Nutritionist-aided eating in Lakeview

Healthy choices can be tough, although not as tough as having their commercials be the most widely viewed thing you've done in 13 years, Julia. Helping you eat better: FÜL.

A brightly colored quickserve built around a gently curved counter, FÜL's the brainchild of a health-conscious Chicagoan so focused on helping folks make good food decisions that he's leaving Chicago for somewhere people don't eat foie gras hot dogs...covered in nachos staffing the joint with a nutritionist. Sustainably sourced paninis include smoked chicken topped w/ Gruyere & caramelized onions, and fig preserves paired with prosciutto & mascarpone, plus there're baguette options such as grilled eggplant w/ grated parm, roasted red peppers, and fresh mozz, though if its so youthful why can't it get past semi-soft? They're also whipping up dressings in-house for greenery like the Fitness (tangy French-topped spinach, apple, onion, and feta), the lime-cilantro'd Cabo Fresco with avocado, bell peppers, and pecans, and a berry-vinaigrette number with almonds, seasonal fruit, and goat cheese called the Meta, because while they make the salad, the salad is actually what makes them.

They're also going big on design-your-own smoothies, with gratis toppings including dark chocolate and shaved coconut, and 25-cent supplements ranging from bee pollen to "bone builder", also a more widely held view of Julia 13 years ago.