Restaurants want to please us. But for most that means adding bacteria-laden dairy and meat, chemicals, genetically modified foods, rodent droppings, and hate into our food.

Here are some restaurants that honor our health and not only offer some healthy choices, but seek to educate us on the same:

• Masao’s Kitchen (Waltham)
• Shabu Zen (Allston, etc.)
• Nzuko (Framingham)
• Sweet Green (all over!)
• Fresh City (Natick, Newton, highway stops)
• Le’s Vietnamese (Allston, Newton, etc.)
• Green Leaf (Framingham)
• PhoDakao (Framingham)
• Walnut Grille (Newton)
• Life Alive (Cambridge and Lowell)
• Red Lentil (Watertown)

Most Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants have many healthy vegetable, grain, noodle and soup dishes. To make sure, ask them to help you reduce sodium, eliminate MSG, and avoid high fructose corn syrup.

If you find yourself at an American or Italian joint (run from most sports or burger bars), ask for a side of vegetables, a salad, noodles with wine sauce, and avoid meats with heavy sauces. Also, take home some of your meal to avoid overeating.