Sweet Greens

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Fast food used to be all about the burger. You’d head out for a quick bite, maybe go to McDonald’s or Wendy’s and grab something quick, easy, and usually greasy or loaded with carbs and calories.  Well no more.

Lately there has been a surge of healthy options for people on-the-go. McDonald’s is offering more salad and grilled options; Wendy’s has a slew of healthy(er) side options from their “healthy living” menu; and at almost every restaurant you can now see their nutritional information and, therefore, make better food choices.

But one of the greatest “fast-food” options I’ve seen lately is a little place called Sweetgreen.

Sweetgreen is the answer to the new era of healthy fast-food- and that phrase is no longer an oxymoron. They offer delicious, all-natural salads and refreshing frozen yogurts, complete with local, farm-fresh ingredients. Yes, that’s right- farm-fresh ingredients. Every day they post on a black board the local farms from which they are sourcing their organic produce throughout the seasons.

You can choose from one of their own creations- like my favorite, the Santorini (chopped romaine with roasted shrimp, feta cheese, grapes, fresh mint, chickpeas; topped with a cucumber basil yogurt dressing & a fresh lemon squeeze.) Or create your own from any of their yummy ingredients. If you do it online, they automatically calculate the nutrition for you as you go so you know exactly what you’re putting in your body.

Not in the mood for salad? Any of their salad creations can be made into a healthy wrap on whole-wheat pita.

Not only are they offering healthy and fast lunch options, but all their proteins are hormone and anti-biotic free, all of their packaging is 100 percent plant based and compostable (this includes their bowls, cutlery and beverage cups) and certain stores even have solar panels built into their roofs!

As if you needed more reasons to dine there, the food is actually extremely good.

I know, I know, you’re thinking, “Come on! At the end of the day, salad is salad.” And you’re right- almost. Sweetgreen offers so many options and different ways to eat it that you’ll be taken aback by how much salad can surprise you. Whether it’s a squeeze of fresh lime to brighten it up or candied walnuts and toasted parmesan chips for that little extra crunch- they find a way to made salad un-boring.

Visit their website (it’s loaded with cool facts and even a blog!) for more information. Locations in Reston and Ballston.

Here’s a list of the local Virginia farms that provide Sweetgreen with all it’s great produce:

Lois’ Produce (Montross, VA)
Mountain View Farms (Loudoun, VA)
Crown Orchards (Batesville, VA)
Parker Farms (Oak Grove, VA)

… and outside VA (but still pretty close!):

Firefly Farms (Garrett Ct, MD)
Spring Valley Farm & Orchard (Morgan Ct, WV)
Hummingbird Farm (Ridgely, MD)
Bear Mountain Orchards (Aspen, PA)
Godfrey Farms (Suddlersville, MD)
Bell & Evans (Fredericksburg, PA)

– Jennie Whistler

Tags: award winning, dining out, farms, fast food, Green, Gut Check, healthy, healthy lunch option, Jennie, local produce, lunch, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, nova mag, restaurants, salads, sustainable, sweet greens, Sweetgreen