As the weather gets brighter and the days get longer, patios get more crowded. Savannah loves to eat, and she damn sure loves to drink, but we spend our coastal days balancing satisfying culinary needs with buttoning our shorts and tying last year’s bikini. Maybe you want health benefits from greens not-cooked-down-so-far-it’s-unrecognizable. Blasphemy, I know. What’s a Savannahian torn between health goals and heathen tastes to do? Must we hide inside, never to peruse a menu again? Is there no rooftop Happy Hour allowed?
As a petite female with the unfortunate dietary needs of a child, I’ve managed to navigate the Savannah social dining scene over the years and still have my jeans fit. It requires homing in on what’s worth it, but you need not exist on sparkling water and dry salads.
I actually enjoy veggies and Savannah has several spots that do salads right. One fave is Common’s salad the, well, Common Salad. It’s a great mix of flavors and temperatures, which you want in greens to feel satisfied, adding on smoked chicken for a full meal. There’s a version at The Ordinary as well, of course. Salads are everywhere; just watch decadent add-ons like nuts, cheeses, and dressings. Don’t scorn them completely but ask to go light on toppings – and get the dressing on the side.
Protein is your friend. It’s a satiating bang for the calorie-buck if you keep it leaner. Grilled over-fried foods are common knowledge, but y’all – we live on the coast. Shrimp, white fish, oysters… make these the focus, and you’re on the right track. I can’t name everywhere with fresh seafood but pick a direction and start walking. Don’t take my Southern card, but you can even get smoked chicken at most BBQ joints, and if you pick the right one, it’s sometimes worth skipping the pork.
Sunday brunch? Be basic with avocado toast or lox on a bagel. Go lighter on cream cheese if you want, but it’s a filling alternative to French toast and just as photogenic if you grab it from Collins Quarter or Finches. Classic breakfast fans can punch up egg white omelets with salsa and an English muffin, adding veggies for micronutrients. I ask for my mimosas heavy on the prosecco, minus the OJ – but that’s simply because that’s the correct way to serve one.
There’s no reason you can’t drink alcohol when watching calories; just consider it part of your meal rather than a free-for-all, and skew a little lighter. Lower ABV beers like Coastal Empire’s Tybee Island Blonde or Southbound’s Mountain Jam aren’t a big deal if you don’t knock back an entire 6-pack. Hey, hit up the Thursday run group at Service before tossing back a brew and you get two-for-one fun! A glass of rosé from 208 Wine Bar sometimes replaces my beloved full-body reds, but there’s a time and a place for both. Ordering liquor on the rocks, or with a calorie-free mixer (whiskey and a splash of water, please), is the Happy Hour move, and you can grab a skinny marg off most cocktail menus in town for all the tequila, all the fun.
All this to say, it’s about balance. I’m a huge proponent of being healthy, but memories are what matter. It’s your birthday? Anniversary? Eat it and like it – all of it. Get a cocktail so fancy you don’t know what half of the ingredients are. Just stay away from anything with pimento, please, but that’s a rant for another time.
