There’s been a shift globally towards being health conscious, and particularly in Pretoria, where most of us don’t compromise on flavour or the locality of the ingredients, it seemed for a time that if you’re looking for a healthy and ready-made lunch, your two options were to make it yourself before going to work or get a science degree to read the ingredients at the back of that “organic” smoothie you are going to buy.
Meal prepping has never been easier, and with places like Daily Dietician and Munch Measured Meals who offer fresh meals that are formulated by dietitians, getting a healthy ready-made lunch is a touch of a button away. They deliver to homes and offices and all of their food is never frozen and is preservative-free.
FitFoodz offers portioned meals that are more aimed at weight loss. They are calorie counted and aimed more at professionals who don’t have time to meal prep but are looking for something nutritious and filling that can also help them hit their macros.
What sets our local options apart is the freshness and the quality of ingredients which sourced are locally, so you know you are not compromising on anything.
There are also some walk-in spots worth knowing for when you want a break from the office or after your Saturday morning hike at Hennops:
- La Loco C: A firm favourite vegan spot situated in Waterkloof known for their gluten-free burrito bowls that are made to order.
- Crisp Health Café: Located in the University of Pretoria Prinshof campus known for their vegetarian options.
- Afroboer: the Equestria located restaurant is not really a health spot, but they’re known for their detox salad which is really a fan favourite.
- Nü Health Food: a go-to place for smoothies and healthy alternatives to your favourite food, this chain café located inside the Virgin Active in Menlyn Maine is a place you should definitely try out.
- Café Zing: A five minute walk away from Menlyn Maine, located inside the Innovation Hub is a place that boast locally sourced organic produce, and grass fed, hormone-free meat turned into really great meals
- Vula Food Shack: Described on their facebook page as “a self sustainable business focused on holistic health and promoting a sustainable relationship with mother nature”, it’s a great place to grab some coffee in a garden setting while you also shop for fresh ingredients
Why Local Matters
Buying local is not only about proximity or supporting that business owned by someone you know in your neighbourhood. It creates a self-sustaining economy where local farmers get the money directly from their customers, which allows them to produce even more high quality food for those same customers.
So whether you’re looking for a new lunch spot that is close to the office or you want a meal plan for the rest of the month to reach your target goals, healthy eating in Pretoria is extremely convenient. The only hard part is figuring what to eat, which is fortunately what this article is for.
