Enough fritos, give me that green

Colombian food, while delicious, could hardly be praised for its health giving properties. I love myself some deep fried fish and plantain as much as the next person, but it's definitely not food to be eaten every day. And for those days when I'm feeling a little greener than others, Barranquilla has a surprisingly wide range of healthy-eat places to choose from.

A delicious bali salad bowl, with cabbage, beansprouts, grated carrot and onion, shredded chicken breat, served in a burrito bowl, next to a very refreshing carrot and ginger juice.

Gokela (Calle 84 Cra 55) is a chain with restaurants in Cartagena and Bogota, and thankfully has also touched down in Barranquilla. Almost like a healthier Subway but with far more options, it offers sandwiches, wraps, salads, rice bowls (like this delicious one pictured above), as well as healthy sweet treats and a great range of juices.

Healthy pancakes topped with peanut butter and strawberry

Basil ( 51B#82-100 Palmas Mall) describes itself as a 'gourmet healthy restaurant', and also has its own health food store attached. Offering dishes such as ceviche, quinoa sushi and protein 'cake', it caters to the health-conscious Colombian while also providing interesting and flavoursome dishes. I went with a friend for breakfast and chose these cracking pancakes made with oat and coconut flour mixed with chia seeds, and I topped them with peanut butter and strawberries. A great combo and a brilliant way to start the day.

My green energy juice. Like a coffee, just a bit green

Aswell as an incredible array of fruit juices, in Barranquilla you can also grab some great green veggie juices, found at Freshii (Carrera 53 # 76-279). This was a ‘green energy' juice: apple, cucumber, lime, carrot, lettuce and spinach. Refreshing, full of goodness and a nice change from the quite often overly sweet fruit juices found here. Their menu also has great vegetarian and gluten-free food, and you can get good offers on selected dishes of the day, costing under 10,000 pesos.

Eating healthily, you'll live longer...good thing chocolate and sweets are all part of a balanced diet! 

With all this healthy food around, Barranquilla proves itself to be the best of both worlds. A great place to enjoy the best of typical costeño food, you can also get your veggie/health food fare whenever you want it. So have your tres leches cake and eat it, with a bit of healthy green on the side.