just because you're on a diet doesn't mean you have to sacrifice flavor or money. Don't fall for the misconception that in order to eat well when you go out, you have to buy a $10 green juice or a $20 salad. Philadelphia has an array of healthy, inexpensive options that will help you shred a few pounds and save a few bucks.

1. Real Food Eatery multiple locations

As the name suggests, this casual eatery is "keeping it real." Similar to Chipotle, you can build your own plate or bowl with whatever ingredients your heart desires. I got a plate with half salad, half quinoa, grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, beets with goat cheese, and golden raita (Greek yogurt) sauce. It's a good thing I looked up the menu online before I came; otherwise, I would've held up the line forever deciding on what I want from the plethora of options. Plus, for the moderate price, you get a lot of food! Each plate comes with a base and protein (the entree), one hot side, one cold side, and a sauce, and the lady behind the counter really did me a solid and didn't hold back on the portions. It's also very easy to make it vegetarian or vegan, since there is nothing realer than vegetables! The salad/grain bowls are just as tasty and filling as the plates. Both times I left very full and very satisfied. Swipe to see me prove that you are, in fact, what you eat!

2. BAP 1224 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

You're hot, then you're cold. You're yes, then you're no...Sorry for this shameless Katy Perry reference, but bibimbap is a dish best served hot (in my opinion). I don't normally choose beef over chicken, but Korean beef is in a different ballpark. Don't fret if you're a vegetarian, though; BAP also has vegetarian bibimbap, which is just as delicious. My favorite part about hot bibimbap is the crunchy rice and the egg, which scrambles in front of your eyes when you break the yolk. If you don't want to wait for it to cool down (it's so piping hot when it comes out that you can see the smoke), and you want to distinctly taste the fresh vegetables and sauce (I forget the name, but I could eat a whole bottle of this stuff), then opt for cold. If you go to BAP, a tiny restaurant on South Street, you're most likely going to be one of the only people there, and you'll recognize the friendly owner since he's always there, but don't be fooled; this is one of the most underrated Asian restaurants in Philly. The food is ready before you can blink, inexpensive, and so good that you'll be planning your next trip back.

3. Wiki Poke 44 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

This place is a little more budget-friendly than Nom Nom, and even though the quality is not quite as high, it still delivers a pretty top-knotch poke bowl. Not to mention, the bowls are big and packed full of wickedly good ingredients, including cucumber, crab salad, scallions, and, my personal favorite, mango. Poke bowls have been a recent trend that I really hope are not a fad and are here to stay for a long time!

4. SoBol multiple locations

Right next door to Wiki Poke is another health and budget conscious eatery, SoBol. For a portion of the cost of other similar restaurants in Center City, you can get a fresh, fruity smoothie or smoothie bowl. I always love a good acai bowl, another recent craze among millenials and zoomers. But these nutritious and filling bowls with granola, acai, fresh fruit, coconut flakes and honey are worth the hype; they make a perfect brunch or dessert!

5. Frutta Bowls 2001 Hamilton St, Philadelphia, PA 19130

A picture can be deceiving. Believe it or not, this bowl is much bigger than Sobol. Sobol also uses false advertising; I would also argue that Frutta Bowls is the better bowl. It's a little more expensive, but the classic Frutta Bowl, my favorite acai bowl out of the many bowls I've had in my lifetime, has way more too it. In addition to granola, acai, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, coconut and honey, it has kiwi, peanut butter AND nutella. Talk about a super bowl, am I right? Pictured is the caveman bowl, which, in accordance with the wall, is high in antioxidants and fiber. For a less healthy option that probably belongs on the dessert list, go for the "coco puff" bowl, which has chocolate whey protein, banana, almond milk, graham crackers, nutella, peanut butter, whipped cream and oats. And if you are still hungry, you have to try the peanut butter bites; they're better than a Reese's peanut butter cup. Frutta Bowls is a relatively new shop that opened a block from the Whole Foods near the art museum, which happens to be my job. This is a convenient but dangerous coincidence.

6. Just Salad 1729 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Listen to the napkin. If you're going to have food on your face, which I frequently do at a public restaurant, then it better be flavorful and organic. Just Salad fulfills both of these prerequisites. Not only are the salads full of flavor and null of pesticides, but they're also large and inexpensive. They don't have just salad, however. They also have smoothies, and for a place that's known for their salads, their smoothies are actually better than most smoothie shops! I don't recommend coming at lunchtime unless you want to wait in a line out the door, nor do I recommend ordering delivery at lunchtime, since my boyfriend had his order completely botched, and they didn't refund him. Basically, only come for dinner.

7. Waterfront Cafe multiple locations

I'm probably Waterfront's number one fan. I rave about this place all of the time on my foodstagram, so much so that they have featured me on their page multiple times and sent me a $10 gift card. This is just enough for the mommy delight wrap- turkey, avocado, arugula, sundried tomato and honey dijon mustard- or an arugula apple salad- arugula and apple (of course), tomato, cranberries, raisins, almonds, walnuts, and goat cheese. I already mentioned the turkey addiction on my list of best sandwiches, but if you are trying to cut out carbs, Waterfront has got you covered. This place is down the block from my boyfriend's apartment, so we've been there many a time. Ironically, the Dilworth Park location is not at the waterfront, but their other location at Penn's Landing is. Almost everything on the menu is $10 or less, the portions are large, the food is freshly prepared and they have many vegetarian options, so it's a win-win-win-win.

8. Good Spoon Soupery 1400 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Soup and salad? This combination is as classic as peanut butter and jelly, but on their own they are just as good. If I had to choose one or the other, however, I would typically go with soup. There's nothing more cozy than slurping a warm bowl of soup on a cold winter day. Therefore, I was "soup-er" excited when I discovered a cafe in Fishtown dedicated to soup! Finally, a healthy food option that's not in Center City! I'm not sure if "soupery" is a real term, but Good Spoon Soupery on Frankford Avenue has an ever-changing menu of delicious seasonal soups that you can get in a cup or bowl and come with a side of hearty whole wheat bread. This cafe is snug on the inside, albeit small, and as you sip on your soup (it's so pretty, I almost didn't want to touch it), you'll feel at home. You can also eat their soup at home literally by getting a pint to go! It even freezes well, so you can enjoy it later.

9. Playa Bowls 1804 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

The replacement to the Poke Spot is not a disappointment. Playa Bowls, one of the most well-known acai spots down the shore, finally opened up a location downtown on Chestnut Street. Although the acai bowls are more expensive than any other place in the city, they're a good portion, and you can create your own for more flexibility and less money. Plus, they make some of the prettiest bowls in the city, so you've gotta go for the gram.