Christopher Clark tells you how to eat right in Dubai!

Dubai - The right food to have for breakfast. Where to eat healthy when out and about in Dubai. The biggest food myth. Three city based nutritionists tell us all.

When it comes to food, especially in Dubai, the options are endless. Yet more so than ever, people are concerned these days not only with what tastes good but what's good for them to eat. From full cream, to low fat, gluten free and organic ranges, home grown and genetically modified, the world of healthy eating is a jargon filled mess. Our advice? Keep it simple to start with.
We spoke to three Dubai based nutritionists to break some common healthy food myths, find out which restaurants serve healthy food in Dubai and learn what we should and shouldn't be eating.

Christopher Clark
As an accomplished chef, nutrition science writer, and the UAE's leading Paleo diet expert, Christopher Clark knows a thing or two about food. He is the author of Nutritional Grail, on the Men's Health magazine Advisory Board, a writer for Dr. Loren Cordain (founder of the Paleo Diet) and a TEDx speaker.

What would be your recommendation for meals whether breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack?
Focus on protein and fat, while minimising sugar and all refined carbohydrates like bread, rice, pasta, etc. Regarding fat, the best sources are animal fat products, olive oil, avocado, and coconut. Avoid all oils derived from seeds (corn, soy, canola, sunflower, etc.) My meals usually have two core components. Simply prepared vegetables plus fat (drizzled butter over steamed vegetables or olive oil dressings over mixed salads), and animal protein, such as eggs, fish, beef, or lamb.

Is there such a thing as a healthy dessert?
First, you must understand that most "sugar substitutes" are no better than sugar, from a metabolic perspective. This includes agave syrup, maple syrup, coconut sugar, date sugar, honey, and more. There are minor differences, but they are negligible. Stevia, on the other hand, is different. For any recipe, you can cut the sugar in half and use stevia to boost the sweetness level. If that seems too complicated, stay tuned. I'm in the process of launching a healthy desserts company here in the UAE. We'll be operational by September.

What is the one food or ingredient that people think is healthy but probably isn't?
Fruit juice - it's little more than sugar water with some added vitamins. Whole fruit is healthy, but when we juice fruit, we lose its fiber and other beneficial components. Also, one glass of fruit juice requires roughly three times as much fruit as you would eat whole - and thus three times as much sugar. The molecules that make fruit sweet, fructose and glucose, are the same ones that make cane sugar sweet.

What's the one health food that's on your must have list on a daily basis?
This may sound odd, but it's chocolate - or to be more specific, cacao. Take a look at the nutritional profile of cacao powder. It's full of healthy fats, protein and fiber. Moreover, it's loaded with antioxidants and has significant amounts of magnesium. But how can you enjoy unsweetened, pure cacao? For breakfast, I cut some whole fruit, add some fat (usually almond butter plus full-fat Greek yogurt), and sprinkle with cacao powder. Chocolate for breakfast = winning!

Christopher's pick of local restaurants which serve healthy food
Aseelah
The new Emirati restaurant at Radisson Blu in Deira features lots of vegetables, herbs, spices, fish, and meat, all prepared in healthy ways, like grilling or smoking. Also, there's an emphasis on seasonality, sustainability and locally sourced products. Authentic, traditional cuisine from every culture tends to be healthy and traditional Emirati fare is no exception.

The Thai Kitchen at Park Hyatt
Another authentic, traditional experience. Thai cuisine is especially healthy, thanks to its emphasis on coconut, one of the world's greatest healing treasures.

Cycle Bistro in Motor City
Dubai's first and only restaurant dedicated to the Paleo diet, which in my view is one of the healthiest and tastiest ways to eat.

Linda o'byrne, New Atkins Lifestyle UAE nutritionist

What would your food recommendation be for people on the go in Dubai?
Eat either three regular-size meals a day or four or five smaller meals. Don't skip meals or go more than six waking hours without eating.
Breakfast: It is important to get sufficient protein and fat, especially at the first meal of the day. The ideal choices would be a healthy chocolate-coconut shake, stuffed bell peppers, grilled mushrooms.
Snacks:  Identify a few "mainstay" portable snacks and take them with you. A midmorning and midafternoon snack should help keep your energy level on a plane and head off fatigue, jitters, inability to concentrate, ravenous cravings for inappropriate food, or overeating at your next meal. Good choices include nuts, Atkins bars, hard boiled eggs, salmon or tuna vacuum packs and sliced veggies.
Restaurant: Even if you have to eat at fast food restaurants, stick to the plan. Eat a chicken burger but without the bun, with a side salad, or just the salad with a tuna pouch; but avoid the dressing, which is sure to be packed with sugar.

What's the best food item a person with a sweet tooth can indulge in?
If you are craving something sweet, berries are a tasty and healthy food item to indulge in. Try putting them in the freezer and then enjoy them as frozen sweets. Berries are lower in carbohydrates than most fruits and won't cause blood sugar spikes, but offer sweetness as well as important vitamins. Or you could try the delicious Atkins Chocolate Peanut Caramel bar, which contains 2.9g net carbs.

What's the one food item which many people falsely believe to be healthy?
People believe that anything 'low-fat' or 'fat free' is healthy. This "flawed" science started the fat-free trend; soon people were avoiding foods containing fat, feeling hungry all the time, and eating more low-fat products that contained refined sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup and trans fat.

What's the one health food that's part of your daily eating regime which you would recommend for our readers?
I enjoy classic lunch salads like tuna salad, chicken salad and egg salad on a bed of mixed greens with chopped cucumber and grape tomatoes, or as a sandwich filling between leaves of romaine lettuce. One of the best resources for a well-balanced lunch remains the salad bar. But beware of salad dressings that can drown your diet in carbs.

Linda's pick of local restaurants which serve healthy food
Pantry Cafe
Their Shakshouka makes for a splendid healthy breakfast.

ET Sushi
They have the town's most delicious Sashimi Salad, which is healthy.

Soulfull, DIFC
It has become one of my favourite restaurants in Dubai. They serve fresh gourmet food and salads. I found their recipes to be very innovative and delicious, while being very healthy. My favourite is a portion of grilled salmon with spinach feta and grilled artichoke.

Maya Kobeissi,  mix&muesli's in-house nutritionistand director of nutrition programs at the obesity medicine institute

What would your food recommendation be for people on the go in Dubai?
As hard as it is in a fast-paced city like Dubai, I would recommend getting into a food routine that is based on convenience and health. Good habits, like bad habits are hard to break so make it a point to create good habits and routines when it comes to food. People make over 200 food decisions a day so I tend to advise my clients to keep it simple.  
Breakfast should be both easy and nutritious - grains are important in the morning, as is a serving of dairy, as it's high in both protein and calcium. One should also look for options that have no added sugar. Greek yoghurt, fruit and a muesli is a great option.
Lunch and dinner should include some whole grains, like brown rice or sweet potatoes, and some protein, like salmon, chicken or beans. Also remember to keep it colourful by adding fresh or cooked vegetables and perhaps some leafy greens.
For snacks, avoid processed foods. A piece of fruit, baby carrots, a handful of almonds or even a small bowl of natural muesli with milk are great for keeping hunger at bay while also providing optimal nutrition.
Go for food that you can prep in advance such as sweet potato mash or look for healthy grocery delivery for fruit and produce or mix&muesli, which allows you to customise your muesli and have it delivered right to your door.
Good nutrition may take a little bit of pre-planning but once you're into a healthy routine that works for you, you'll find it hard to - and you won't want to - deviate or stray into bad habits.
 
What's the best food item a person with a sweet tooth can indulge in?
Nothing beats fresh fruit, which has both vitamins as well as fiber. Fresh berries sprinkled on muesli and greek yogurt in the morning is the perfect start to the day or a smoothie with fruit, muesli and milk helps satisfy those sweet cravings while at the same time providing vitamins and fiber. There's also nothing wrong with having dark chocolate every now and again.

One food item which many people falsely believe to be healthy?
Products that have the term "diet" written on them should generally be avoided as they are often filled with preservatives and additives. Nuts, olive oil and avocados are all examples of foods that are rich in fat, but also rich in vitamins and nutrients.
 
What's the one health food that's part of your daily eating regime which you would recommend for our readers?
I've always been a big muesli fan and just think that its such an easy and great option for breakfast.
Maya Kobeissi's pick of three local eateries which serve healthy food
Le Pain Quotidien:
I particularly like their salads as they have a good range. Salads are a great option for vegetables and protein. 

Chez Amy's
I love the fact that they use natural and fresh ingredients.

R Trader
Along with a great vibe, I like that they use fresh ingredients and their dishes are prepared from scratch.