If you’ve ever been on a cleanse, you’ll know that one of the setbacks of being on a restricted diet is being able to socialize. It’s all fine and dandy while you’re at home, juicing away and munching on your salads. But when it’s time to get social with family and friends, it can be a challenge. You’ll be the annoying one asking questions like ‘what’s this sweetened with?’, ‘is it gluten free?’, ‘ is there dairy in this?’. That’s OK. The more you ask, the more successful your cleanse will be. What`s more, you might have some people in your life that just don`t get the whole cleanse thing and try to tempt you with everything you`re trying to avoid, like sweet treats or that frothy cup of latte. A cleanse usually only lasts for a limited time, so don’t feel bad or let social pressure compromise your detox efforts! Once they see your glowing skin and boundless energy succeeding your cleanse, they’ll want to know all your detox secrets.
Lucky for us, over the last few years the health conscious restaurateurs have given us more options to dine out while we’re sipping on our green juices. Vancouver boasts some of the most awesome organic local healthy eateries, and here is my list of the top best places to dine for the health conscious green smoothie loving type! From freshly pressed organic juices on the go to top notch elegant affair, there is something for everyone:)
Even in a healthy restaurant, you should still practice precaution and check in with the server if you’re unsure about an ingredient. Some well meaning ‘health’ restaurants are still serving up poor quality oils, added sugars and depend heavily on soy based products for vegan/vegetarian meals.
Here is my list of the best places for the good clean grub:
This awesome cafeteria style restaurant allows you to see and pick out the most vibrant and health enhancing liver loving foods! At Tractor, they rely heavily on colourful vegetables for their vibrant dishes and source as much local and organic as possible. The concept of the restaurant is everyday health foods, and you will find some amazingly delicious and creative dishes here from chef Ryan Mah. When choosing your meal, ask for gluten free (the Moroccan Chicken Stew has wheat for example) and dairy free items. Love the Veggie salads and the fact that you can get a half an avocado as a side dish. My kinda place:)
Address: 1903 West 4th Ave, Vancouver
Buddha-Full Fresh Juice & Smoothies
At Buddha Full Juices you’ll find loads of detoxifying juices and smoothies to choose from, many with superfoods like maca, E3 Live and bee pollen. I tried the Ganesha’s Green Juice which is packed with detox superstars like kale, spinach, parsley, romaine, celery and apple. Delish:) Before you leave, stock up on some kale chips!
Address: 106 1st St W #101, North Vancouver
You will find some elegant mouthwatering affair at the Graze, which specializes in locally sourced organic plant-based foods. The menu changes seasonally, but everything here is gorgeous and so beautifully creative. If you need to dine out for a special occasion, this is the place to go and still stay conscious of your diet restrictions. To start, the Antipasti Board often features nut-based or other plant-based cheeses that would work with your detox program. Many colourful salads to choose from: Apple Fennel, Winter Salad with Lacinato kale with roasted golden and red beets, and the seasonal Roasted Vegetables. Crepes on a cleanse? Oh yes, it’s possible here. Their Basil & chickpea crepes are filled with grilled seasonal vegetables and organic tempeh. Or try the Vegetable Strata (with an alternate sauce to the cashew cream sauce) or Perogies (foregoing the spicy tomato jam). Who ever said detoxing means deprivation? This is definitely one of my top picks in Vancouver, positively foodgasmic!
Address: 3980 Fraser St, Vancouver
Not a full restaurant but worth an honorable mention. You’ll love the down to earth and joyous personalities of the Juice Truck guys. Definitely the healthiest food truck on the road, you’ll find them hanging out in Gastown at the corner of Abbott and Water Street. Although everything is delish, I would opt for The Remedy juice with Pineapple pressed with cucumber, wheatgrass, kale, mint & ginger. The Hybrid and The Green Smoothie are also great choices. YUM! You can also have your fresh organic juiced delivered (in Vancouver)
Address: The corner of Hamilton Street and West Georgia Street, Vancouver (Gastown)
Cafe: 28 W 5th Ave, Vancouver
Super cute little spot, tucked away in a courtyard in North Vancouver. Many options on the menu during a cleanse here, including Super Detox juice, Royal Green Smoothie, hot and cold soups and nori rolls. Although tempting, maybe save the cheesecake for the next visit:) (cashew nuts are not recommended on a cleanse) As a bonus you can load up on some sweet super cleansing foods like spirulina, kale chips, and flax crackers.
Address: 260 W Esplanade #120, North Vancouver
One of the pioneers of the raw vegan scene in Vancouver, this is probably one of the only places you can eat pizza while on a cleanse! When choosing your meal, look out for “cheese” and “creamy dressings” as these are most likely to contain cashews, which aren’t the best choice of nuts while on a cleanse. The Great Gorilla Salad, The Roots Tonic Juice and Clean Green Smoothie are all great options.
Address: 436 Richards St, Vancouver
You will love this community oriented sweet spot in Vancouver. Lots of choices here for raw and cooked cleanse friendly foods. Best choices include Green Power Juice, Super Salad with Flax Crackers, Green Soup and Spicy Nori Rolls. The best part? You can load up on some organic groceries before you leave!
Address: 1025 Commercial Dr, Vancouver
This place looks and feels just like it sounds – a golden aura! All seasonal and organic menu favourites include Golden Dhal, Cosmic Curry Soup, Hot Apple Cider, Shiva’s Nectar and Blue-Magic (with E-3Live blue crystals. Sounds enticing, right?) Amazing restaurants like this make doing a cleanse more of a treat than an obligation. Go get your glow on, this place is amazing!
Address: 2680 West Broadway
At Indigo, located inside the Greens and Organic Natural Market, you can find your fix of organic fresh pressed juices overflowing with detox superstars! You can also treat your digestion to a fresh coconut water kefir here, a fermented beverage filled with healthy bacteria. My favourites here include the Burdock Root Tonic and the Beautifying Juice. The menu for takeout meals changes weekly, but be on the lookout for some organic goodness with a Ukrainian flare, like Borscth, SO incredibly flavourful and detoxifying! If you’re lucky, you’ll have a chance to try the raw pizza as well, it’s incredibly delish.
Address: 1978 W Broadway st, Vancouver
The Healthy Monkey (various locations in South Surrey and Langley).
You’ll find some delicious salad bowls, soups, wraps, and smoothies here! There is even mung beans on the menu!
Nature’s Fare Markets (various locations in BC)
Not only can you pick up everything you need for a cleanse here, you can also grab a healthy lunch to go. Fresh organic juices, smoothies, salads and soups are great options here. The staff at the Langley location is AMAZING! (I’m sure they ar at other locations as well, I just haven’t been there)
Did I miss your favourite healthy spot? Comment below and let us know!
Could you benefit from a cleanse? Download my free Detox 101 Guide ~ what anyone thinking about doing a cleanse ought to know. DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE HERE.
In this guide, I explain who should and shouldn’t do a cleanse, how to choose the right detox plan for you, and how to avoid the top sources of toxins.
Enjoy, and happy cleansing!
Great Juice Bar: http://www.krokodilepear.com/
Thanks for including us! The Apple Bistro had some amazing new things on the way too, so be sure to visit us soon.
This is a great list! It's especially helpful since my family is cleansing as we speak, so thanks for posting it.
A couple updates to the list that I know of: Gorilla Food has sadly closed their doors and Indigo Age Cafe & Kombucha Bar has taken over the space. Tao is no longer tucked away in a quaint little courtyard, but has moved down the street to an ex-Starbucks building. Their new address is 131 W Esplanade.
Yes, as Annaliisa says, Langley Nature's Fare staff ARE amazing! :-)