Why is Healthy Food in Dubai So Boring, and How Wandr Is Challenging It

I’ve always liked eating healthy. I love how it makes me feel lighter, more energetic, more focused. But let’s be honest, most of the time, eating healthy feels like a chore. It’s repetitive, unsatisfying, and sometimes just… sad. Every salad starts to taste the same, every “bowl” looks identical, and every “healthy” café feels cold and lifeless.

Then one evening, while scrolling through Instagram, I stopped on a photo that instantly made me hungry: a vibrant, earthy dish from a place called Wandr in JLT. I later found out it was The Perilicious Market Plate, and it looked nothing like the bland “fit food” I was used to. I decided to give it a try, and that’s when everything changed.

Why Does Healthy Food in Dubai Feel So Boring?

When I started thinking about it, I realised it wasn’t just me. Many people who try to eat better end up saying the same thing: “Healthy food is boring.”

But is it really the food itself, or the way we’ve been taught to think about it? I went on to research about the topic, and here are four big reasons healthy food feels dull, and how this restaurant called Wandr, a healthy restaurant in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai, is quietly rewriting that story.

🥗 1. Monotony: the “Same Salad Every Day” Syndrome

Most “healthy” menus play it too safe. Quinoa bowls, grilled chicken and avocado toast are all good things, but over time they start to blur together. It’s like eating on autopilot.

When I dug into this, I found I’m not alone. According to a UK study published in The Independent, 47% of people trying to eat healthily admit they get bored of the limited options available. Repetition kills excitement, and when food stops being exciting, it’s hard to stay consistent.

That’s what first struck me about Wandr. Their menu doesn’t stand still. One week, it’s a Thai-inspired curry bowl; the next, a kungpao chicken market plate. They rotate dishes with the seasons, and each one feels like it has a little story behind it. You can actually travel through flavors without leaving Dubai.

Even research from BMC Public Health confirms that people, especially in the UAE, want variety: over 84% of respondents said they expect healthy food to be balanced, complete, and diverse, not restrictive.

When food surprises you, even if it is healthy, you look forward to eating healthy again.

🍛 2. Lack of Comfort: Healthy Food Often Feels Cold and Soulless

Most “fit” restaurants focus so much on nutrition that they forget about warmth. You get food that fills you up, but not food that comforts you. It’s like eating out of obligation.

According to Frontiers in Psychology, emotional satisfaction plays a massive role in eating habits. When people are stressed or bored, they instinctively seek foods that evoke comfort: warmth, aroma, familiarity.

A 2024 study in the Journal of Consumer Psychology also found that comfort foods aren’t just indulgent, they’re psychologically grounding. They remind us of home, care, and safety.

Wandr, on the other hand, makes healthy food feel human again. Warm grains, roasted veggies, cozy sauces, dishes that make you exhale. Their curries are layered and slow-cooked, their plates are colorful and generous, and even their smoothies taste like they were made with care, not just macros.

🌶️ 3. Flavor Sacrifice: When Health Comes at the Expense of Taste

There’s this unspoken rule that “healthy” means plain: less salt, less fat, less joy. But when everything good is stripped away, what’s left to love?

I learned that flavor doesn’t have to be the enemy of health. In fact, Harvard Health points out that the healthiest diets in the world: Mediterranean, Japanese, Middle Eastern, are rich in herbs, spices, and healthy oils that make food both nourishing and delicious.

Wandr gets that balance perfectly right. Their food doesn’t taste “healthy,” it just tastes good. They use tahini, zesty dressings, seeds for crunch, roasted nuts for depth, flavor built from real ingredients.

The Perilicious Market Plate I saw on Instagram? It turned out to be roasted peri-peri cauliflower with lentils, greens, and a creamy herb sauce. It was smoky, tangy, slightly spicy, and completely satisfying.

It made me realise: healthy food isn’t boring. Lazy cooking is.

🌿 4. Vibe & Experience: The Setting Matters More Than We Think

You can have the best meal in the world, but if the space feels sterile, the experience won’t stick. So many health cafés look the same: white walls, minimalist tables, bland playlists. It’s hard to feel inspired eating there.

Even lifestyle writers at Eater have noted that the ambiance of healthy restaurants deeply affects how people perceive taste and satisfaction.

That’s another area where Wandr stands out. Their space in JLT’s Cluster T feels warm and grounded: earthy tones, wooden textures, plants everywhere. It’s the kind of place you want to linger. You see people on laptops, others laughing over wraps or smoothies, and the staff greet you by name. It’s more like a community hub than a health café.

Even their branding, inspired by the idea of “wandering through flavors”, gives the whole place a sense of curiosity and discovery. Healthy food suddenly feels alive, not like a checklist.

So why is the fact that healthy food is boring still common belief?

Here’s what I learned after my little deep-dive, and from eating at Wandr almost every week since:

Why It Feels Boring	What’s Really Going On	How Wandr Changes It
Repetition	Same limited menus	Seasonal, globally inspired dishes
No comfort	Focus on calories over emotions	Warm, hearty meals that feel homemade
Bland flavor	Fear of salt, fat, and spice	Flavor-forward cooking with herbs and texture
Dull experience	Cold, minimal café settings	Warm design and storytelling atmosphere

Healthy food isn’t inherently boring, we’ve just been eating it from places that forgot to make it joyful.

A Quick Note from Experience

After that first visit, I wrote in a review:

“I really like eating healthy but sometimes it’s just so sad to do it. Healthy food is boring, but then I found Wandr. The food is healthy and delicious. I can have it every day and it feels like eating at home, but I can still eat healthy. Honestly props to them.”

Final Thoughts

I went into Wandr expecting another “good-for-you” meal. What I found was a restaurant that reminded me why I love food in the first place.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be plain or predictable. It can be warm, creative, even indulgent. Wandr, tucked inside JLT, proves that a healthy restaurant in Dubai can be both nutritious and crave-worthy, the kind of place you want to come back to again and again.

If you ever thought healthy food was boring, go try The Perilicious Market Plate or one of their smoothies. You might walk away feeling the same way I did: healthy, happy, and genuinely satisfied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Wandr located?

You can find Wandr in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Cluster T, Dubai. It’s open for dine-in, takeaway, or delivery through Talabat and Deliveroo.

Do they serve vegan food?

Yes. Wandr is a plant-forward restaurant, which means most dishes are vegan-friendly or can be made vegan by default.

Is it only for health enthusiasts?

Not at all. Wandr is for anyone who loves food, period. You don’t have to count calories to enjoy a hearty, balanced meal.

Can healthy food really taste this good?

It can when it’s cooked with imagination. Wandr shows that nutrition and pleasure can live on the same plate.

Conclusion

Healthy food isn’t actually boring, unimaginative cooking is. And in a city full of routine menus and flavorless “fit food,” Wandr is showing Dubai what healthy food can truly be: warm, flavorful, creative, and worth every bite.