Five Local Healthy Dishes

Perhaps you have some new gift cards, received a holiday bonus, or are just itching to get out of the house, but one thing is for sure, it’s time to go out to eat!

The holidays have come and gone and many of us are succumbing to the annual new year’s resolution of getting fitter and becoming healthier. Or, perhaps you are a person who needs no excuse to eat healthily when eating at a restaurant.

Whatever be your situation, this week we’ll tour the Andovers with a focus on health.

1. Grilled Rainbow Trout

Having  nearby is a luxury that Merrimack Valley residents should take advantage of. You’ll definitely be sampling Joe’s best if you try the Grilled Rainbow Trout.

The dish costs $14.99 and today’s theme shines through with the suggestion of a house salad or fresh vegetable medley as your side.

Rainbow Trout offers a fantastic source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Each of the Omega-3 fatty acids has been scientifically proven to improve skin condition, kidney function, reproductive health, and the cardiovascular system.

2. Marinated Mediterranean Salad

You should never feel embarrassed ordering a salad in a restaurant.

At , you’ll end up as the envy of the whole table when you order the Marinated Mediterranean Salad.

Many salads are topped with fattening items such as deli meats and cheese which ruins the salad’s value as a health food. This particular salad features cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, red onions, Vermont feta cheese, and mixed olives. The dressing is an oregano vinaigrette and the dish is only $8.95. Add chicken, a good source of protein, for $4.

3. Roasted Eggplant Sandiwch

Bertucci’s, both in  and , offers a great lunch deal available on weekdays until 3pm.

The Roasted Eggplant Sandwich features eggplant that is fire-roasted, drizzled with Pomodoro sauce, and topped with fresh basil. This tasty lunch costs $8.79.

The eggplant is very dense with nutrients. It is high in dietary fiber which supports digestion. It is also high in manganese, a mineral necessary to ensure healthy bone structure.

4. Sesame Crusted Tuna

 in Andover brings us a fine tuna dish for the price of $24.00. The Sesame Crusted tuna is served over rice pilaf and alongside stir-fried vegetables.

Tuna also has the benefit of Omega-3 fatty acids, and it brings a generous amount of protein. The sesame seed crusting includes many other little benefits such as manganese and calcium.

5. Stuffed Eggplant

Eggplant makes its triumphant return to the list in the form of ’s Stuffed Eggplant dish which sells for $17.50.

A crispy eggplant is stuffed with Egyptian rice, roasted peppers, poached tomato, and braised shallots. The eggplant is then topped with a red pepper coulis.

The roasted peppers, along with the perks of its eggplant encasing, offers a nice mix of the antioxidant vitamins A and C.