Poke bowls are becoming incredibly popular around the nation, and for good reason. They are delicious! But are poke bowls healthy as well? Because if they are, then we have found something fantastic; we have found a restaurant that is delicious and healthy!
To answer this question, I visited our local Poke Bowlz in Rock Hill, SC, and not to give away the ending, but we now visit them so much that they know us and our orders.
“Build Your Own Meal” Restaurants are One of the Top Healthiest Options
The restaurants that make the very top of my “Healthy Restaurants” list are restaurants that let you “build your own” meal because you can choose to load your meal with your favorite nourishing ingredients. If you don’t like onions or pineapple but love edamame and cucumber, then no worries. Choose what YOU want. The options are laid out right in front of you for you to choose your favorites. You can pick the healthy meal that is perfect for your tastebuds. The bottom line is you are more likely to choose vegetables when an assortment of vegetables are available!
So, Are Poke Bowls Healthy?
Poke Bowlz (this is based off of the Poke Bowlz in Rock Hill, SC) is the perfect spot to a “build your own” nourishing meal.
Pick Your Base (I show you how picking a bases is key to a healthy diet in Big Mindful Meals)
You can choose the high fiber brown rice (white rice and sushi rice are other rice options), or you can choose to omit the rice and make a Poke Bowl Salad.
Pick Your Vegetables
Then you can pile on the antioxidant, fiber, vitamin, and mineral-rich vegetables. Many vegetables are not only packed with nutrient, but are also almost zero calories; so, you can add quantity to your meal without adding extra calories.
Some of the healthy vegetable (and fruit) options at Poke Bowlz in Rock Hill, SC are:
- A Leafy Green Blend
- Cucumber
- Red Onion
- Green Onion
- Avocado
- Jalepenios
- Pinapple
- Edammame
- Seaweed
- Ginger
- Carrots
Pick Your Protein
You can choose raw or cooked meats as your protein.
The Omega-3-rich raw options are:
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Spicy Tuna
- Spice Salmon
The cooked options are:
- Chicken
- Spicy Chicken
- Crab (imitation)
- Shrimp
- Tofu
You can also add some sauces and crunchy toppings.
Sauces include:
- Sriracha
- Sweet Soy
- Poke Sauce
- Wasabi Sauce
Toppings include:
- Sesame Seeds
- Crispy Onion
- Tempura Flake
- Crushed Cashew Nuts
- Wonton Chips
- Seaweed Flake
Poke Bowls is an Extremely Quick Healthy Option
The food at Poke Bowls is ready to serve so you just walk down the line, tell them what you want, and they build it right in front of you. Then, it’s done. Your meal is ready to go. When we are in a hurry, this is our #1 spot (well, this, Blend Riverwalk, and Jimmy Johns are all Freaky fast!)
The Verdict: Are Poke Bowls Healthy?
This dietitian says yes, you can most definitely get healthy meals at Poke bowls restaurants.
