New York is swamped with healthy shops and restaurants and if I could, I would live here for a year to try them all out. After spending an afternoon drinking smoothies with Dutch models Anne-Marie van Dijk and Lonneke Engel, my entire black book is now filled with places to be in NY for a healthy meal. And I’m here to share some of them with you. To be fair, I haven’t been to all of these places yet, but if these girls swear by them…

Another reason for me to book a ticket back to the city.

Pure Food & Wine

Look, the name already says it all and is precisely what I am an advocate of. Eating healthy, but with wine. It’s a fun vegetarian restaurant which is impressive since most vegetarian places always look rather dull and dusty.

Juice Press

This is a cold pressed juicery bar with fridges filled with colored bottles and juices. If you’ve got a bigger appetite, they also have smoothies, and for a real energy boost or mini detox treatment, they have shots. Be aware, they’re expensive. But worth it.

ABC Kitchen

The ABC Kitchen is a massive venture on Union Square with a menu filled with biologically season oriented dishes. The kitchen is run by star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. His name hadn’t rung any bells (yet), but according to Anne-Marie, this is a great healthy hotspot to dine in the city.

Blossom

The best vegetarian burgers in town. I highly recommend: the soy burger.

Local

I met up with Lonneke at Local. A small venture run by a family. It isn’t super hip and their guests only consist of locals, but that’s what give it its charm. The entire menu is gluten free, but if you order a grilled cheese sandwich you wouldn’t even be able to tell that the bread is gluten free; that’s how good they are. Hopefully when you’re there you’re able to pop a squat on one of their outside benches to enjoy their savory menu.

Quintessence

The place to be for raw food. You have to love it, but even if you’re not a big fan of raw food, this is the place to be because it has nothing to do with eating salads with raw carrots and walnuts. This is real, but raw. Give the avocado Florentine a go. It’s as if you’re eating Eggs Benedict.

Caravan of Dreams

An organic vegan restaurant with great salads and smoothies. They even have live music during weekend brunches or in the evening during the week. I recommend giving the homemade ravioli a try.

Hu Kitchen

Gluten free, biological and paleo dishes. This place oozes healthy. Lonneke orders food here once a week, especially when she’s not feeling too great since their ‘clean’ food gives her a boost. The noodles and sushi are her personal favorite.