OpenRoad Driver Volume 12 Issue 1 | Page 26

Photo courtesy of Burdock & Co. 24 » OpenRoad Driver P L AT E S Clean Eating by Mijune Pak » Clean eating? Since when have calories ever counted? Well, you’re right that I don’t count, but age catches up, metabolism slows down and health matters. So, where do we start? By eating “pure” – and pure eating is clean eating. I do love my meat and seafood, which have their nutritional value, but vegetables are perceived as healthiest, especially when it comes to cleaning up the diet. The newfound love for vegetables is on the continuous rise and diners are becoming more health conscious. Up until a few years ago the vegetarian food scene in Vancouver was rather dull, so it made dining vegetarian or choosing vegetarian options rather challenging. However, with the farm-to-table movement and dedicated local farmers, chefs are becoming inspired by the bountiful harvest of BC and, in turn, we benefit. Chefs are making vegetables more appealing as the main course and not just the “vegetarian course” or side. Vegetables are treated as meats when chefs make terrines, carpaccio and pâtés from veggies, or braise them whole like steak. When dining out you do want an experience, and clean eating doesn’t necessarily mean vegetarian. So, before you jump into your leafy greens, cold-pressed juices and vegetarian-only diet, let’s take a look at all our options because dining out is fun and enjoyable, not limiting. Here is a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants offering healthier or lighter fare that simply tastes delicious.