Find healthy food more easily

It's no secret that physical fitness and nutrition are closely related. A person in good health is both active and a conscientious eater.

So the recent release of "Dining Out" by Equinox, a Zagat guide to good food restaurants across the U.S., is hardly surprising.

In NYC, such restaurants as ABC Kitchen, Blue Hill and Colicchio & Sons made the cut. But other less-known eateries are included.

We spoke to guide editor and Equinox Q blog editor Liz Miersch.

What was the inspiration for this guide? Nutrition is such a big part of the better body equation, and although we've always offered [nutritional coaching] we want to make it a bigger part of our brand. In January we launched the official Equinox Nutritional Philosophy, so when we were approached by Zagat to create the first ever healthy eating Zagat guide, the timing was perfect. We believe food that is good for you can also taste good, and the guide was a great way to show that.

Who did the research and chose the spots to feature? It was a joint effort. We provided nutritional guidelines and briefed Zagat on our standards. They then pulled restaurants that met our criteria and we approved each location. The Q editors provided healthy eating tips ... throughout the book.

What were the qualifications a restaurant needed to make the cut?
-- Overall reputation for being healthy
-- Primarily locally sourced and organic ingredients
-- Located within five miles of a club
-- Non-chains

How is this guide useful for New Yorkers? It's helpful for anyone ... With so many options out there, knowing what to eat can prove difficult ... At Equinox we don't believe having a fit and healthy body means depriving yourself of the good things in life. We want to elevate wellness to a place that makes it covetable. New Yorkers are surrounded by some of the best restaurants in the world, and many of them serve dishes that not only taste good, but are actually good for you. With our wellness expertise and our taste for the finer things in life, we thought we could guide New Yorkers in the right direction.

Does Equinox provide coaching on how to cook healthy meals at home? Yes, we do on Q [the website]. Every month we provide a full story explaining one of our 12 pillars [a nutrition philosophy] and accompany that story with two recipes that embody that belief. We host all of our recipes here: Q.equinox.com/topics/recipes

What are the 12 pillars?
1. Focus on eating nutrient dense foods rather than counting calories
2. Get your nutrients from food, not supplements
3. Eat minimally processed foods without added sugars
4. Employ a seasonal detox to help achieve optimal results
5. Fuel properly pre- and post-workout
6. Eat a predominantly vegetable-based diet
7. Eat clean, lean protein with each feeding opportunity
8. Increase intake of water and healthy fluids
9. Eat locally, in-season and organically whenever possible
10. Eat healthy fats daily
11. Regulate blood sugar by being strategic about total carbohydrate load
12. Learn to listen to your body's hunger and satiety cues

"Dining Out" by Equinox can be purchased at The Shop @ Equinox, some Equinox clubs or can be downloaded at q.equinox.com/articles/2013/02/zagat.