Healthy Living Guide: Washington D.C.
Washington D.C., our nation’s capital, is home to so many historic sites and monuments that define America’s history. A stroll down the Mall will take you from the Capital Building, past several Smithsonian Museums, the Washington Monument, the White House and the Vietnam Memorial – just to name a few! If you are visiting Washington D.C. or even if you live in town, there is never a shortage of attractions to see. To fuel you through the sightseeing, luckily Washington D.C. also has an abundance of healthy restaurants . We’ve complied a list of some of our top choices that we recommend for tourists and locals alike!
Be sure to check out all of our Healthy Living Guides for wholesome, delicious options across the country!
Restaurants
Litestars
2101 L Street, NW
This popular lunch spot is located right in the heart of DC, near George Washington University, the Business District and Dupont Circle. Litestars strives to offer a convenient and fast meal that is also healthy and energizing. Choose from their extensive menu of soups, salads and sandwiches made with fresh produce and whole grains.
Chix
2019 11th Street, NW
Chix is located just a few blocks from Howard University and a residential street. They are committed to serving healthy, natural Latin-inspired cuisine in a relaxed and friendly environment. The restaurant is also environmentally responsible by using earth-friendly materials for all of their packaging, cleaning and paper products!
Sticky Fingers
1370 Park Road, NW
With a Cupcake Wars win under their belt, Sticky Fingers is setting out to provide the DC metro area with delicious treats that are 100% vegan. Not only do they have amazing cupcakes, cookies, cakes and pastries, they also have a savory menu of sandwiches, soups, and breakfast items!
Bus Boys and Poets
2021 14th Street and Avenue V
Bus Boys and Poets provides a space that is healthy for your mind, body and soul. The menu is fantastic with several vegan and vegetarian options, and the coffee is all organic and free trade. Make sure you come in on a Tuesday night for open mic poetry!
Sweet Green
Multiple Locations
Sweet Green is more than a typical salad bar and wrap lunch spot. They offer foods made with only the best locally sourced and organic ingredients. With several locations through the DC area (check their website for specifics), for a healthy meal on-the-go, or a decadent, fat-free, all-natural frozen yogurt, Sweet Green is the obvious choice!
Nora
2132 Florida Avenue
Nora is a beautiful, upscale restaurant housed in a 19th century building just north of Dupont Circle. The menu is certified organic, meaning 95% percent of their food is from local, organic farmers. They also serve grass-fed, free-range beef and chicken. It is the perfect choice for a celebratory dinner with family and friends!
Elizabeth’s Gone Raw
1341 L Street, NW
The founder of Elizabeth’s Gone Raw decided to adopt a vegan-raw diet after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2009. After changing her diet, and immersing herself in holistic medicine, she now feels better than she has in years. She decided to open a restaurant so she could share her delicious, raw creations with everyone. Elizabeth’s Gone Raw is definitely worth a visit!
Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
A collection of local, American farmers own this restaurant and source all of their fresh produce, fish and meat from family-owned farms across America. The menu changes seasonally according to the crops that are available, but it always contains an outstanding assortment of American fare. We recommend the Rotisserie Chicken or the Slow-Simmered Chili for a warming, fall meal!
Juice Joint Café
1025 Vermont Ave, NW
This juice bar is located just north of the White House in McPherson Square. It’s the perfect place to stop in for a fresh-pressed juice if you need a quick pick-me-up. They also have an extensive menu of organic breakfast or lunch items if you have more time to sit down and enjoy a healthy meal!
Other Healthy Resources
Eat Real Things
Food and wellness guru, Chad Hamilton is a 2009 graduate offering Health Coaching sessions in the DC area. Chad aims to help restructure his clients’ relationships to food and reintroduce them to healthy, whole foods.
Health Restoration Resources
Health Coach Robin Shirley, Integrative Nutrition graduate, class of 2010, has a thriving practice in the D.C. area that allows her to work over the phone with clients to reduce symptoms of Lyme disease and autoimmune conditions. She also does occasional food demos and nutrition workshops in the area, in addition to The Take Back Your Health Conference that she successfully hosted on October 22-23. Check out her website for more information about her on going events!
Fuse Pilates
2008 Hilyer Place, NW
This Pilates studio is owned by IIN grad, Mariska Breland, who describes Fuse Pilates as “building on traditional Pilates exercises and teaching styles with an original, fun, and highly effective twist on Pilates mat and apparatus classes.” Located in trendy DuPont Circle, we highly recommend giving Fuse Pilates a try!
Healthy Bites
Food Delivery Service
This food delivery service provides healthy meals to busy Washingtonians as an alternative to greasy, unhealthy fast food or take out. Healthy Bites provides a variety of levels of service – whether you want all of your meals plus snacks or you just want lunch, there is an option for everyone! Vegetarian meals are also available.
For more restaurant options around the country, have a look at all of Integrative Nutrition’s Healthy Living Guides, or explore all our recommendations on the map below!
View IIN’s Healthy Living Guide Map in a larger map
Do you have any restaurant suggestions for our upcoming Healthy Living Guides? Just send us an email to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to include your suggestion when we get to your city!