A Guide to the Best of Southern California : FOOD : New Takeout Trend: Stylishly Healthy

AT 16, SHE SERVED fried onion rings at her family’s sandwich shop. Today Melinda Lymperis dishes out takeout food that’s so healthy she’s licensed by the Pritikin Institute. Lymperis adheres strictly to Pritikin’s low-salt/low-sugar/minimal-animal-fat philosophy; when necessary, she uses an occasional dab of extra-virgin olive oil. Best sellers include surprisingly flavorful turkey burgers, turkey meat loaf, Grecian and Italian spiced turkey meatballs and a boneless, skinless, spicy Cajun-style chicken breast. (Prices range from $6.95 to $14.95 per pound.)

Lymperis recently shipped food for 11 weeks to Dudley Moore while he was on location in Danville, Va., for the film, “Crazy People.” And comedian George Carlin orders Lymperis’ garlic-and-pasta dish so often that it now bears his name.

L.A. Gourmet, 1627 Montana Ave . , Santa Monica , (213) 451-0557.