Summer is well and truly upon us, and although any body on a beach is technically a ‘beach-body’, it does help to have some lighter options for this time of year. The Arndale Market’s food traders put an ever more exciting range of dishes on offer, from salads to curries to pancakes and everything in between. Here, we take a look at some great options for those of us looking for vibrant, healthy options for summer.
Viet Shack (Vietnamese Street Food)
It’s hard to find a dish at Viet Shack that doesn’t look fresh, nutritious and mouth-wateringly good. Why not try their Saigon Summer Salad with grilled chicken served on fresh green leaves, sliced avocado, pickled vegetables and a chilli and lime dressing? It’s fresh, vibrant and surprisingly filling. And it only costs £3.50! Also, some exciting news: the Viet Shack team are part of a new project, Simone’s, which will be opening soon in the Arndale Food Market. It will serve healthy bakes, like the green-tea brownie in the photo. Think raw, low fat, low sugar, gluten and dairy free options, vegan choices, and more! We're looking forward to having two stands offering delicious, yet healthy, meals and treats.
Smoothielicious
The Smoothielicious menu covers all smoothie bases, from sweet and simple ingredients like strawberry and banana to health foods like ginger and acai berries. For a real health kick, we suggest the ‘Daily Green’ smoothie with spinach, avocado, lime, basil and spirulina. Spirulina is a blue-green algae often used as a dietary supplement as it is high in protein. The ‘Daily Green’ smoothie is creamy from the avocado and not too sweet; but still enough that you feel like you’re drinking a smoothie and not just vegetables. All smoothies are made with low-fat yoghurt and cost just £2.49 for a regular.
Lean & Mean (Healthy Street Food)
As you may well have guessed, there are two sides to this stand’s offerings. They have their ‘lean’ options, described as ‘High in Protein’ and their ‘Mean’ options, which are ‘High in Carbs’. Their Lean Meal Deals range from £3.90 for a salad box, with a bit of everything in, to £7.90 for a fillet of seabass, rice, side and a drink. One of their lean dishes is grilled chicken with rice and is served with either steamed vegetables or a green salad. It’s a well-balanced, filling and lean meal and costs £5.90, including a drink.
Café Issano
Café Issano is tucked round the back of the market, so you may have missed them up until this point but it’s well worth checking out. They have a large selection of reasonably priced lunch options, as well as coffee, smoothies and snacks on offer. Their salad bar boasts a wide variety of options and you can customize your salad, wrap or whole wheat baguette to your own taste/dietary requirements. Go for a nice veggie option with a Greek-style salad plate, including feta, olives, falafel and a selection of side salads. A big plate like the one featured would cost £4.50, but they also do smaller plates at £3.50 if you’re not that hungry.
Pancake Café
Don’t be fooled by the name, this stand serves up more than just pancakes. Lighter options include wraps and salad boxes, you can choose your own fillings and toppings from the fresh selection in the salad bar. This month there are some new additions to the menu, incorporating some more Moroccan flavours, dishes include Moroccan Tarragon Chicken with salad. This dish can be served with or without a sauce/dressing of your choice. It’s packed full of protein and fresh nutritious veggies and costs £6.25.
Eat 2 Treat
If you’re a bit peckish, but don’t fancy a whole meal, Eat 2 Treat offer a healthy, cheap, on-the-go snack; corn in a cup. The fresh, juicy corn kernels are mixed with salt, lemon juice and a choice of topping. They are also mixed with margarine as standard, but as it’s all prepared fresh, so make sure to ask for yours without if you want a super light option. Toppings range from Piri Piri to Cheese to Tomato or even Honey! For a healthy but flavoursome option, try the Mexican Chilli topping; a mixture of spices that packs just a little heat. It’s only £1 for a regular sized cup, £2 for medium, £2.50 for large, and 20p for extra toppings. It’s perfect if you need a little something to keep you going while wandering the shops instead of crisps or chocolate.