Best Restaurants with Healthy Menus in New Orleans

Breads on Oak raises the bar on bread, pastry and breakfast sammies for Uptowners on historic Oak Street. Open Wednesday through Sunday and serving breakfast and lunch, this artisinal bakery specializes in Old World style breads studded with fruits and nuts, seeds and multi grains. Extremely vegan and vegetarian friendly, you can order a mean locally sprouted tofu scramble on pumpkin cheddar biscuit and all kinds of veggies between two hearty pieces of the break of your choice. Frittatas are offered most weekends along with all kinds of gooey pastry. Try the eggless salad sandwich and the mushroom and walnut pate. There is outdoor seating, great for Fido and the kids are welcome here. Vegan and gluten free breads, pastries and sandwiches abound here.

Slim Goodies Diner is a dive-y diner located in the Garden District/Irish Channel portion of Magazine Street in New Orleans. The venue has a retro feel with the old Coke signs, red leather booths and counter stools. Breakfast and brunch is the big draw here, and waits can be long if you come at peak times (after 9 am). A clipboard out front serves as the wait list, where you write your own name and wait to be called. Prepare to indulge in "slammers", breakfast combos that overflow the plate, with plenty of veggie and even vegan options. There's a well spiced veggie burger and the salads are fresh and ample. Slim Goodies is cash-only, but does have an on-site ATM. They don't have a liquor license, but you can BYO.

Sometimes a body can't eat one more fried pickle or butter sauced piece of fish. This no frills Mediterranean eatery on Frenchmen Street is an oasis of fresh Greek salad, grilled kebabs and creamy hummus. Vegetarians can find plenty to munch on, the Lebanese tea is bracing and prices won't break the budget. Although the place could use a good scrubbing, the food is consistent and a welcome respite from fried everything offered by most other Frenchmen Street spots. Mona's has other locations uptown, the Irish Channel and in mid-city. There's a little market with some Middle Eastern ingredients attached to the restaurant.

Arana Taqueria y Cantina, home to local chef Richard Papier, is a popular Magazine Street specializing in flavorfuil Mexican cuisine. The name, which means spider in Spanish, is a nod to the chef's longtime nickname. Look for slow braised pork, beef, chicken and duck cooked in banana leaves and dishes seasoned with achiote. Papier, who has worked alongside chefs Emeril Lagasse, Donald link and Susan Spicer, gets creative with smoky chicken mole, a send up on chicken fried steak called torta Milanese and a variety of 12 different tacos including killer fish tacos with jalapeno sauce and a tasty carne asada. The chef recently launched a new menu featuring crowd pleasing Mexican dishes like fajitas, burritos and enchiladas - including the New Orleans-flavored fried oyster tostadas.

The Mexican love child of local uber chef John Besh and Food Network wunderkind Aarón Sánchez, Johnny Sánchez is the best thing to happen to Poydras Street since Sculpture for New Orleans. A place that gives the option of roasted grasshoppers on the freshly made guac gets a body's attention. The menu is locally charged and full of authentic Mexican flavors. A seasonal specialty, the fried Brussels sprouts "salad" is really a revelatory warm veg dish tossed with bits of roasted squash, pomegranate and queso. The pork belly tacos are sweet with pineapple glaze and savory with swiney goodness. Lamb enchiladas, yellowtail tostados, grilled sweetbread tacos with chorizo - what's not to like? There are some interesting (and pricey) wines by the glass along with a very good house margarita and a full list of sipping tequilas. By the way, the place also happens to be gorgeous, bright with a colorful Day of the Dead wall mural and Chihuly-style overhead chandeliers. Service is informed and attentive.

There are plenty of tasty vegan and vegetarian options at this funky little spot powered by creative chef Paul Artigues. Expect a wait, as reservations aren't an option for one of the coveted 14 seats that literally spill out onto the alley in nice weather. In addition to his take on Creole flavors, chef Artigues features global-inspired dishes with special emphasis on Indian cuisine. Try the pork sugarcane lollipops with coconut slaw or the South Indian uttapam (a pancake with onions, peas, peppers, tomatoes and panchpuran rolled and filled with vegan curry). Open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Green is beautiful at Satsuma, a fetching dining spot situated on Dauphine Street in Bywater and on Maple Street Uptown. Yard eggs scrambled with basil pesto and shaved Nueske's ham, free trade coffee and freshly made juices concocted in their industrial juicer behind the bar are just a few of the daily specials. Vegans are in heaven here, thanks to dishes like the tofu scramble and black bean burger with avocado mash. Eat indoors or on the outside patio, and definitely plan on trying some of the green juice blends. Satsuma uptown is in walking distance to the universities and Audubon Park.

Carmo is a breath of fresh air in a city full of rich and decadent food. From its tropical vibe and art gallery setting to its menu of fresh, raw, light and tasty dishes, Carmo delivers on all counts. The first restaurant in Louisiana certified by the Green Restaurant Association, Carmo is an oasis of fresh, local ingredients, with an emphasis on vegetarian and vegan fare, along with sustainable seafood and other options for omnivores. Simply put, Carmo makes healthy delicious. Just ask Woody Harrelson. The notoriously health-conscious actor won't eat anything but raw food from Carmo when he's in town on a shoot.