New Year's resolutions: Want to eat better? Here's 5 Lee County restaurants to try

Marcela Romero
·3 min read
Pure Green blends its smoothies with superfoods such as blue spirulina. The New York-based franchise launched its first Southwest Florida location in August 2022 at the Surfside Shops in Cape Coral.
Pure Green blends its smoothies with superfoods such as blue spirulina. The New York-based franchise launched its first Southwest Florida location in August 2022 at the Surfside Shops in Cape Coral.

One of the most common resolutions for the New Year is to improve wellness, which includes eating more fruits, vegetables, and nutritious foods in general.If this is one of your New Year’s resolutions, these are five options from Estero to Cape Coral that will help you find some nourishing and delicious meals to try.

Uhmaze BowlsBrad and Eden McIntyre started Uhmaze Bowls out of Southwest Florida’s Farmers Markets in 2016. After seeing the growing demand for fast and healthy options in the region, the couple decided to open their first storefront in Fort Myers in 2018. Their colorful venue is in the Daniel’s Marketplace plaza. The store specializes in açai bowls, smoothies, gourmet toasts, and poke bowls. They pride themselves on never adding sugar to their products and on being able to make everything vegan or gluten free at request. What to try: Holy Cacao bowl, basic bee smoothie, or their original poke bowl. In 2020, Uhmaze Bowls opened a second location in Cape Coral.

(6881 Daniels Parkway, No. 105, Fort Myers; 239-689-5224; 1830 NE Pine Island Road, No. 150, Cape Coral; 239-347-3939; uhmazebowls.com)

Hidden gems:Here's 5 favorite restaurants to try in Lehigh Acres

Dining review:Flock with friends to newly opened Fort Myers wine bistro - JLB

Juice SocietyKallie Isadore started Juice Society, a cold pressed juicery, in January 2022. Isadore wanted to make sure that the community had convenient access to healthy food that people would love. She is clearly passionate about food and is always eager to discuss each ingredient the menu items include. The store focuses on cold press juices, non-dairy nut mylks, açaí bowls, and smoothies.

All of the products are made with locally sourced and organic ingredients that Isadore curates herself. The Juice Society is located in a small stand alone building in Coconut Point in Estero, but they are planning to expand to a bigger store, in the same mall, later in the year. What to try: Elvis Parsley cold pressed juice, cashew mylk, date night smoothie, or chia colada.

(23127 Fashion Dr., Estero; 239-788-7150; juicesocietyjuicery.com)

The first franchise of Playa Bowls in Southwest Florida opened in 2021 near the intersection of Alico Road and Ben Hill Griffin Parkway.
The first franchise of Playa Bowls in Southwest Florida opened in 2021 near the intersection of Alico Road and Ben Hill Griffin Parkway.

Playa BowlsThe first franchise of Playa Bowls in Southwest Florida opened in 2021 on the corner of Alico Road and Ben Hill Griffin Parkway. The store offers a variety of smoothies and smoothie bowls that you can top off with a wide selection of ingredients from fruit to nutella. Playa Bowls has a relaxing atmosphere with beach decoration and friendly staff that are ready to serve. What to try: Avalanche coconut bowl, nutcracker oatmeal bowl, pink pitaya smoothie, or mermaid fuel juice.

(10041 University Plaza Dr., Suite 160, Fort Myers; 239-887-4931; instagram.com/playabowlsfortmyers)

Pure Green Cape CoralBrad Weiss and Michael Holmes are on a mission to share their love for healthy eating and incorporating superfoods into everyday living. With that goal in mind, they opened their first Pure Green franchise in Cape Coral mid-2022.

“We believe in the Pure Green mission, which is: our mission is to build healthier communities around the globe by connecting people with superfoods,” Weiss said.

Pure green specializes in smoothies and cold-pressed juices that focus on nurturing the body. What to try: Blue banana smoothie, golden girl cold pressed juice, or blue biotic cold pressed juice shot.

(2390 Surfside Blvd., Cape Coral; 239-961-9930; instagram.com/puregreencapecoral)

Big Energy Cafe in south Fort Myers offers acai bowls, smoothies and much more.
Big Energy Cafe in south Fort Myers offers acai bowls, smoothies and much more.

Big Energy Cafe Barby Mercado opened Big Energy Cafe in 2022. The small cafe is filled with big energy that is felt as soon as you walk in the door. Mercado is always greeting customers with a smile, passion for food and service, and enthusiasm for life. Her passion for a healthy lifestyle drove her to open the cafe and bring healthy options that are full of flavor to Fort Myers.

“At the cafe, you will ALWAYS find healthy options! I also love having daily specials bringing in my Latin heritage. All contain fresh herbs, spices, and key ingredients. I opened my cafe because I wanted to offer healthy, yet tasteful, options in SWFL with great service, vibes & ENERGY.” Mercado said. What to try: Gluten free almond and blueberry muffins, chicken sandwich, or AvoEvo toast.

(8646 Gladiolus Dr., Suite 404, Fort Myers; 239-851-4661; instagram.com/bigenergycafe)

Marcela Romero is a freelance contributor who manages the @loveswfl account on Instagram. 

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: 5 restaurants to enjoy healthy meals from Estero to Cape Coral