Healthy eats: best Colorado restaurants

Planning dinner out with the kids? A happy hour with the girls? Brunch with your in-laws? Here are some menu and restaurant options that will help you eat mindfully when you're eating out.

Happy hour at City, O’ City

You might already know that City, O’ City  in Denver has some of the best vegetarian bites in town. But did you know it’s also an all-inclusive bakery, cafe, restaurant and bar? Use your next happy hour as an excuse to sample the seitan wings or a Waldorf pizza made vegan or gluten-free by request. You won’t even miss the meat. Pair your meal with happy hour drinks daily from 2 to 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to close.

Brunch at Over Easy

Over Easy takes weekend brunch and kicks it up a notch. This Colorado Springs eatery has the usual pancakes, french toast, and eggs made to order, but these classic dishes aren't all that's on the menu. Sample the organic breakfast quinoa or egg white delight from the lighter side offerings. And don't leave without sampling a natural juice blend like the ginger splash with digestion-friendly ginger, carrot and honey lemonade.

Light lunch at Fresh Thymes Eatery

Looking for a delightful lunch to catch up with friends or running errands solo? Fresh Thymes Eatery  in Boulder is free – gluten-free that is. Not to mention, all the restaurant’s ingredients are local, organic and/or sustainably sourced for paleo and vegan eaters. Grab your food to go or eat in with a glass of wine. The Fresh Thymes Spicy Rad Thai, Dragon Tacos and Mac Attack are all worth a try. It’s comfort food with a health-friendly twist.

Something sweet at Foote’s Rest Sweet Shoppe

Built in a historic building where miners used to weigh their gold and silver, Fisco’s Foote’s Rest Sweet Shoppe  features fudge, homemade ice cream, donuts and candy by the pound. If you take the kids and want to indulge, opt for treats with antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, nuts with healthy fats and sweets that come in individual-sized servings.