Was one of your resolutions for this year to eat healthier? Do you want 2025 to be the year where you shed those unwanted pounds? Do you want to develop a nutritious eating lifestyle instead of diet after diet with no results?
In honor of all those good intentions, this January Affordable Eats will feature healthy spots that offer plenty of flavor, along with health and nutrition.
Welcome to First Option Juice Hub and Salad Bar in Scotch Plains, where eating healthy does not have to be boring or tasteless. It offers tasty juices, smoothies, power shakes, grain bowls and salads; all made fresh and with organic ingredients.
Upon walking into First Option Juice Hub and Salad Bar, you see giant baskets of fruit everywhere, a hint of what’s to come. And the essence is that of ginger and turmeric, both touted as the healthiest of spices.
Conrad and Cardela Matthews, who are originally from Guyana, the mainland of the Caribbean, own the establishment. The couple brought their love for healthy eating to the United States in 2012.
“I love health, and I love people. You are what you eat, and the nutrition benefits to what we offer here at First Option are terrific,” Conrad Matthews said, then he added grinning, “Besides, eating healthy can taste pretty good.”
I started with the green magic juice ($8.89), which includes spinach, kale, pineapple, mango, apples and ginger. I was surprised by the refreshing and slightly herbaceous flavor. Other popular juices include the heart beet, ($8.55) with beets, apples, carrots and ginger; and the glow up with carrots, apples, cucumber and ginger, ($8.55).
Next, I had the salad-on-the-go with salmon, ($15.84). It came loaded with chunks of tender salmon, olives, tomatoes, onions and crisp lettuce. I also tried the roasted veggie bowl, ($13.75), which came with wild rice, chickpeas, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and roasted mushrooms.
The salad was decent, but the grain bowl was beyond delicious. The ingredients were seasoned well and complemented each other. It was also big enough for two meals.
The last thing I had was a wheat grass shot, ($4.95). I’ve had that before and wasn’t a big fan, since it tasted like grass. I know, shocker! But wheat grass is known to for its digestion and inflammation benefits, so I went for it. The wheat grass shot here tasted fine and wasn’t as “grassy” tasting. Still, I was glad it was a shot you got down quickly!
The First Option Juice Hub and Salad Bar in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, pictured on Jan 9, 2025.Karim Shamsi-Basha
For a healthy kick in North Jersey, you can visit LiveRite Health Bar, where the kale-me-crazy salad, ($11.75) includes kale, apple, carrot, cucumber, lemon and a ginger dressing. Also yummy is the avocado tomato toast, ($10.50), and the sack attack smoothie, ($9.75) with strawberry, banana, mango, cherry and apple juice.
In South Jersey, I recommended Greens and Grains with several locations. I’ve been to the one in Voorhees, and I had the falafel pita, ($12). The sandwich came with falafel patties, tomatoes, onions, cucumber and a tasty sriracha tahini sauce. Also perfect for the winter is the coconut curry lentils, ($7) with sweet potato and a creamy coconut sauce.
Come back next Friday for three more healthy spots in the Garden State. Who knows, 2025 might just be your year!
More stories from Karim:
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Three years in Jersey, and I’m still not used to snow, sleet and slush!!!
Seriously, Karim! Here are my wacky predictions for the New Year
Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram.
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