Eating Healthy: Shabu Shabu

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It’s easier to eat healthy when out to dinner than you may think, all it takes is a little bit of thought and research prior to heading out the door! When we go out we strive to dine at places that align themselves with our dietary ideals and preferences-so places with locally sourced ingredients, organic produce and meats, and freshly prepared menus are always on our radar. We are also creatures of habit though, and tend to frequent the same handful of spots (Lemonade, Cafe Vida, Lyfe Kitchen, Starfish Sushi, Nobu). On occasion I like to introduce Big C to new foods so a few weeks ago I took him to a Shabu Shabu restraurant.  Shabu Shabu is a Japanese style of cooking where you drop pieces of very thinly sliced raw meat and cut vegetables, noodles, and tofu into boiling hot water that has been seasoned with kelp. The food cooks almost instantly and is then dipped into sesame or ponzu sauces. Clearly it’s a super healthy way to cook: no oil, all fresh ingredients, etc. Big C and I decided on a place called Mizu 212, an organic Shabu Shabu spot. Their chicken comes from Petaluma farms in Northern California and are raised in a free range environment without chemicals or hormones, their beef ranges from Wagyu to ‘Vintage Natural Beef’ that is also free of hormones or additives; sauces contain no MSG. Their vegetables are selected fresh from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, handpicked from local farmer’s and organic gardeners. I love that Mizu 212 shops farmer’s markets and is committed to supporting the local farming community! Definitely a spot to visit if you are an LA local! If you aren’t in Los Angeles, do some googling and find some new spots in your area that feature healthy cooking styles or organic and locally farmed produce. Step outside of your comfort zone and try something new 🙂