The top five hearty salads and healthy food options [Partner]

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As the weather gets colder, we tend to turn to heartier and heavier foods as we prepare for our own version of hibernation in the winter. Tailgate season – also known as pumpkin-everything season – may be in full swing right now, but we can still make smart choices. So just because we’re craving comfort food, we don’t have to give up our greens. Our friends at DoorDash put together a “Top 5” list of satisfying, delicious, and hearty options for us – that’ll still make certain you get your veggies – as the weather continues to change.

With DoorDash (via the Android or iOS app or online at www.doordash.com) Charlotteans can order from more than 300 restaurants in the area. In under an hour, your favorite fall dishes will be delivered to your door or to your office.

Here is the “Top 5” list compiled by DoorDash for meals that are not only chalk full of nutrients, but that will also meet your hibernation preparation requirements.

1. Make it your way: The salads at CHOPT have created quite the following in Charlotte at their Park Road and Blakeney locations. Order one of their popular salads such as the Chicken Tinga, or be adventurous and create your own salad. Want beets on your salad? You got it. How about soba noodles? Done. Go crazy and create the salad of your dreams.
2. So many options, so little time: Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint is pizza dough heaven. There are salad and other options, but for a hearty and healthy option, why not make your own pizza? With gluten-free and whole-wheat dough options, garlic olive oil as a sauce option, vegan cheese and all the veggie options you can image, you can have the yumminess without any of the guilt.
3. Let them eat cake… or not: When you think of The Cheesecake Factory, a delectable slice of one of the million flavored cheesecakes may come to mind. While dessert is a food group (I mean it is, right?), don’t forget about the other food options available. The fresh vegetable salad with asparagus, green beans, roasted beets, and apples can be further customized to make it your type of (healthy) indulgence.
4. Under the sea: Bacon makes everything better, and so does lobster. With the lobster cobb salad from McCormick & Schmick’s you can have both! Bacon, avocado, tomato, lobster and before you checkout you can customize your order further. If you sing “Under the Sea” from the Little Mermaid, bonus points to you, my friend.
5. Sushi for the win: From fresh sushi rolls to seaweed salad and everything else in between, Fujo Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar has your back. Start with the edamame, maybe enjoy the seaweed salad and try the maguro (tuna) or ebi (steamed shrimp) rolls.

Regardless of your dressing preferences, DoorDash is here to make sure you eat your vegetables. Don’t forget to check out the DoorDash site and app as new restaurants and areas of Charlotte are being added to better serve customers. And remember, you can make smart choices without sacrificing flavor and taste. And certainly no judgment here if you add a Pumpkin Spice Latte to round out your meal.

Header Photo: The Cheesecake Factory

This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 1:11 PM.