Going out to eat is always special but, let’s face it, our waistlines often suffer. That’s why we’ve hunted out the best restaurants and cafes in south east London for a healthy bite, with lots of choice for vegetarians and vegans.

Number 7 Health Bar, Erith

Attached to Nemesis Gym, this is the perfect place for a post work-out refill with snacks, shakes, salads and a menu based around the nutritionally balanced ideals of the Caveman diet, beloved of the celebs.

Bagel Stop, Blackfen

Offering much more than bagels, the shop in Westwood Lane has its own Gym Corner offering healthy food, inspired 26-year-old owner and former WBA Intercontinental super bantamweight champion Lewis Pettitt’s pro boxing diet.

He told us: “I generally have 12 week fight camps that consist of eating three healthy meals a day to drop one and a half to two stone in order to reach my championship limit.

“The Girls at the shop were making me the healthy pots and they go so much interest from customers asking if they could purchase we ended up coming to the decision well help everyone lose weight rather than just me.”

Brown and Green, Crystal Palace and Sydenham

Such is the popularity of Brown and Green and their healthy brunches, they now have four outlets including two in Crystal Palace (one by the station and another by the park in Crystal Palace triangle) and one in Mayow Park, Sydenham. Tuck in to porridge or yoghurt and muesli for breakfast or lots of vegan or veggie options, plus cakes and toasties and fry-ups for anyone for those looking for something more indulgent.

Lighthouse Café, Catford

Boasting an impressive five out of five on TripAdvisor, Lighthouse gets the thumbs up seemingly from everyone that passes through its doors with diners praising its friendly staff, relaxing atmosphere and vegan and veggie grub that ranges from gluten free porridge with goji beans, seeds and maple to vegan pancakes, juices, smoothies and healthy snacks.

Lovegift Vegan, Honor Oak Park

Specialising in nutritious, vegan and raw food. Its website states ‘our first ingredient is Love followed by chosen quality ingredients for taste and blissful satisfaction’.

Calabash of Culture, Sydenham

This café-cum-art gallery-cum-shop serves up delicacies including a green power salad, raw stir fry salad, bean stew, sweet potato bake, vegan cakes and smoothies.

Natura Café, New Cross

Inside the Goldsmiths Uni student’s union, Natura is concerned with ‘ethical and sustainable consumption, a healthy body and a conscious relationship with nature’. All of the dishes are vegetarian and made from scratch. The dairy and bread are organic, the fresh produce comes from a farming cooperative and artificial preservatives and the like are a no-no.

The Waiting Room, Deptford

Another TripAdvisor favourite, this veggie eatery on the High Street is a local favourite and, as well as the healthy stuff, serves up beer, milkshakes and meat-free buffalo wings.

The Greenhouse, Deptford

With four out of five on TripAdvisor, The Greenhouse has lots of vegan and veggie options and plenty of people hankering after its highly-rated veggie breakfast. It’s even a pick-up point for Lee Greens – a community veg bag scheme – which obviously wins extra healthy brownie points.

Domali Café, Crystal Palace

A perennial vegetarian and pescetarian favourite, Domali has been in Crystal Palace for 20 years. Back in 2014, our reviewer reckoned it was ‘a lovely experience and vegetarian or not it’s worth a go’.

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