Photos by Star Sabroso
Runner’s Kitchen was born from Xander Angeles’ and Bianca King’s love for running and healthy yet delectable eating. Like anyone who found their way tracing the road to better health when they got into an active lifestyle, Bianca and Xander developed their affinity for clean food when they got into running.
It is a well known truth by nutritionists that about 70 percent of what you eat determines whether you fit into a size two and just roughly only 30 percent is defined by your kind of workout, sleeping patterns as well as emotional wellbeing. That said, what we put on our plate after training like a beast in the gym matters more than the kind of program we sign up to.
Bianca has always been fond of cooking at home as a way of treating her guests. When she found out the significant role diet played on her grandparents’ health problems, she took up fitness nutrition and culinary to up her food game.
Xander especially saw the lack of options for people who want to eat healthy food in Quezon City where the entertainment hub is situated, so he convinced fellow celebrities Bianca King, Glaiza de Castro and Abby Asistio to put up Runner’s Kitchen and address this hole in the market.
Food is literally the body’s fuel. What you eat can either make you feel energized or sleepy and sluggish, and Runner’s Kitchen’s carefully thought out menu makes sure that you are always served food that is good for your body without falling short on the taste index. Simply put, great food that is worth every calorie!
The healthy restaurant promises meat that is free from antibiotics and nasty injected hormones, and greens that have not been sprayed with pesticide. Their mantra is to always create renditions of current cult foodie favorites and twist them into a healthier dish such as crowd favorite Spicy Tuna Quinoa Roll where they substitute rice with quinoa and use the good fat in coconut cream instead of dairy. Their Tahini Quinoa Super Bowl can even be called a protein bowl with clean protein sources like quinoa, chickpeas, and mushrooms with its green veggies. Runner’s Kitchen also offers a delicious selection of power boosting smoothies like the spinach-oats banana-cashew combination called “Malusog” and the banana-peanut butter-cacao nibs and cashew milk smoothie called the “Matipuno,” among others.
A popular trick to make any serving become low-calorie and high protein is to substitute white rice with cauliflower rice. Runner’s Kitchen created this popular option with Paprika Prawns and Cauliflower Rice.
A feast for the Vikings is offered with the Run 365 Marathon Special as it is a buffet breakfast rice plate that has organic chicken tocino, grass-fed beef tapa and native boar sausage with black rice and a side salad.
If you’re in a hurry, it’s always safe and satisfying to go Mexican; in this case the Chili Beans and Beef Wrap offers a healthier alternative to the carb-heavy favorite as Runner’s Kitchen uses black rice instead of the sugary white staple.
All that talk about gluten being bad for you? Well, it’s true, which is why Runner’s Kitchen tempts us with the Gluten-Free Chocolate Waffles topped with low-glycemic coco syrup, and a healthy fat source that is cashew nuts and potassium-rich bananas.
It is believed that dairy inflames mucous and triggers acne, not to mention that it is perceived as a major culprit in unwanted weight gain, which is why many are thrilled that Runner’s Kitchen offers cashew milk as an option to their brews instead of the usual soy alternatives offered in other coffee shops.
Runner’s Kitchen is located in Creekside along Tomas Morato in Quezon City, and is perfect for those who want a hip and trendy place to hang out in and binge sans the guilt. You may also check it out on Facebook.