Meet Dr Smood, the healthy fast food chain

Sometimes just taking a quick bite can feel like you’re navigating a minefield of igniting bombs. Whether you’re trying to find a sandwich with gluten-free bread or trying to figure out if your salad is coated in a dairy-based dressing, there comes a time when you might wonder why, exactly, eating healthy can be. so much work.

And while wellness-conscious cafes are more popular than ever, one newcomer is making the inquiry process effortlessly positive: Dr Smood.

The idea came to Danish business developer Rene Sindlev and his wife, Patrizia Manici Sindlev, while they were living in Denmark and feeling frustrated with the lack of healthy restaurants to take out. So they decided not only to open theirs in Miami, but also to make it healthier than anything they had seen before. The first step? The couple recruited a holistic and healing nutritionist, Dr Etti Ben-Zion, to lead the menu.

“The concept was for everything to be anti-inflammatory,” says Dr. Ben-Zion. “This means that 80 percent of your food must come from plants, which is why our products are 80 percent plant-based.” That’s not all: from juices and salads to sandwiches and snacks (all organic, of course), they wanted every item on the menu to be as nutrient dense as possible.

Obviously the Sindlevs were on to something. In just two years, Dr Smood has gone from one location to five in two cities (the other being New York, where three locations opened in the span of two months) and four more are on their way this summer and this fall.

Here, Dr. Ben-Zion shares more details on what’s going on in the super-healthy, super-delicious offerings – at this rate, a Dr. Smood may open near you sooner than you think.

Here are four ways Dr. Smood changes healthy eating on the go.

1. Everything is dairy free

Dr Smood is a completely dairy-free zone, opting instead for homemade almond, cashew, and Brazil nut milks.

You’ll find them in 15 different items, ranging from smoothies and lattes to sweets like maca chia pudding and cocoa milk (their version contains Brazil nut milk mixed with cocoa nibs, cocoa powder. cocoa, vanilla powder and Himalayan salt).

2. Coffee is low in acidity and rich in antioxidants

Instead of your average cup of coffee, Dr. Smood uses white coffee beans. “White coffee originated in Yemen thousands of years ago,” says Dr. Ben-Zion. “[Farm workers] didn’t have time to roast the coffee for very long, so they lightly toasted it instead. This gives it a cream color, instead of the dark brown of roasted coffee. “

The bright side ? Dr. Ben-Zion claims that white coffee has lower acidity than black coffee, which makes it easier on the digestive system. (Although not all scientists support this idea.) “It is also very high in polyphenols, which are very high in antioxidants,” says Dr. Ben-Zion.

But Dr Smood didn’t stop there. The brand actually created their own coffee formula, infusing Hawaj beans, a combination of Yemeni spices, like turmeric and cumin, known to be anti-inflammatory, energizing, and good for digestion. Oh, and sure enough, you won’t find a bag of refined sugar behind the counter – coconut sugar is used instead for anything that needs a little sweetening. (Your move, Starbucks.)

3. Sandwiches won’t put you in a coma

You might be surprised to find a menu of sandwiches at Dr Smood, but make no mistake, they aren’t made with your average whole wheat bread.

“We created a special ‘performance bread’ made from just four ingredients: millet flakes, spelled flour, water and salt, that’s it,” says Dr. Ben-Zion. “It won’t raise your blood sugar and is not high in carbohydrates, that way you won’t feel like taking a nap after eating it.”

Pair one with a green juice or ‘booster’ – waters infused with ingredients like turmeric, chlorophyll, maca, and spirulina – and you might find that your 3-hour crashes are suddenly a thing of the past. .

4. There are also supplements on hand

Dr Smood has also formulated his own line of supplements to address six common wellness concerns: general health, immunity, energy, beauty, potency, and detox. Many of the menu items are labeled with these same benefits, which is helpful when choosing what to order.

And since you might be overwhelmed by all the amazing options – organic tiramisu or cinnamon roll? – this kind of Wellness Rx is exactly what the doctor ordered.

If you don’t live near a Dr Smood, here’s how to make your own ultimate anti-inflammatory meal. An even simpler tip: use this anti-inflammatory oil with every meal.