The Healthy Food Cafe Rises and Shines – Indianapolis Monthly

AS CERTIFIED A personal trainer, Erica Bryant understands the value of good nutrition, having taken an interest in the subject while working in hospitals as a medical assistant and attending nursing school. “For me, healthy eating means rich in nutrients,” she explains. “It’s something that gives you the vitamins, minerals, and protein your body needs.”

To this end, the U.S. Navy veteran prepares tasty and healthy meals at Healthy food coffee along the lines of grilled Cajun shrimp tacos, bone broths, five cheese quesadillas and BBQ chicken flatbread pizza. She doesn’t hesitate to serve meat, poultry and seafood, but almost everything on the menu also offers a vegetarian or vegan alternative. “People really love our Asian grill bowls,” she says. “We don’t use any oil to make them, just organic vegetables, and customers can choose their own protein.”

The cafe went from a food-truck concept to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2015, but closed in 2020 due to flooding and ongoing repairs. Fortunately, Bryant was able to regroup and reopen in September on Stop 11 Road, just 2 miles west of his original space. “The response has been really good,” she says. “Our old regulars quickly found us at the new location, and we added new regulars who knew nothing about us before.”

The Healthy Food Cafe also has a full bakery and serves a selection of cold-pressed juices and organic coffee specialties. While the menu remains fairly consistent throughout the year, Bryant prepares plenty of specialties to showcase seasonal ingredients. Milk. Gluten-free desserts, like cheesecake and black bean brownies, are a sweet addition to any meal.

On the horizon, Bryant is working to find a way to reactivate breakfast hours and re-implement the 24-hour food pick-up service it offered at its old location. She also accepts donations for healthy Thanksgiving meals that she plans to provide to those in need. 1155 E. Stop 11 Rd., 317-476-2361