64 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • JANUARY 19, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM dining out FOOD FIX: Part 1 BY SEAN CURRY Welcome to 2017, dear reader! Despite 2016’s best eff orts, you made it in one piece. Pat yourself on the back and have yourself a drink. Now put it down and pick up a dumbbell — January means it’s time to take those healthy resolutions seriously! It’s no easy task to eat healthy in the big city, especially since some seriously unhealthy foods like bagels and burgers are part of our weekly diets. And don’t forget brunch — we’d practically have no social life without it! Th at’s why we’ve pulled together a few restaurants in Astoria, LIC and Sunnyside that off er healthy (or healthier) options to some of our favorite dishes. Read on for some tasty local spots with healthy alternatives to New York City staples. We’re sharing some breakfast and brunch options this week; pick up next week’s paper for some lunch and dinner choices. The Morning Pick-Me-Up: Acai Bowls at Fusion Juice Bar Th e coff ee-and-bagel-to-go morning routine is almost as second nature to a New Yorker as swiping through subway turnstiles on the fi rst try. And while we love a good everything bagel with a little schmear — and maybe some lox — it can in no way be considered part of any “healthy” New Year’s resolution. Which is why we’re currently obsessed with Fusion Juice Bar’s two locations on 31st Avenue and 36th Avenue. Stopping in for a quick cold press on the way to work in the morning is just as simple as grabbing a cup of joe on the way to the subway, and their acai bowls are a wonderful way to start a busy weekend morning. Th eir almond butter acai bowl, pictured here, is a protein-packed power punch that’ll recharge you aft er a morning on the elliptical. Brunch: Wattle Seed Waffl e at The Thirsty Koala You’re going to brunch one way or the other, so you might as well fi nd the healthiest, tastiest spot in western Queens to brunch at. And for our dollar, there’s no better place than Th e Th irsty Koala on Ditmars and 35th Street in Astoria. Chef and co-owner Kathy Fuchs, who is gluten free, didn’t always feel safe when she went out to eat. Th at’s why this Australianinspired restaurant takes their customers’ allergens very seriously. Much of the menu is gluten free, and cross-contamination is strictly supervised during their food prep. Celiacs and amateur dieticians alike may appreciate their attention to gluten, but anyone from vegans to carnivores will fi nd something to like at this fi ve-star restaurant. While their green bowl of quinoa, herbs, spinach, kale and a poached egg is a delight and their corn and jalapeño fritter Benedict is sure to satisfy, it’s their wattle seed waffl e that’ll keep you coming back to the Koala aft er mornings at the gym. Full of protein and nice and crunchy, the wattle seed baked into their waffl e batter is native to Australia and has kept Aboriginals well-energized for centuries. Get it with fruit and a small scoop of ice cream to help the medicine go down. CHOPPED CHAMPION Bayside Chef MARIA PETRIDIS Wins on Food Network's CHOPPED MariasOnBell.com 38-11 Bell Blvd. Bayside, NY 11361 718-279-1606 -Open 7 Days A Weekwww.
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