The tropical bowl at Carla Ohio Coffee and Things in Kaiserslautern, Germany, includes organic oats, Greek yogurt and fresh fruit with no sugar added. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Sticking to a better diet is one of the most common new year’s resolutions. One in five Americans plans to eat healthier in 2024, according to polling by YouGov. A range of healthy eateries in Kaiserslautern, Germany, means that those who have the same goal don’t have to stay home to be successful.
I decided to visit several of them and order the healthiest dishes offered, based on staff recommendations.
Tropical bowl at Carla Ohio Coffee and Things
Carla Ohio Coffee and Things in downtown Kaiserslautern has been serving sugar-free, low-fat food since 2018.
On my recent visit, I was told to try the tropical bowl, consisting of organic oats, Greek yogurt and fresh “tropical fruit,” layered in a glass jar and topped with sesame and hemp seeds.
I had expected something with coconut and pineapple, which I normally wouldn’t order, and was pleasantly surprised when the tropical fruit turned out to be banana, melon, blueberry and pomegranate.
This dish is best eaten slowly, allowing for an appreciation of its flavors. I first noticed the mild, nutty taste of the sesame seeds, followed by the fresh melon and banana.
The yogurt was thick and creamy, and while it didn’t provide much taste itself, it paired perfectly with the blueberries and pomegranate, which provided small bursts of flavor.
My drink, a tangy mixture of blood orange juice and regular orange juice, was also a refreshing accompaniment to the dish.
While the tropical bowl looks small, it’s surprisingly filling. I had mine in the morning and wasn’t hungry again until lunch.
Price: 7.40 euros; other healthy options: the breakfast bowl and veggie breakfast.
Address: Pirmasenser Strasse 5; hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; www.facebook.com/carlaohio.
The Classico at Cafe Susann
The Classico at Cafe Susann in Kaiserslautern, Germany, is full of flavor, particularly the homemade baked beans in tomato sauce. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Cafe Susann is another hot spot for health-conscious diners in town. Like Carla Ohio, it specializes in breakfast and brunch options, coffees and cakes.
My waitress told me to go with the Classico if I wanted the healthiest thing on the menu.
It has homemade baked beans, a boiled egg, red beet salad, pickled onions and carrots and whipped ricotta cream with olive oil, which can be substituted for hummus. I got the hummus.
When it arrived, I thought it looked too healthy. But after digging in, I changed my mind.
The highlight was the baked beans, which were nothing like common canned versions. They nearly melted in my mouth, but weren’t overcooked. The red sauce had a rustic tomato flavor.
The hummus, meanwhile, was light with a generous dab of vegetal olive oil. It mixed well with the earthy beets and the house bread made with carrots and sunflower seeds.
This is a dish I’ll be ordering again.
Price: 12 euros; other healthy options: ayurvedic millet porridge.
Address: Osterstrasse 7; hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; www.cafesusann.de, 0631 84286771.
Good Greens salad at Dean & David
The Good Greens salad at Dean & David restaurants in Germany is billed as being good for you and for the planet. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Dean & David specializes in salads and has restaurants across Germany. Its Kaiserslautern location is on Fackelstrasse, in the heart of the city’s shopping area.
Staff recommended the Good Greens salad, which is the “most planet-friendly salad” in addition to being the healthiest, they said.
It consists of red cabbage, red pepper, garden cress, walnuts, grapes and new potatoes, topped with a pink balsamic vinaigrette.
The dish was made on the spot, and the ingredients were surprisingly fresh for a chain restaurant. The potatoes were warm and the various textures of the ingredients were nice.
However, the quality didn’t quite match that of Carla Ohio or Cafe Susann, and I felt I could easily have made the same dish at home.
Still, the service was fast, and the restaurant is a good option for those looking for a quick, reasonably priced healthy meal on the go.
Price: 9.95 euros; other healthy options: vitality salad, falafel tahini salad, veggie Buddha bowl.
Address: Fackelstrasse 26; hours: Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday 11:45 a.m.-5p.m.; www.deananddavid.de, 0631 3116 1184.
Tofu pho at Kirschbluete
The tofu pho at Kirschbluete in Kaiserslautern makes a fine meal on a cold day. Chicken and beef options are also offered. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
I went to the Kirschbluete at the southwest corner of Stadtpark, though many Americans in the area frequent the Ramstein location.
I ordered tofu pho, which is usually nutritious and high in protein, but also can be high in sodium. Chicken and beef versions are also available.
Kirschbluete’s pho is topped with red onions and spring onions and comes with a side plate loaded with bean sprouts, coriander, Thai basil and red chilis. I put a lot of the ingredients in the soup, and they added a variety of fresh flavors to the savory broth.
This dish was the freshest of all I tried.
A fortune cookie at the end of the meal means that in addition to sticking to your new year’s resolution at Kirschbluete, you may get some insight into what else 2024 has in store.
Price: 13.50 euros; other healthy options: sushi dishes
Address: Karcherstrasse 10; hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 12-10 p.m. www.kirschbluete.online, 0631-31197285.
Quinoado at 9 to 5 Cafe and Brunch
Warm quinoa is the highlight of the Quinoado bowl at 9 to 5 Cafe and Brunch in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The restaurant plans to introduce more healthy dishes in 2024. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
9 to 5 Cafe and Brunch opened in September and is already a favorite haunt of many residents. A range of breakfast and lunch fare is available, and the owners told me they plan to add more healthy options to the menu in 2024.
I tried the Quinoado bowl, which includes a healthy portion of warm quinoa, avocado, chia seeds, chickpeas, corn, cucumber, lettuce, pomegranate and tomato.
It’s topped with a mango and dill dressing and served with slices of brown bread that are hard-crusted and soft on the inside.
The main flavor is the tangy dressing. But it’s not overpowering, which allows the subtle flavor of the ingredients to come through.
The Quinoado bowl was fresh and filling, and while I thought I could easily make it at home, the price was reasonable enough to make me think it was worth it to avoid the clean-up.
Price: 12 euros; other healthy options: checkenfeta bowl, various omelets.
Address: Pirmasenser Strasse 1A. Hours: Monday through Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 0631 31166322.
