By Chelsea Gloeckner OnMilwaukee contributor Published Oct 23, 2018 at 11:16 AM

Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted! See all the winners for the month so far here.

We are so lucky as Milwaukeeans to have such high-quality, fresh and quick food options from all the vendors in the Milwaukee Public Market.  

If you read the East Town edition of How to Build a Better Lunch in Milwaukee, you realize the power of reciprocation when it comes to taking a client or business partner out to lunch. Your options to treat both yourself and your client in the Milwaukee Public Market are endless – from soups, salads, sandwiches, sushi, fish, curries, pizza, tacos and juices.

But it can also be overwhelming to pick something both delicious and good for you when choosing to eat out. The good news is that there are lots of awesome options at the Milwaukee Public Market to keep you feeling healthy.

These top five picks are my tried and true – and veggie-packed – favorites at the Milwaukee Public Market.

1. The Soup Market

The Soup Market prides itself on food made from scratch, and you can certainly taste the quality. But did you know you can order a baked sweet potato for only $3! The Soup Market cooks these spuds to perfection. Be sure to eat the skin of the potato since that’s where almost all of the filling fiber is found.

Pair your sweet potato with a cup of the daily special vegetarian soup, and it's an easy, delicious and cozy way to load up on veggies. The vegan acorn squash bisque sounds divine (and healthy) but also try the vegetarian curried potato with roasted carrot soup.

2. Aladdin – Taste of the East

Aladdin has been serving up yummy meals to Milwaukeeans for more than 20 years. Make your own wrap, and stuff it with veggies (always). Choose the whole wheat pita and add hummus, green and red peppers, olive tapenade, cucumbers and spring mix for a delicious lunch dish. Or come hungry and try the Taste of Jerusalem pita with falafel, hummus, olive and pepper mix, Jerusalem salad and romaine lettuce. Hello flavor!

3. Thai-namite

Thai-namite serves up the best red curry in town, in my humble opinion. Turmeric is a star ingredient in curries, which reduces inflammation in the body and boosts brain health and gut health. Add tofu for extra protein to keep you strong and full. 

4. The Green Kitchen

Let your imagination run wild as you create a custom salad. But not all salads are created equal – and many salads are not nutritious if you load up on certain toppings.

The trick to a healthy salad? Load up on veggies, minimize the cheese and skip the bacon bits, chow mein noodles and croutons. Instead, get your crunch from healthy fats like sunflowers seeds or walnuts.

5. Margarita Paradise

At Margarita Paradise, breakfast is served all day. When you get the breakfast tamale, order a black bean tamale, which you can top with egg and pico de gallo. Order light or no cheese, and ask for avocado slices for a heart-healthy fat.

Chelsea Gloeckner OnMilwaukee contributor

Chelsea Gloeckner, MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian and the founder of VICTAE, a nutrition coaching business helping athletes and professionals reach their dreams and goals through practical and proper fueling.

In her life and here content, Chelsea combines her love of nutrition, science, and food to provide a fresh perspective on how to live a full and vibrant life.