Hands up if you’re in a toxic relationship with Uber Eats? You want to bite that hand feeding you, even though, technically, that hand is yours. So maybe this is a self-restraint issue? Don’t worry, this isn’t a therapy session- just a list of healthy takeaways that don’t require any restraint at all! Because, well, they’re healthy, obviously?

Here’s your cheat sheet for the best healthy takeaway eats on the Gold Coast.

Dalas Kitchen

As wholesome as it gets, Dalas Kitchen is a gourmet salad bar with two Gold Coast locations, online delivery and catering. They’re known for the most deluxe salads, but also serve sangas (on house-made focaccia), bagels and sodas too! Ran out of time to meal prep? Just order’ Dalas At Your Desk’ via their website!

Our pick: the vegan and dairy-free Bangin’ Cauli’ with panko-crusted roasted cauliflower, Asian slaw, mint, coriander, shallots, crushed peanuts and a creamy maple sriracha dressing!
Where: 2247 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach and 6 Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach

Govinda’s 

Voted Gold Coast’s best healthy vegan eats, Govindas is not just a restaurant, but a mission. They’re a non-profit serving up feel-good, budget-friendly, and ethically made vegetarian fare. Every dish is as soul-nourishing as the next, with curries, salads, sides and more. They also run specials daily!

Our pick: Thursday’s Shepherd’s Pie– a classic!
Where: 20 James St, Burleigh Heads and 72 Griffith St, Coolangatta

Cardamom Pod

This place is a plant-based paradise; every dish is a visual and nutritional masterpiece. If you’re yet to experience the best of vegan cuisine, let Cardamon Pod be your gateway! It’s as decadent and exciting as vegan dishes come- from raw cakes to globally inspired mains.

Our pick: Vegan Madras Chicken Tacos with tamarind popcorn ‘chicken’, bhuja, BBQ corn chat salsa, madras mayo and jalapeño cheese pakoras.
Where: 3/3 Brolga Ave, Brickworks Ferry Road, Southport 

Just Fresh Made

Quick, healthy and tasty- Just Fresh Made is your go-to for mouthwatering salads, spuds, wraps and fresh juices. Whether you’re craving something light and refreshing or a little heartier, Just Fresh Made has you covered every day of the week.

Our pick: Classic Fresh Veg Spud loaded with your choice of protein, smashed avo, tomato salsa, kale mix, sour cream and herb butter.
Where: Shop 1/84 Scarborough Street, Southport

Banana Blossom Broadbeach

They’re the Asian-inspired salad bar shaking up the fast-food game with zingy Asian bowls and rolls full of flavour and crunch. Banana Blossom is an East Coast favourite, serving in locations from the Sunny Coast to Bondi Beach. Their salads, rice bowls, and rice paper rolls are a fast, healthy and flavourful way to get your takeaway fix.

Our pick: Satay Salad with chicken, tofu or beef, plus pineapple, rice noodles, bean sprouts and a mouthwatering Malay-style dressing.
Where: Shop E117 Oracle East 6 Charles Ave, Broadbeach

Poke Poke

Come for the poke, stay for the roti wraps and smoothie bowls. This Mermaid Beach gem dishes up generous, customisable bowls with all the toppings your taste buds could desire. They offer plenty of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options to suit all!

Our pick: Nacho Bowl with chilli con carne, smoked sour cream, guac, habanero jam, and crunchy wonton chips.
Where: 2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Easy House Vegan Restaurant

Plant-based yum cha? What about take-home banquet packs?! Hell yeah! This little vegan restaurant in Mermaid Beach serves up mind-blowing Asian yum cha and meals that are so damn good it’s earned them a 92% recommendation on Facebook! This place is a not-to-miss, with insane hot pots, soups and noodles, and even vegan ‘meat’ and ‘seafood’ dishes.

Our pick: Any noodle dish (seriously, you can’t go wrong)- but don’t skip the entrees.
Where: 90 Market St, Mermaid Waters

Okazu

Three words, well, dishes; donburi, okonomiyaki and sushi. Does healthy takeaway get much better than Japanese soul food? Okazu does it best- fast, fresh and in two locations. They also do poke bowls, burgers, bento combo meals and plenty of options for the kiddies.

Our pick: Teriyaki Beef Okonomiyaki with a side of miso soup.
Where: 1/2223 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach and 90 Markeri St Mermaid Waters

Fish Bowl

Don’t let the same put you off because this famed franchise is single-handedly making salads great again! They taste so damn good you forget you’re getting your entire daily intake of veg in one bowl! Build your own or pick from a menu of stacked bowls.

Our pick: The O.G. Chicken with poached chicken, kale, beets, crispy shallots, seaweed salad and roasted sesame dressing.
Where: Soul Boardwalk Shop T120B/4 Esplanade Surfers Paradise, Shop/4252 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina and 2 James Street Burleigh Heads 

Fox’s Pantry

Your servo snack stop just got a serious glow-up. Fox’s Pantry is a gourmet grocer/café hybrid (also a servo) serving fresh and fab whole eats, including sandwiches, salads, soups and more. Whether you follow a vegan, gluten free, dairy free or, keto lifestyle or diet….they have something ya!

Our pick: whatever you get, just don’t leave without a smoothie!
Where: 468 Golden Four Drive, Tugun

Sumptuous Fine Foods

This Currumbin spot is a treasure trove of health-conscious delights. While catering is their main gig, their in-house and takeaway eats are at the next level. They use only the highest quality ingredients to make only the best-tasting eats that will fill your belly and warm your heart.

Our pick: the Organic Handcrafted Tofu Burger
Where: Shop 2 – 30 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin

Words by Chelsea Ipsen

This is the perfect pudding for those nights at home after dinner when you feel like a little something sweet but need it to be quick and easy! Whip them up in no time at all and indulge in some delicious fruity goodness.

INGREDIENTS:

2 apples, peeled
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup coconut flour
3 eggs
4 tablespoons natural maple syrup
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Drizzle natural maple syrup, optional

DIRECTIONS:

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees celsius and prepare 4 ramekins by greasing the dishes with olive oil. Peel and slice the apples and put aside.  Place all the other ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until combined. Add the apples to the batter, leaving four apple rings for the topping. Mix the apples through the batter. Pour batter into the ramekins, place an apple ring on top and place in the oven for 10 minutes.

Serve the pudding hot with a drizzle of natural maple syrup.

Preparation time 7 minutes
Cooking time 10 minutes
Serves 4

For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.

Sweet, fresh and perfect for summer.

INGREDIENTS
10 scallops
2 oranges
1 cup fennel
1 cup red cabbage
¼ cup sliced almonds
3 sprigs coriander
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 clove crushed garlic

Orange Dressing
1/3 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon of honey
3 tablespoons of olive oil
Pinch of salt and pepper
Drizzle olive oil

DIRECTIONS
Drain the scallops and let them dry in between 2 pieces of paper hand towel. Peel the oranges, removing the skin and pith, then slice. Slice the fennel and red cabbage. On two plates, lay out the fennel, red cabbage and orange slices. Toast the almonds by heating a small pan on the stove over a medium heat with a tiny drizzle of olive oil. Lightly roast the almonds for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle the almonds around the plate. For the scallops, heat a frying pan on the stove over a medium heat. Place the coconut oil and garlic in the pan. Once the garlic starts to sizzle, place the scallops in the pan and let them caramelise, which will take a couple of minutes. Turn and caramelise the other side of the scallops for 2 or 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and place 5 scallops around each of the salads. Garnish with the coriander.

To make the dressing, squeeze 2 oranges to yield 1/3 cup of juice. In a shaker place all the ingredients and shake briskly until combined. Drizzle over the salad.

SERVES 2

For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.