Antioxidants are vital for our health — they kill bacteria and fight free radicals. A healthy diet should include five to eight servings of fruits and vegetables full of vitamins A, C and E. These restaurants will help you meet your daily servings so you can build your best life.

By Jacob Threadgill  | Photos by Jacob Threadgill, Gazette / file and provided

(Jacob Threadgill)
Jacob Threadgill

The Sandwich Club

3703 N. Western Ave.

thesandwichclubokc.com

405-525-0799

No sandwich shop in the city offers as many unique toppings as this Western Avenue eatery. It earns a spot on this list because it offers red bell pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, spinach and sprouts, which are all great sources of antioxidants. Build your own sandwich with those ingredients, top it off with balsamic vinaigrette or pesto and say goodbye to dangerous free radicals.

(provided)
provided

Caffé Pranzo

9622 N. May Ave.

caffepranzookc.com

405-755-3577

If it has been a few years since you’ve been to this neighborhood Italian restaurant, you might not recognize the giant wall of fresh basil growing just across from the bar. Fresh basil is a great source of antioxidants. It’s joined by an appetizer of steamed artichoke hearts, a fellow fighter of oxidants. Caffé Pranzo is one of the few places in town serving artichokes whole and not in spinach dip with cream cheese.

(Gazette / file)
Gazette / file

Inspirations Tea Room & Eatery

2118 W. Edmond Road, Suite 300

inspirationstearoom.com

405-715-2525

Inspirations offers two dining experiences: the formal tearoom, which requires reservations, and the eatery, which is a casual dining experience. Three salads on its casual menu — fruit and feta, spinach orchard and kinetic kale — offer blends of leafy greens, fresh fruit and fibrous, antioxidant-rich nuts like pecans and walnuts.

(Gazette / file)
Gazette / file

Benson Park Pecans

41502 Benson Park Road, Shawnee

bensonparkpecans.com

405-273-1235

Nuts are an excellent source of antioxidants, and pecans are at the very top of the list, packing 30 percent more than No. 2 on the list, walnuts. The United States produces 80 percent of the world’s pecans, and Oklahoma ranks sixth in the country for pecan production. The storefront of Benson Park Pecans won’t re-open until the fall, but you can order roasted pecans and pecan oil from its website in the meantime.

(Gazette / file)
Gazette / file

Pho Lien Hoa

901 NW 23rd St.

405-521-8087

Soup is great for when you’re sick, but pho includes the added benefits of cloves and cinnamon sticks — the two highest-scoring spices in antioxidant concentration. Fresh cilantro, which also scores high, is abundantly available in a piping bowl of pho that has been cooking for hours. Rarely do you find a dish like pho that is indulgent and full of health benefits.

(Gazette / file)
Gazette / file

Wheeze the Juice

211 N. Robinson St.

facebook.com/wheezethejuice

Building off its successful location at 30 NE Second St., Wheeze the Juice recently opened a second location in Leadership Square. With a selection of freshly squeezed juices, smoothies and bowls, it’s overflowing in antioxidant possibilities. The Lambda Lambda Lambda bowl is packed full of fresh blueberries, coconut flakes, oats and chia seeds.

(Jacob Threadgill)
Jacob Threadgill

The Earth Cafe & Deli

309 S. Flood Ave., Norman

theearthnorman.com

405-364-3551

It turns out beans really are a magical fruit. Red beans and kidney beans are the most antioxidant-rich foods besides wild blueberries, but how often can you eat wild blueberries? The Earth Cafe has long been a standard-bearer for vegetarian food in the Oklahoma City metro. Get your fill of oxidant-fighting power with its bean-heavy chili available daily or pick up a smoothie or fresh-pressed juice.

  • or