Ahead of the Curve

1. Celebrate Salad Days: Whether tossed or layered, vegetarian or chef, the humble salad works hard to keep us healthy. Salad Creations raises the salad bar further by giving patrons a chance to choose from 40 different salad toppings and 18 dressings. "Salad Chefs" prepare and pack your gorgeous greens to go. Collection at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 120, Naples. (239) 596-9966.

2. Get Smart: Food & Thought isn’t the biggest kid on the health food block, but any business with Rodin’s The Thinker on its sign probably knows big doesn’t always equal best. Its cozy kitchen produces a variety of easy-to-grab organic delights, including smoothies, soups, sandwiches and a vegetable lasagna that borders on brilliant. The Gateway of Naples, 2132 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. (239) 213-2222.

3. Go a Little Mad:  When the ’fridge is bare and dinnertime approaches, remember: Don’t get mad, get Mad Take Out. The newest venture from Crü’s Executive Chef Shannon Yates, Mad Take Out opened in July with a 1,500-square-foot kitchen and a menu that includes high-end proteins such as Kobe beef and venison, gluten-free breads and athlete-friendly fare. Pinebrook Plaza, 12995 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. www.madtakeout.com.

4. Natural Surroundings: Consider a trip to Ada’s Natural & Organic Foods Supermarket to be like "Foraging Lite." The Fort Myers market features a rainforest theme, Cape Coral captures the Canadian woodlands, and this fall, a 16,000-square-foot Naples store will unveil a Japanese garden design. But it is master chef Brooke Wagenheim’s cooking that is Ada’s true natural centerpiece, showcasing a variety of ready-to-roll items, including wraps and sushi. (Sneak peek: The Naples store will offer organic pizza delivery.) 4650 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; and 1242 S.W. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. www.adasnatural.com.

5. Alert Mother Hubbard: That nagging bare cupboard issue has been handled, thanks to the professional food stores and stoves offered by Let’s Eat, a kind of kitchen away from home. You’ll be able to whip up—or have the Let’s Eat staff whip up—a fresh and healthful dinner-to-go for up to six people. Fourteen different meals are offered monthly, many with less than 500 calories per serving. Collection at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 131, Naples. (239) 596-4111.

6. Sow Your Oats: Wild Oats is the one-stop shop for feel-good groceries, but don’t depart without a peek at their prepared foods and bakery, where natural and organic foods abound. From rotisserie chicken to cookies made from cage-free eggs, sushi to salads, this megamarket makes it mega-easy to eat healthy on the run. 6424 Naples Blvd., Naples. (239) 513-1053.

7. Food Factory:  Those who love to savor the goodness of a home-cooked meal but lack the time to pull it all together, keep My Dinner Factory on speed dial. Last-minute chefs can make a meal in their fully stocked kitchen or simply pick up a prepared dinner. Better yet, have it delivered—then freeze, thaw and cook when ready. Menu selections feature lean proteins, egg substitutes and low-carb additions. Bonita Commons, 25987 Tamiami Trail S., Bonita Springs; and Park Shops, 14261 Tamiami Trail S., Fort Myers. www.mydinnerfactory.com.