With warmer weather and swimsuit season just around the corner, it seems many Fresnans are paying closer attention to what they eat, and the low-carb or ketogenic diet seems to be the method of popular choice when it comes to weight loss.
As you may have read, FresYes founder, Jason Farris, succeeded in losing a very significant amount of weight over the course of the last year following a ketogenic diet, and my husband has also experienced success doing the same.
One of the things that can be most challenging when following a specific diet is finding a way to eat well when you’re not at home. Baseball season is an element that causes my family to eat out a lot, as we’re often racing straight from the office to the diamond to cheer our son on, and there are few nights where cooking at home is feasible.
Over the past few months, I’ve discovered a few fail-safe and delicious options that make eating low-carb meals on the go simpler. So, for all the other Fresnans currently eating in a similar manner, here is my list of 5 places to eat low-carb in Fresno.
1. Kebab Express
Of all the options, this is the one I tend to crave the most. Kebab Express is located in Fig Garden Village and offers fresh, made-to-order Mediterranean food such as kebabs, fattoush salads, made-from-scratch hummus, and buttery pilaf.
The chicken kebab plate comes with marinated, flavorful pieces of chicken breast, sautéed vegetables served tender-crisp, a fattoush salad, hummus, and your choice of pilaf or bulgur. For just $1 more, you can swap the pilaf or bulgur for a hearty double serving of tasty veggies and cut the carbs in your meal way down.
If you have a smaller appetite, the kebab bowl comes with chicken, vegetables, and pilaf or rice, and you can go for double vegetables for a buck on that plate, too. Kebab Express also serves a large fattoush salad with chicken (for low-carb, ask them to hold the pita crisp pieces) with a zesty lemon-red wine vinaigrette that makes your taste buds sing.
Kebab Express is located at 5058 N Palm Ave and is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. You can visit them online here.
2. Chipotle
Chipotle is one of the most convenient places to grab a low-carb meal in a rush thanks to their convenient, online ordering system. You can pre-order your meal on the web or via their free mobile app, and your meal(s) will be ready when you arrive.
For a flavorful, low-carb meal, I like to order a salad with lots of fajita veggies, a meat of my choice, and a variety of salsas. I skip the dressing, but douse my plate in Chipotle Tabasco sauce (I’m a nut for spicy food) but you can of course skip that. Since my husband is trying to ensure he gets plenty of healthy fats in his diet, he also adds guacamole to his salad.
One note for best results: try not to let a to-go salad sit for too long. The moisture in the salsa, veggies and lettuce can make things soggy since there’s no rice to absorb the extra juices. Time your order for when you really think you’ll be able to pick it up and eat your food promptly afterwards. To order online, or find your closest Chipotle, click here.
3. Deli Delicious
Deli Delicious is a great place to order a reduced-carb or low-carb meal as their sandwiches are made-to-order and offer you the option of having your bread “hollowed” (they removed much of the fluffy parts of the inside of the bread to reduce the total amount of bread you’re eating) or having your sandwich lettuce-wrapped—skipping bread altogether.
Lettuce-wrapped sandwiches are easy to eat and quite tasty. Deli Delicious offers online ordering for fast pick-up at many of its Valley locations. To order online, or locate the Deli Delicious nearest to you, visit their website here.
4. Whole Foods
If you’re craving something fresh and healthy but you’re not sure what you’re in the mood for specifically, visiting the Whole Foods salad bar and prepared foods section is sure to be a feast for the eyes and satisfy your cravings. You can get in and out pretty quickly, as the register nearest the salad bar is an express lane, too.
I personally love to load up a plate with greens, the store’s delicious balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and chili-roasted tofu for protein. Whatever you fancy, you’ll likely be able to create a combination of items into a delicious, figure-friendly lunch or dinner. Whole Foods in Fresno is located at 650 W. Shaw and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more info, visit them online here.
5. Patio Café
Patio Café’s menu offers a variety of health-friendly options and low-carb selections, and all dishes incorporate the freshest locally sourced ingredients. Getting food quickly from Patio Café is now easier than ever, too, as the restaurant participates in the Uber Eats service, so you can get your tasty Chicken Caesar Salad or Pan-Seared Salmon delivered right to your door or office!
Visit in person at 5138 N. Palm Ave. or prepare to place your Uber Eats order by perusing the menu here. (Check out my post on Patio Café’s new makeover here.)
These are my top five choices for eating low-carb style on the go. If you’ve been following a low-carb lifestyle as well and have other suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
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