Eating cow's flesh might be an American tradition, but when you consider the added hormones, fats, ammonia, and antibiotics common in a standard meat patty (not to mention it's literally a corpse) — the McDonald's-esque burger of yore doesn't sound so appetizing. Enter Plant Theory's sun burger ($14). This raw (yes, raw) alternative is everything that dead food isn't. Nuts are soaked and sprouted and then mixed with carrots, sweet peppers, beets, celery, and fresh herbs. The patty is dehydrated, turned, and dehydrated again (call it the raw, vegan alternative to flipping a burger). The result is piled onto onion flax bread; layered with cashew mayo, sprouts, and supergreens; and served with a fresh, crisp salad on the side. It's surprisingly filling and teeming with necessary nutrients — your bod will thank you for the boost. Sure, it's a nontraditional burger choice, but this is the year of the underdog.

According to the original bestseller, humans once lived in a glorious garden. As the story goes, our svelte progenitors roamed the verdant landscape, coexisted with animal friends, and ate from lush, bountiful fruit trees. There were no stoves, chemicals, or heart disease. If anything in real life approaches this paradisiacal paradigm, it's Matthew Kenney's Plant Food + Wine. In a quiet corner of Wynwood, this sleek, sprawling eatery is tucked into the aptly titled Sacred Space. Complete with a reflecting pool, towering trees, and minimalist decor, it's an oasis. Here, the plant-based cuisine is impossibly colorful, delightfully fresh, and wildly creative. Try the kimchee dumplings wrapped in emerald-hued spinach paper ($15); the spicy hearts of palm salad with leche de tigre and choclo (Peruvian corn) ($16); the crisp, flavorful zucchini lasagna ($22); and the tangy starfruit tart with macadamia mascarpone ($14). Eat all you want — plants are the ultimate diet food. Clearly, Adam and Eve were onto something. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If your workday menu looks anything like the average Miamian's, it probably goes something like this: cafecito, pastelito, colada, Cuban sandwich, café con leche. That's why the 305 is in desperate need of a siesta come 3:05. Instead of putting yourself to sleep (and gaining an unpleasant paunch), opt instead for life-affirming superfoods for lunch. At downtown's light and airy Manna Life Food, your food pyramid is the rainbow itself. Start with an iced lava latte, complete with golden masala mylk, cacao mojo mylk, vanilla zen mylk, and cacao matcha fudge ($8.50) — far from the average Starbucks swill. To fill your rumbling tummy, select a fresh avocado arepa with spiraling chimichurri and hemp hearts ($8); a power-packed red quinoa bowl with raw falafel, red pepper hummus, and açaí pickles ($11); or a colorful tofu nori wrap with edamame, bell pepper, carrots, coconut brown rice, and pad thai dressing ($9). To salve your sweet tooth, dig into the nana ice cream with banana cream, peanut brittle, cacao nibs, and cacao matcha fudge ($5.50) or the pecan protein square with peanut butter, almonds, oats, vanilla protein, date caramel, and dark chocolate ($6). After lunch, your co-workers will wonder what's gotten into you. Your answer: nutrients. Duh. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Exhausted from partying too hard? Head to Dr Smood and order anything with a blue label on it. The color is associated with food and beverages that boost your energy. Examples include the organic kale salad and gluten-free oatmeal. Complexion seem a bit dull? Look for a pink sticker denoting beauty. According to Dr Smood's team of researchers, a cucumber, celery, and grape juice should do the trick. The name "Dr Smood" actually stems from the words "smart"and "food," and the company's slogan is "smart food for a good mood." That's why every item sold is color-coded based on six health benefits. The healthy fast-casual concept opened its flagship in Wynwood at the end of 2015 and is expanding rapidly. Dr Smood is, above all, a lifestyle brand built around nutritious food and a sleek appearance. Thus, you can officially enjoy your dairy-free coffee and raw, vegan pastry in a seriously stylish space.

For a city where people obsess over achieving bikini-ready bodies, Miami certainly lacks great salad spots. Giardino is the exception, with salads made to order in hearty portions from exceptionally fresh ingredients. The dressings and toppings are crafted in-house and available in premade combinations or customizable versions. Giardino has more than a dozen locations around South Florida, so a satisfying lunch is never far away. But don't be mistaken — this isn't some big Saladworks type of chain. It was opened by a former teacher and her firefighter husband in 2004, and the two have maintained a menu of wholesome food.Favorites include the Tropical ($6.95) and Thai Thai ($8.95) salads, but Giardino's variety of add-ons and toppings creates myriad options, so mix and match to your healthy heart's desire. Giardino's hours vary by location.

Once upon a time, all food was organic. This sounds like the title of a new Netflix documentary, but it's actually the motto for Organic Bites, a socially conscious eatery in the MiMo District. Located next to Karma Car Wash, this spot differentiates itself from the competition by offering food that's 95 percent organic. What's more, nothing on the menu exceeds $14, and there's plenty of meat on there too. Try chef Gonçalo Costa's signature burger topped with caramelized onions and smoked truffle mozzarella on a brioche bun with sweet potato fries ($14). It's not particularly waist-friendly, but it's bursting with flavor. For something lighter, the grain salad featuring quinoa, spinach, mango, and black beans is hearty and healthy. ($11). Organic Bites serves breakfast and lunch daily and dinner Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The place gets packed during lunchtime, so be sure to show up early to snag an outdoor seat on the secluded terrace.

Smoothies are a dynamic beverage. They can be indulgent and rich with peanut butter, healthy when mixed with protein powder or kale, or simply restorative, made of açaí berries and freshly squeezed orange juice. The guys at Smoothie Spot & Healthy Food in a tucked-away Kendall strip mall understand this dynamism. They offer a series of classic house blends, such as the exotic and refreshing "Passion Blast," made with maracuya, pineapple, kiwi, vanilla protein, and milk ($5.34). But more adventuresome smoothie drinkers can create their own blend from an extensive tableau of ingredients.

Everyone, from your doctor to Michelle Obama, says "eat the rainbow." To most people, that phrase suggests either downing a bag of Skittles or imagining kids ingesting unicorn poop in that Squatty Potty commercial. Eating the rainbow actually refers to consuming colorful fruits and vegetables that are rich in nutrients, and Della Bowls makes it easy to eat healthy. The food truck, conveniently parked at the Wynwood Yard, serves customized bowls ($9.50) where you start with a base of brown rice, quinoa, or greens and then add a plant-based protein like tofu, chickpeas, or tempeh; veggies; and sauce. For the undecided, there are house favorite bowls like Southwest, curry, or Mediterranean. The result is a tasty, nourishing, and surprisingly filling meal that's colorful and good for you. Look at you scarf down a day's supply of vegetables like a champ. Then comes dessert. Owner Della Heiman's sweet treats are indulgences that even the cleanest eater can allow. Gluten- and processed-sugar-free, these treats totally qualify as health food. There're the chocolate and vanilla macaroons, circular pillows of shredded coconut, maple syrup, and sea salt ($4); the delightfully spicy almond butter cups — like raw, vegan Reese's with a fiery kick ($4); the light, crunchy almond butter and coconut lime granola bites ($4) — or the fresh twist on a banana split, where the fruit is pressed through a juicer into a smooth, creamy treat ($4.50). Pick your pleasure, grab a seat in the sunshine, and feel good about your food choices. Eating clean never tasted so spectacular. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 9:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

Readers' choice: Ms. Cheezious

They came quietly, those Pubbelly Boys. In November 2010, partners Andreas Schreiner, Jose Mendin, and Sergio Navarro opened Pubbelly, a small pork-centric, Asian-inspired gastropub on the quiet, west side of South Beach known to locals as Sunset Harbour. The restaurant quickly built a following for its seemingly perfect menu of pork belly dumplings, pork belly mofongo, and the McBelly, a pork belly slider. As an encore, the trio opened Pubbelly Sushi and then Barceloneta on the same block — essentially monopolizing Sunset Harbour and turning it into one of the hottest dining destinations in Miami Beach. The three even opened a media group to handle both their own branding and that of outside clients. Of course, there have been glitches, with the closing of a few restaurants along the way. What makes these Pubbelly Boys special is that when there's a bump in the road, they dust themselves off and go forward, learning from their mistakes. In the past year, they collaborated with Norwegian Cruise Line to open Food Republic on the Norwegian Escape, where diners order dumplings and noodles from iPads while at sea. The guys also just opened their first restaurant on mainland Miami — PB Station — along with their first cocktail lounge. These boys might have come a long way from one tiny restaurant in SoBe, but their hearts — and their dumplings — are always firmly planted in Miami.

MC Kitchen chef/owner Dena Marino is obsessed with tomatoes. Look in the kitchen and you'll see a giant white bowl brimming with her favorite heirloom varieties. This is important to note, because MC Kitchen's bloody marys are made with the juice of these fine specimens. You'll find no Zing Zang or McClure's mixes behind the bar. MC Kitchen's bloody ($11) is a properly simple affair. An old-fashioned glass is filled with ice and a generous pour (one might say a pour and a half) of Tito's vodka. Then a lemon is juiced in the glass along with a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Chef Marino's freshly squeezed tomato juice is added. The final touches are black pepper and green olives. That's it — no bacon or shrimp or celery or drink umbrellas. Turns out a good bloody mary needs none of those accessories. Coco Chanel famously said everyone should remove one accessory before leaving the house. She would approve of this classic cocktail.