Healthy Dining in Riyadh: Smart Menu Choices for 2025

The Riyadh food industry is now much more healthier in its selections, and there is an evident trend on a movement towards vegetarian and vegan, as well as better-for-you, cuisines on fast-casual and fine dining restaurants. Some of the restaurants offer lighter preparations, whole grains and fresh salads and it is easy to have balanced meals without compromising on taste. The health orientation of Vision 2030 is also driving the efforts to promote nutrition transparency and healthier choices in the mainstream outlets.​ For breaking stories and lifestyle updates, check Gulf Independent Top Stories page.

Smart Ordering Strategies

• Scan digital/QR menus and sift through grilled, baked or steamed food; fried or breaded food is to be avoided in order to avoid excesses of fat and calories.​
• Prepare a plate of lean protein (grilled chicken, fish, legumes), fiber-based carbohydrates (brown rice, quinoa), and increase the amount of vegetables or salad twofold.​
• Request dressings and sauces to be served separately; order lemon, olive oil or yogurt-based dips instead of creamy or sweet sauces to manage portions.​

Portion and Beverage Control

• Split main or order half portions; consider a side salad or cooked vegetables to be able to control calories and remain full.​
• Substitute sweet beverages with water, unsweetened mint tea, or sparkling water with lemon; numerous restaurants and cafes in Riyadh today indicate the presence of low-sugar beverages.​
• Pass on the bread basket or ask about whole-grain, ask to have fruit-based desserts or to share sweets to maintain checked sugar additions.​

Where to Find Healthier Menus

• Select restaurants with one of the following filters in a review site healthy, grill, or Mediterranean; in Riyadh, there are dozens of restaurants that are tagged with healthier cooking habits and balanced menus.​
• Mcro-friendly bowls, calorie-labeled menu offerings and vegetarian/vegan replacements are growing in fast-casual restaurants as a trend in 2025 restaurants.​
• Hope to see more of menus with nutrition information, calories, and salt, which goes in line with demand to make hospitality industry in the Kingdom more transparent.​

Cultural Tips That Help

Begin with an appetizer such as fattoush (light dressing) or hummus and raw veggies; be sparse with fried stuff such as sambousek.​

Order grilled kebabs instead of mixed plates that are rich in bread and rice; ask to be served half rice and more salad.​

Eat dinner in advance: a pre-dinner snack with high amount of protein decreases excess eating out at night in the bustling restaurant of Riyadh.​

Regularly made minor decisions (lean proteins, additional vegetables, smart carbs, portion control, low-sugar drinks) will make it possible and even fun to eat out in Riyadh in 2025.​

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