It's (Almost) All Greek and Asian to Me: Healthy Dining in Jackson

I have been working in and around Jackson, so I have become accustomed to seeking out relatively inexpensive, healthy meals at restaurants for lunch and supper.

The criteria that I use to judge a restaurant is based on whether they offer low-calorie, plant/vegetable-centered options with some healthy cholesterol thrown in. The cholesterol issue means that I am typically looking for meals with olives/oil, soy, fish, or avocados and the like.

As well, I will avoid restaurants that offer unhealthy menu options that I cannot resist ordering. I know. My weaknesses are not fair in judging them. For example, I love some Keifer’s. But I find it difficult to eat there without ordering the cottage potato as a side. I mean, a sliced whole potato that has been fried? If I can get in and out of Keifer’s and stick to the tuna melt with a side of kalamatas, it’s a great day. But those days are rare.

These are the restaurants that I return to the most:

ATHENOS: this is actually a Greek and Lebanese franchise. I first ate there at their restaurant in Hammond, LA, and was pleasantly surprised to find one in Madison next to the Kroger west of I-55. They offer a vegetable plate with a pick five from a long list: dolmas, baba ghanouj, eggplant moussaka, squash moussaka, falafel, hummus, mujadarah (lentils and rice), rice pilaf, spinach pie, and tabbouleh. That squash is light and billowy, the dolmas are tight and perfect, the mujadarah flavorful and filling, and the falafel that are perfectly spiced and crispy.

JUTAMAS: this Thai restaurant just opened in Ridgeland about six months ago. It’s in a strip mall near Southern Breeze Gallery on Highway 51. It’s an elegant little place that has extremely flavorful food. The coconut milk soup with tofu and lime is my favorite. Pick any entrée! Everything that I have ordered, I have enjoyed. Just be careful with the heat level. They ain’t playing. I like a nice kick in my food and started at a level 3 out of 5. Mercy on my soul. The next time I backed up to a 2. And now, a 1 is just fine with me.

MAMA HAMIL’S: It shocks me to find people who live in Jackson who have never heard of Mama Hamil’s. Yes, it’s an all-you-can-eat soul food buffet, and they do have desserts and hoe cakes (fried cornbread!) that are the Devil tempting you. But I have made a habit: first round fill my plate with vegetables – all the peas and beans that I can eat with a nice premixed kale salad with blueberries, and a baked chicken thigh. If I am still hungry, I may return for a little serving of mac and cheese with a rib tip, but most of the time I make it out feeling good about what I have consumed.

ALADDIN: They offer multiple vegetarian options including a mixed vegetables dish over rice with feta sprinkled on top. Order the lebna and spinach pie appetizers if you want to get really full. And there’s a meat option that’s pretty healthy, too. Recommended by a server, the Chicken Lula is ground chicken patties cooked in olive oil, beautifully seasoned with a nice citrus marinade. Iced mint tea, too? I love this place.

PHO HUONG: Don’t go for the atmosphere. It’s in an unassuming building off Old Canton Road that’s easy to miss. It’s all about the food. Order the pho, and get the small serving. It’s plenty. The broth is really rich and every bite includes a multitude of flavors.

BROAD STREET: ‘T’is such a joyful place with plenty of healthy options. Avocado toast. Wraps. It’s the salads that keep me coming back, though. Sol’s Salad with spinach, pears, grapes, and blue cheese? Yes, ma’am. The chopped salad is my favorite - maybe the remoulade dressing and the huge slice of fresh bread would disqualify it as being healthy, but the fresh pickles and grilled chicken are perfection.

PRIMOS: Pick a location! Any location! There’s three! Pete’s (egg white) omelet with mushrooms and spinach is available all day, and I enjoy it for lunch with a side of grits and some toast. The tiger wrap with grilled chicken is a winner, and they usually have fish available – a red fish special or the tilapia from the menu. You can always get a vegetable plate. Just don’t wander over into the baked goods, or you’ll walk out with a dozen lemon squares.

SURIN OF THAILAND: Order the chicken larb appetizer as your meal with the spicy coconut soup with tofu. It’s plenty. The larb is well-seasoned, diced chicken with red onion and lime served with cabbage leaves to construct as a wrap. (Most larb dishes I have been served were in salad form.) The cabbage is cool and crispy and complements the spicy chicken beautifully.

ICHIBAN BUFFET (Flowood, not Pearl): Yes. It’s another all-you-can-eat food trough. But it’s quite good. One bar includes all you can eat sushi. Try the tuna rolls and California rolls. Instead of the fried rice, look next to it for the pot with the steamed brown rice, then layer on the vegetables from any number of dishes down the line. Don’t skip the fresh sautéed green beans and carrots – my favorite. Find the baked chicken teriyaki sliced into small servings to get some good protein. The hot and sour soup is freshly made – it tastes different from visit to visit, but always delicious – and includes big slivers of silky tofu. And instead of going for the ice cream, opt for the freshly cut fruit at the inner bar.

LUBY'S: Honorable mention. Yes, it's a chain. Yes, it's a cafeteria. Yes, there's a fried pork chop that I'd step on your face to get to. But the food is consistently good, and the healthy options are plenty. If you're in a hurry, try it.

Cheers to healthy eating and a longer life ...