FOLIO
by erin thursby
Here are some of the local places where you can pick up a quick bite or sit down to a full meal knowing that you’re getting a healthy, green-conscious repast.
grassroots
Nestled in the bosom of 5 Points is Grassroots (2007 Park Street, 384-4474). They also have a new location in Fleming Island (1915 East West Parkway, 541-0009). It’s long been the go-to spot for the organically inclined. Besides getting your grocery shopping done, you can also pick up a vegan or vegetarian sandwich along with a healthy smoothie.
healthy way
Organic fast food might not be an entirely new concept on the West Coast but it’s still a fairly fresh idea here in Florida. At the Healthy Way Cafe (10281 Midtown Parkway, 642-2951) in the St. Johns Town Center you’ll find an emphasis on organics and simple recipes. The majority of the menu features items that most of us are used to eating: wraps and salads.
Salmon-lovers simply must try the Healthy Way Wrap, a delicious combination of wild salmon, organic romaine, lettuce, tomatoes and spouts. I’m also a fan of the Healthy Way fruit salad.
the manatee cafe
In St. Augustine, you can find The Manatee Cafe (525 S.R. 16 #106 Westgate Plaza, St. Augustine, 826-0210), a favorite spot for vegetarians. They serve a veggie bugger, veggie omelet and tofu chili, among other tasty selections on their menu.
Breakfast is very popular. Besides the omelets, you can also get a waffle made with Spelt flour, get a breakfast burrito or scrambled tofu. Lots of people get health conscious food to go here, but they have a large sit-down area. Cafe patrons range from tourists hungry for healthy stuff to local vegetarians who are regulars. Think of it as a healthy diner. There is also a very small market, but the emphasis is on the food area.
native sun market
Native Sun, is of course, my hands-down favorite source of organic and natural produce. The location in Mandarin (10000 San Jose Boulevard, 260-6950) is smaller than the huge place they’ve got at Baymeadows and 9A (11030 Baymeadows Road, 519-2997), so if you haven’t gone down to take a gander at their newer locale, it might be time to do so.
Both Native Suns in the area have a good deli, but the one at Baymeadows and 9A is fantastic, proving that healthy food can sometimes be more delectable than the stuff that’s bad for you. Every item is made fresh in the store by the Native Sun staff using only all-natural and organic ingredients to ensure their foods are as healthy as they are delicious.
Most people take their food to-go, but there is a sit-down area at the front of the store. If you’re on your way home and looking to feed your family, head to the hot bar section and pick up one of their rotisserie chickens.
While you can feed an army with their organic goodness, I like to go there to pick up lunch for myself. I adore their wraps and their rye berry and raisin salad. Sometimes I pick up something from their bakery for later, such as zucchini or banana date muffins. There are single servings of desserts available, so you can make sure you don’t gorge on their carrot cake or delish raspberry bars.
olives & oils
Near the corner of Park and King you can find Olives & Oils (1506 King Street, 619-6187), a little market that supplies the green-conscious here in Jacksonville.
From the market you can pick up vegetarian baguettes, gluten free beers, organic wines, olive oils, produce and local coffee. If you’d like to pick up a quick, delish lunch, they have sandwiches that include cruelty-free meat and they always have some sort of vegetarian option in their soups and sandwiches. All of their to-go sandwiches are wrapped in recycled paper and all of their containers are compostable, breaking down in a short time in a landfill.
present moment cafe
Present Moment (226 W King Street, St Augustine, 827-4499) in St. Augustine advocates the Raw Food Movement. Though there are Raw Foodists who advocate eating raw meat, Present Moment promotes Raw Veganism. Even if you’re a dedicated carnivore, the food at Present Moment will win you over with its vivacious flavors. They start with organic ingredients, and nothing is cooked. When you eat their “breads” or crackers, even those aren’t cooked, but dehydrated with heat.
One of the most popular dishes on the menu is the Tacos of Life. Two Romaine shells are home to pine-nut chili and walnut puree, fresh salsa, guacamole with coconut sour cream and a jalapeno vinaigrette. I watched this attractive dish go out to a number of different tables as I sat at the bar, drinking my carrot apple juice with a touch of ginger. Presentation is key here. Not only are the dishes tasty, but they’re placed on the plate with delicate care.
shakti life kitchen
The Shaki Life Kitchen (590 Sturdivant Street, Atlantic Beach, 247-7116) opened late last year in Atlantic Beach, so it’s possible that you haven’t heard of it yet. Like Present Moment in St. Augustine, they feature a menu of raw vegan foods. I can’t wait to check it out!
turtle island natural foods
Turtle Island Natural Foods (363 Atlantic Boulevard, Atlantic Beach, 247-6400) is a favorite to-go place for health conscious beachgoers. It’s a small health food and organic market, but it buzzes with folks at lunchtime, ordering from their deli case. They serve fabulous sandwiches with creative names, all of which seem to come from songs. There’s Blue Sky, made with roast beef and boursin-style cheese with lettuce, tomato and onion on sourdough bread. Also a favorite is Whole Lotta Love, made with fresh veggies, avocado, apple and almonds with sharp cheddar and Djion mustard on organic whole wheat bread. My personal favorite is the Mayport shrimp salad sandwich: Come Sail Away.
Vegetarians and vegans have their own separate case, so if meat turns your stomach, you won’t have to look at it as you try to make your selection. Similarly, if you’re avoiding meat, it’s convenient to have those selections in a separate case.
If you’re into the sweeter things in life, do not miss their dessert case. It’s always changing. From strawberry lemon tarts to chocolate decadence, their desserts not only look fabulous, they also taste fabulous.
whole foods
The prospect of getting a Whole Foods (10601 San Jose Boulevard, 288-1100) in Jacksonville had been setting the granola-crunching population aflame for years before we finally got one. I think it was a bit of a let down when they settled on the suburban Mandarin neighborhood, far from the neighborhoods of the most ardent Whole Food advocates, who mostly lived near Downtown or somewhere in Riverside or the Beaches. While their prepared foods aren’t certified organic, they do avoid hydrogenated oils, preservatives and a host of other baddies. Each prepared dish has a placard with all the ingredients on it, so you know exactly what you’re eating. Their selection is HUGE, with a hot bar featuring every ethnic food you can probably think of. It’s a great place to grab a hot lunch or meal on the way home if you happen to be in the Mandarin neighborhood.
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