Healthy Living Guide: Long Beach
Welcome to Long Beach California! Home to beautiful beaches, unmatched views of the Pacific, and of course, the Integrative Nutrition Mega Conference! We couldn’t be more excited to be in Long Beach this week, and can’t wait to meet all of you at the conference this weekend. Long Beach is truly a beautiful port town, and a healthy one at that! We’ve put together a list of our favorite healthy restaurants and activities in the area for you, so way not call up a few of your fellow IINers and set a dinner date while you’re in town?
Can’t join us for the Integrative Nutrition Mega Conference? We’ll miss you! But not to fear, we’ve got healthy options in your town too!
Restaurants
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Au Lac This cozy restaurant specializes in “Humanese” food – a term coined by Au Lac’s chef himself. Humanese is the belief that everyone is created equal and we must have respect for all animals, plants, and each other. Au Lac has a Humanese-friendly, vegan and raw menu. |
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Green Temple This vegetarian restaurant is just outside of Long Beach, in Redondo Beach, but it’s worth the drive out of town. The serene atmosphere and delicious, vegetarian menu makes for a delightful dining experience. Even if you aren’t vegetarian, we are willing to bet you’ll want to come back to Green Temple time and time again! |
Healthy Living Guide: Los Angeles
From the New York Skyline to the to the San Francisco Bay, we’ve come a long way since we started our healthy living guides. This week, we’re finally arriving in sunny Los Angeles, California! With its palm tree lined streets, pristine beaches and Louis Vuitton clad celebs, there really is no other city like LA. Once you get off the beaten path (and out of the traffic on the 101) you will find that Los Angeles is so much more than just Hollywood. The city has so many outdoor activities, beautiful year-round farmers markets, and healthy restaurants to offer. Here are a few of our favorite hangouts in LA.
Not in the LA area? Check out our Healthy Living series for options in your area.
Restaurants
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Pressed Juicery Created by IIN graduate, Carly Brien, Pressed Juicery is the best place in all of LA to get fresh pressed, organic juice. Stop into one of their 3 locations for a delicious green juice, or if you're in need of a serious detox, participate in one of their juice cleanses - 6 fresh juices, plus 2 supplemental beverages delivered to you daily! |
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True Food Kitchen At True Food Kitchen, the entire menu is centered on the principals of IIN Nutrition Expert, Dr. Andrew Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Food Pyramid. The menu is packed with healthy whole grains, proteins, and nutrient rich vegetables – you can’t go wrong, no matter what dish you choose! |
Healthy Living Guide: San Diego
Located in the southern most tip of California, San Diego is one of the most desirable locations to live in America. And it’s no surprise; just one look at the pristine beaches, palm trees, and carefree residences soaking up the sun is enough to convince anyone to call San Diego home! The city also has a strong health and wellness movement, with dozens of yoga studios, state parks, surf beaches, and health food cafes! If you are in need of a little R&R, San Diego is the perfect spot to kick back and relax on the beach, green juice in hand!
If you’re planning a trip to San Diego - and you should - here is a list of our favorite healthy hang-outs in the area, along with some beautiful state parks that capture all of the beauty of Southern California!
Not able to make it down to San Diego? Check out the healthy options a little closer to home in our Healthy Living Guide series!
Restaurants
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Café Gratitude Café Gratitude has several locations throughout California, each serving 100% local, organic, and vegan fare. The food is free of refined sugar, flour, and additives. They also have several raw options on their menu. |
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Casa De Luz This Macrobiotics restaurant was founded on the philosophy of living the best life you can by feeding your body the best possible foods. The chef creates balanced and organic meals for optimal health. For a delicious, always vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free meal, head over to Casa De Luz. They also have a location in Austin, TX! |
Healthy Living Guide: San Francisco
San Francisco is one of my all-time favorite cities. From the cable cars rumbling down the steep streets to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge peaking out of the fog, how could you not be charmed by this picture perfect city? One of my favorite things about San Fran is the diversity of its neighborhoods. Looking for an authentic slice of pizza and unrivaled views of the city? Head over to the Italian district, North Beach. If you’re in the mood from some boutique shopping, head over to Filmore Street in Pacific Heights. And of course, a trip to San Francisco wouldn’t be complete without a jaunt through Chinatown, which happens to be the largest enclave of Chinese culture in America.
Like many cities on the West Coast, San Francisco is a health-minded city with no shortage of healthy restaurants, parks, and farmers markets. Here is a list of a few of our favorites in the area – make sure you check them out next time you are in the Bay Area!
Not planning a trip to San Francisco? Check out our other Healthy Living Guides for healthy options a little bit closer to home.
Restaurants
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Café Gratitude Café Gratitude has several locations throughout California, each serving 100% local, organic, and vegan fare. The food is free of refined sugar, flour, and additives. They also have several raw options on their menu. This is the perfect place for a relaxed brunch or lunch with friends in the funky Mission district of San Fran. |
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Roam This burger joint serves delicious burgers made of 100% grass-fed beef, free-range turkey, or all-natural bison as well as organic veggie burgers. They source their ingredients locally and pair the burgers with delicious Straus Family Creamery Shakes, house-made sodas, local brews, or wine and kombucha that they have on tap! |
Healthy Living Guide: Sacramento
Ah, Sacramento! California’s State Capitol, delta town, seat of the 19th century gold rush, and the town where the Pacific Railroad began. It’s also my old college town, a place where me and my friends spent our afternoons picking sour Seville oranges from the old trees lining downtown’s gorgeous streets (yes, harvesting is both legal and encouraged!), strolling in the camellia gardens at the Capitol, and scouting the perfect bowl of menudo in the hundreds of muy authentico Mexican restaurants that dot the area.
Located in Northern California’s fertile Central Valley, Sacramento is an agricultural powerhouse. The city itself is home to some of the biggest urban citrus groves in the nation. Past the city limits, farms dominate the landscape. Popular area crops include rice, all manner of nuts, vegetables, orchard fruits, berries, and melons. There are also wineries, cheese makers, beer brewers, marmalade makers (using the above mentioned Sevilles) and other food artisans. You can taste it all at any of the area’s farm-to-table restaurants that are so popular. Or, visit one of the local farmer’s markets, roadside produce stands, tasting rooms or pick-your-own farms.
But food isn’t all Sacramento has going for it. With its temperate climate and soft breeze—made possible by the surrounding Sacramento, American, and San Joaquin rivers— Sacramento is an outdoorsy town. Be prepared to cycle along some of the hundreds of miles of dedicated bike lanes, jog next to the one of the rivers, canoe or raft, swim, stroll through historic Old Town, ski in the nearby Sierras, hike through foothill nature preserves, or join one of the Frisbee or soccer games that are always being played in one of the hundreds of area parks.
Looking for healthy options in your town? Check out the rest of our healthy living guides!
Restaurants
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Sugar Plum Vegan Café This vegan cafe and bakery is home to some of Sacramento’s most beloved vegan dishes and baked goods! Sugar Plum is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—but we can’t get enough of their Sunday brunch menu! The Tofu Frittata and Hempy Blueberry Pancakes are simply outstanding. |
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The Green Boheme The Green Boheme is a very popular spot among Sacramento’s health-minded community! They serve healthy, gluten free, raw, vegan dishes at their café; many with a delicious Asian flare. The café also hosts raw cooking demonstrations, food plans and raw food cleanses! |
Healthy Living Guide: Portland (Oregon!)
Continuing down the Pacific Coast, our next stop is Portland, Oregon! I’m lucky enough to call Portland home and couldn’t be more excited to share some of my favorite healthy hangouts with all of you!
Recently, Portland has come to be known as quite the food town, and a healthy food town at that. It is truly a locavore’s paradise (see video at the end of this post!), with almost all of the popular and trendy restaurants serving only local, organic dishes. In addition to the booming restaurant scene, Portlanders have taken their food obsession to the streets in the form of dozens of food cart pods littered around the city.
When we’re not eating in Portland, we’re out enjoying the natural beauty that is the state of Oregon. With the majestic Cascade Mountain Range only a short drive away in one direction and the Pacific Coast in the other – not to mention the miles and miles of forests, trails, rivers and lakes in between – there is never a shortage of outdoor activities in the area!
Now that I’ve (hopefully) successfully sold you on a trip to Portland, check out our list of healthy restaurants to try while you’re there. Can’t make it to Oregon? Check out our other Healthy Living Guides for recommendations in your area!
Restaurants
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Vita Café Vita Café is a long time Portland favorite, serving mostly vegetarian and vegan food, along with some all-natural, hormone-free meats and eggs, since 1999. All ingredients are organic and locally sourced from the Northwest. Everything on the menu is delicious, and as a bonus, kids eat for a buck every day from 5 to 7 pm! |
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Blossoming Lotus This café specializes in Asian-inspired cuisine with a vegan or live food twist. They are located on the Willamette River in Portland’s Irvington District, and are open for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch. All of the meals are nourishing and delicious, but we especially love the Live Pesto and Portobello Pizza! |
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth the Healthy Way
Sometimes sugar cravings can be hard to ignore. I know I crave chocolate when I’m really stressed or have a lot going on. Whatever your reason, we can all agree that there are certain times when our taste buds need a little something sweet.
Instead of giving in and scarfing down a chocolate bar, try to instead enjoy sweet treats that can satisfy the craving without sabotaging your diet or spiking your blood sugar. I love this Raw, Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe from the Healthy Blender Recipes blog. Not only is it packed with antioxidants, but I also like cacao powder and raw cacao nib. , It’s delicious and the perfect way to finish a meal!
Healthy Living Guide: Salt Lake City
This week, we’re heading out West to explore the beautiful capital city of Utah, Salt Lake City! Nestled in the Salt Lake Valley, Salt Lake City is surrounded by the Great Salt Lake to the Northwest and the majestic Wasatch and Oquirrh mountain ranges to the East and West. Needless to say, with so much natural beauty, Salt Lake City residents lead a very active outdoor lifestyle! Healthy eating is also a big part of the Salt Lake lifestyle, with organic, farm-to-table, and vegetarian restaurants popping up across the city.
Here of a few of our favorites. If you like what we found in Salt Lake City, check out our Healthy Living Series for options in your town!
Restaurants
Pago
878 South 900 East
This cozy farm-to-table restaurant is a local favorite. Pago is part of RSA, Restaurant Supported Agriculture, which allows them to source their produce from local farms. The menu features a delicious assortment of American fare. Be sure to make a reservation because the tables fill up quickly!
Sages Café
473 East 300 South
This vegetarian restaurant was named City Weekly’s Best of Utah award for “Best Vegetarian” eight years in a row! And it’s no wonder. Sage Café features a wonderful menu of vegetarian options, many of which are vegan and raw as well.
Omar’s Rawtopia
2148 Highland Drive
Omar’s Rawtopia is the only raw, organic, and vegan restaurant in Utah. The head chef and owner, Omar Abou-Ismail, strives to create meals that are good for the mind, body and spirit of his customers. Stop in for a raw nut burger, a hummus platter, or one of their delicious salads!
Healthy Living Guide: Minneapolis/St. Paul
Minneapolis-St. Paul is somewhat of a creative mecca in the Midwest. People interested in everything from crafting to cooking to painting brave the bone-chilling cold to call Minnesota’s capital home. As we saw in Austin and New York City, with a creative environment always comes a booming food scene, and the Twin Cities are no exception! The Minneapolis-St. Paul area was the winner of the James Beard regional award 3 years ago, and countless chefs have flocked from all parts of the world to open up shop in the area. We can’t get enough of the sustainable, healthy food options that this city has to offer. Here are a few of our favorites that we recommend for anyone living or visiting the Twin Cities.
Looking for a healthy restaurant in another city? Check out our Healthy Living Guides for options in your area!
Restaurants
Good Earth
3460 Galleria
This café, located in Minneapolis’ popular shopping and dining center, The Galleria, is perfect for coffee or lunch with friends. The menu features antibiotic, hormone and nitrate-free, humanely raise meat and poultry as well as sustainable seafood and seasonal, fresh, organic vegetables.
Birchwood Café
3311 East 25th Street
This family-owned café has been a neighborhood favorite since the 1940s when it first opened its doors as a dairy market. Birchwood later evolved into a grocery market, and finally into Birchwood Café. Now the café boasts a menu of local, sustainable, organic and fair trade dishes with many vegan and vegetarian options, as well.
Healthy Living Guide: Austin
Austin, Texas is quickly becoming one of the hippest cities in the United States. Money magazine ranked Austin as the second best big city to live in in 2006, and in 2009, MSN ranked it as the third “Greenest City in America.” Most recently, Travel & Leisure magazine ranked Austin #1 on the list of cities with the best people. Local businesses and the arts thrive in Austin, and the restaurant scene is no exception. As the birthplace of Whole Foods Market, it is no surprise that many of the trendy bars and restaurants have a healthy spin.
Check out some of our favorite healthy spots in Austin! If you’re interested in healthy living in other cities, you can read our entire series of Healthy Living Guides.
Restaurants
The Monument Café
500 South Austin Avenue
This diner is just outside of Austin in Georgetown, TX and is a favorite among the locals. The Monument always uses the freshest ingredients, the vegetables are mostly organic, meats are all natural, and the juices are squeezed fresh at the café daily!
Beets Café
1511 West 5th Street Suite 165
Beets is a living foods café with a delicious menu! We love the ELT (eggplant, lettuce and tomato) on sprouted almond sunflower flat bread with a fresh-pressed Beets Me juice on the side. Beets Café also offers a Raw Foods Basics Class where you can learn to make raw almond milk, “not tuna” pate, chocolate mousse, and more!
