Toronto is a beautiful city. It’s clean, friendly, inclusive, and most of all, the food is incredible! After travelling and living all over the world, I’m lucky to be here in the city I love. Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods, represented by a wide array of diverse cultures. From the barrels of fresh sauerkraut at the polish delis in Bloor West Village, to the kimchi of Koreatown, healthy food in Toronto includes everything from gut-friendly eats to health food store meccas. As a dietitian, I'm often asked about my favourite healthy hot spots to visit in Toronto, and as someone who cooks (and eats) for a living, I’m always on the hunt to find the best to share with my community! Whether you're just visiting the city or playing tourist in your own backyard, here are my favourite healthy spots to hit up in Toronto. The Big Carrot Toronto’s first health food store to feature non-GMO, organically-grown food and environmentally-safe products, The Big Carrot, has been an East End fixture since 1983. Today, their selection is unbelievable. I can’t get out of there without buying some locally made bread (which comes from 30 different bakeries!), a container (or two) of their prepared food, (honestly, some of the best in the city), and my supply of Bio-K+, which you can find in their holistic dispensary across the courtyard. The Big Carrot also offers a ton of special events, like seminars and tours of local food farms. If you're into learning more about healthy, sustainable living, this is the place for you. Owl of Minerva I LOVE me some good gut-friendly kimchi, and I’m going to have to hand the gold medal for this delicious fermented food to Owl of Minerva. Open 24 hours (for those emergency cravings!), this Korean mainstay, with several Toronto locations, is the real deal and always fresh and bustling. Try the kimchi jeon, otherwise known as a kimchi pancake, or take their ‘gold medal’ kimchi home to create your own dishes! I frequently see Owl’s kimchi (in its distinctive little red and yellow pot) in grocery stores around the city. Keep your eyes open for it if you can’t make it out to one of their restaurants! Qi Natural Foods Located in the West End neighbourhood of Parkdale, this is my favorite Toronto health food store. They have two other locations as well if you can't make it West! Why do I love this store so much? For their amazing bulk food selection (so many types of coconut), gut-friendly items (like Bio-K+, tempeh, kimchi, gluten-free shirataki noodles), and their helpful, knowledgeable staff who strive to empower you about your health. Best of all, I typically find their prices to be lower than conventional supermarkets (which helps your wallet when stocking up on all things healthy). Bunner’s Bakeshop With two locations, Bunner’s Bakeshop is rapidly becoming a destination for gluten-free and non-gluten-free folks alike, tempting them in with their incredible baking! 100% gluten-free and vegan, Bunner’s creates traditional baked treats that are suitable for people who have dietary sensitivities or follow a plant-based diet. Bunner’s cinnamon buns are epic, but they also offer cakes, scones, cookies, and savoury items like mac and cheese, and pastry ‘pockets’ filled with yummy fillings. Fresh Restaurants I couldn’t write this piece without including one of my favorite restaurants, Fresh. With several Toronto locations, they’re the perfect place for ‘gateway’ vegan food. By that, I mean that their food (all vegan, FYI), is so incredibly delicious, even the most committed meat-eater will be completely happy and satisfied after their meal. My favorite order is one of their huge bowls, packed with steamed and raw vegetables, and marinated tofu. Plenty of my friends rave about Fresh’s onion rings; quinoa-coated rings of crispy perfection. From fresh juices to bowls to tacos, whatever you get at Fresh is going to be fantastic. They have a separate gluten-free menu, so you don’t have to guess which dishes you’ll be able to tolerate. If you have a favourite healthy spot, let us know! Follow Bio-K+ on Facebook or Instagram, and let us know the healthy places you love. Abby Langer is a Toronto-based media and consulting dietitian, food writer, and recipe developer. For more healthy living tips check out her website, or follow her on Instagram.
