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Fat-Free and Low Fat Vegan Plant Based Recipes

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20 Minutes To The Table Episode 5: Zucchini Rotini Marinara with Vegetables

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It’s been a long day, you’re tired, you’re hungry and you have no imagination for what to make for dinner. – I know this feeling and what to make for dinner when I have no inspiration. This vegan Zucchini Rotini Marinara is something that I make quite often because it’s easy to throw together and it’s great for using up vegetables in the fridge. Sometimes I’ll add in some mushrooms, broccoli, or carrots, but I really love this version with zucchini, bell peppers and peas. I use whole grain rotini and I like this style of noodle because it holds onto the sauce well, has a nice texture and looks really pretty on the plate. I got a giant box of this at Costco for a good deal. It lasted me forever and made quick meals really easy.

I actually prefer a spiral type of noodle compared to spaghetti or fettucini as well. This way I can add more veggies and have a little less pasta. Most of the time I make my own pasta sauce each time with just canned tomatoes and season it and blend it up, but I wanted to show you a quick version of this recipe. I know most of you are probably used to buying pasta sauce in a jar.

When I went shopping in Canada there weren’t too many brands of pasta sauce available that didn’t contain olive oil, canola oil or soy bean oil, but I did find 2 different brands. Just look for one that has a low fat, or light description on the front and then check the back to see if it has any oil. I really try to make sure everything I buy is oil-free, it just doesn’t need the extra calories and I don’t enjoy eating slick or greasy food anymore.

Vegan pasta marinara is one of the easiest dishes you can make, but you can make it delicious and special by jazzing it up with some fresh veggies, cooking them perfectly and seasoning your sauce to your liking. I always like to add some fresh chopped onions for more flavor. The recipe video is below.

If you enjoy  my video please click on it to view it in youtube so you can click the like icon and subscribe to my channel so you can get more recipe videos.   Thank you for the support!

Recipe follows below.

20 Minutes to The Table Episode 5: Zucchini Rotini Marinara with Vegetables

ZucchiniRotiniMarinara-1

 Serves 6

Pasta Ingredients:

1 onion, diced
2 zucchinis sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 cup frozen peas
300g/4 cups dried whole wheat rotini (or GF)
1 700 ml/ 24 oz. jar of pasta sauce (look for oil free and low in sodium)
1 tbsp. fresh parsley
Salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt if desired.

2. When water is boiling add the pasta, bring it back to a boil and then begin timing it as per the directions on the package.

3. Saute onion in a non-stick pan, dry for 4-5 minutes.

4. Add the zucchini and bell peppers. Cook until just tender.

5. Add the tomato sauce and stir to combine, when hot add the frozen peas.

6. Test the pasta for desired doneness. Drain in a colander.

7. Add drained pasta to pasta sauce in a large saute pan (or a pot if you don’t have one large enough).

8. Marry the flavors together for a minute or two to help the pasta absorb the sauce.

9. Add the fresh parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

10. Serve!

Cranberry Walnut Salad

Ingredients:

4 cups Spring Mix salad
2 tbsp dried cranberries
2 tbsp walnuts, chopped
Balsamic vinegar to drizzle

Directions:

1. Assemble salad in a bowl or on plates.

2. Drizzle with dressing and serve along with pasta.

What is your favorite type of pasta and vegetables to cook together? 

Frozen Guru: Vegan Gluten Free Waffles Review

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BlueberryGlutenFreeWaffles

I was sent some new Vegan Blueberry Chia (gluten free) waffles from Frozen Guru to try out the other day. Guess what? They are oil free too! This product is currently only available in the USA (from what I can tell) and you may be able to find it at your health food store or from their website online.

Here’s what the packaging looks like and the nutritional information.

About the ingredients used to make these waffles

From Frozen Guru’s website:

Wholesome Ingredients –   By Weight

Non-GMO Tofu


  • Tofu is the key ingredient in our products and we only source our tofu from Non-GMO soybeans.
  • Soybeans are known for being a complete protein and for their rich vitamin and mineral content.  Soybeans are the only vegetable source that contains all essential amino acids.  They are also rich in calcium, iron, zinc,  phosphorus,  magnesium, B-vitamins, omega fatty acids and fiber.

All Natural Fruit Puree

Fruit puree allows us to naturally find the perfect balance between taste, texture and sweetness. Our waffles contain unsweetened applesauce or unsweetened banana puree.

Gluten-Free Rolled Oats


  • A great source of fiber from one of the few low glycemic grains that also help inhibit cholesterol synthesis.
  • Oats can help control glucose and insulin levels by slowly raising blood sugar levels over a lengthier period of time.

BlueberryGlutenFreeWaffles2

Here’s 3 of my toasted waffles topped with some Canadian maple syrup. You may not be able to tell from this photo, but I am using a small side plate and the waffles are a little smaller than you might find in other commercial brands. This could be to reduce product costs or make them cook easier as these are 100% flour free and use gmo free tofu in the base of the batter. 2 would have been too small for me for breakfast, but 3 was just right. These small portions would also work for those who need smaller meals though or are using it as only part of a breakfast with some fruit or a smoothie as well.

They do make several other flavors, but I was told they are not vegan as they contain whey protein (a dairy protein).

I will admit that these really do taste like waffles! I wouldn’t be able to say they taste gluten free at all. Gluten free flour isn’t the greatest texture so it’s nice they didn’t use any in this recipe. The blueberries are really nice in there as well. Maybe they will be available in Canada one day, not all products get to make it here, but these are really tasty and convenient. I have tried many times to make oil free vegan Belgian waffles in my waffle maker and it just has not worked out. They end up dense. Frozen Guru’s waffles are not dense, they remind me of eating waffles from the toaster as a kid! I recommend toasting them in a toaster until crispy 🙂

To find Frozen Guru waffles in your area go here: frozenguru.com/store-locator/

Disclaimer: Low Fat Vegan Chef was not paid for this product review, a review sample was provided in exchange for any kind of review. 

Simple & Crisp Fat Free Chip Giveaway

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Simple & Crisp_mini pack

 

I cannot believe it, but I’m doing yet another giveaway this Summer. What can I say, Simple & Crisp contacted me and wanted me to give away some delicious, naturally oil free fruit crisps to one lucky reader and I couldn’t refuse. (I would never deprive you of free healthy food… seriously)

I had never heard of the company before, as they are based in the USA, but this sounds like a great alternative to potato chips and the bland freeze dried fruit packs I’ve seen at the health food store. (Freeze dried anything just doesn’t do it for me!)

So I was thrilled that these fruit chips were oil free and could actually be eaten guilt free! Who doesn’t want a guilt free chip? I know I do. These chips are oil-free, vegan, gluten-free and totally natural. No weird preservatives or chemicals. It’s just beautifully dried fruit dehydrated until crisp!

Here’s what Simple & Crisp had to say about this new product:

“Simple & Crisp Signature Mini Pack ($15 value) ~ Enjoy the perfect taster pack of Simple & Crisp’s three signature flavors, apple, orange and pear – their mini pack makes an ideal serving for a tasty snack on the go or the perfect pairing for any culinary occasion, from savory to sweet, to cheese to cupcakes to cocktails – the possibilities are endless.”

They are giving away 1 Signature Mini Pack of their crisps ($15 value) to 1 lucky winner who has a USA mailing address.

Here is an example of the nutritional information for this product.

Apple Chips: nutritional facts // serving size: 15 slices (22g)  //  servings per container: about 2 // calories per serving: 80 // total carb.: 21g

Ingredients: apple, ascorbic acid (to maintain natural color)

I just received my samples and the one that surprised me the most was the orange chips. They taste like orange candies! Very interesting for sure.

To enter to win, please use the widget below. 

To be eligible to win you must have a USA mailing address, comment on this post (using the comment section below – please do not write your comment in the giveawaytools widget, it needs to be on the blog post with everyone else) AND be subscribed to my newsletter. You can also get additional entries by sharing this contest, liking me on Facebook, following me on Twitter, subscribing to me on Youtube and following me on Pinterest. 

If you’re interested in getting the chips directly from the company you can find their website here (orders over $50 have free shipping) and there’s a list of all the local retailers you can find them in as well in the USA.

Disclaimer: LowFatVeganChef.com was not paid for this promotion, a sample pack was offered free for review only. Simple & Crisp is providing 1 reader with a free sample pack as well. 

Which flavor of Simple & Crisp are you most looking forward to trying?

What are the best vegan multivitamins?

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(Now get Free Shipping in the contiguous USA on all orders over $30)

 

Sometimes I get asked what the best vegan vitamins
are, or which ones I use myself. While many doctors
and health experts recommend that EVERYONE
take a daily multivitamin, they’re not telling you
that some of the vitamins and minerals shouldn’t
be included because of potential risk of overdose.

 

So please investigate which multivitamins you
are taking to ensure they are right for you first.

 

This is especially important when eating a plant
based diet as well, as we naturally are getting
higher doses of folic acid, vitamin A, beta
carotene, copper and iron. Which is why I go to
Dr. Fuhrman for my daily multi vitamin as his
vitamins are designed WITHOUT any extra folic
acid, vitamin A, beta carotene, copper or iron to
reduce the risk of toxic overload. (Because these
vitamins and minerals are not water soluble and
can cause problems if taken in high doses.)

 

Dr. Fuhrman’s vitamins also come in a women’s
formula (with D3), men’s vegan formula (with D3) a,
vegan gentle care formula for everyone and a children’s
formula. Most of the vitamin formulas are vegan and
comprised of high quality ingredients that you can
feel safe about using. It’s also nice that some include
a vegan D3 (check beforehand) as we know that most of us in
Western countries are severely deficient in Vitamin
D. (I know I am!)

 

DrFuhrmanVitamins

 

For more information on Dr. Fuhrman’s supplements
check them out

 

 

 

I also like to use a DHA/EPA supplement just in case to
also ensure I’m getting my essential fatty acids in a form
my body can use. (This is especially important as we age.)

 

Receive free shipping on all orders over $30

*for the contiguous USA (excludes Alaska, Hawaii and
International orders.)

 

For orders over $100 make sure to use this coupon code:

$10 off orders of $100 or more with code LS10OFF100

So now you know my recommendation for vegan
multivitamins and supplements.

 

I really don’t buy a lot of supplements, but the ones I do,
I get from Dr. Fuhrman because I respect his work and
the quality of his formulations.

 

Enjoy!

20 Minutes To The Table: Baked Flatbread with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Artichokes and Basil

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So the other day I was craving something pizza-like, but knew I wanted to put a healthy twist on it. Although you may think I’m apt to put hummus on just about anything (I might! lol) I actually don’t eat hummus all that often. But when I do, I love to make my own from scratch as it’s super simple. In this recipe I wanted to use the creamy hummus to sub for the sauce and cheese of traditional pizza and then top with some delicious veggies. Although you can use store bought hummus, I don’t like that it contains a lot of oil and isn’t as tasty as making your own. In fact there is a world of difference between fresh made roasted red pepper hummus versus the store bought kind.

In this episode of 20 minutes to the Table I’m going to show you how you can make your own roasted red pepper hummus, baked flat bread and a fresh salad with maple dijon dressing all in less than 20 minutes for an easy midweek meal

To subscribe to my Youtube channel please click on the video to open it in a new browser and hit the subscribe button beside LowFatVeganChef just under the video. Likes are always appreciated as well!

Some other toppings for your baked flatbread could be sautéed mushrooms, black olives, pineapple, arugula, tempeh or smoked tofu. Use your imagination! Recipes below:

Oil-Free Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Recipe

This is half the recipe from my version in Vegan Comfort Foods From Around The World

Ingredients:

15 oz. / 425 g can chickpeas (no-salt), drained (reserve a few tbsp of liquid) *OR 1 3/4 cup fresh cooked chickpeas
1 Tbsp. tahini (sesame seed butter)
6 oz. / 170 g (half a jar) roasted red peppers, drained *OR about 1 small fresh roasted red pepper
1/2 large lemon, juiced
2 cloves of garlic
1/8 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1/8 tsp. Herbamare or salt, or to taste

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
2. Taste test and adjust seasonings if desired and blend again. Don’t worry if it’s a little thin, when it baked it will become creamy and thick!
3. Enjoy!

BakedFlatBreadPhoto

Recipe photo

Vegan Baked Flatbread with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Artichoke Hearts and Basil

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (recipe above)
1 package of thin burger/sandwich buns or other flatbread
1 15 oz. can artichoke hearts in water (not oil) *OR 400g of frozen artichoke hearts
1 small Vidalia (sweet) onion, sliced
1 handful of fresh basil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sauté onion over medium heat for 5-7 minutes in a little bit of water.
2. Slice artichoke hearts and basil into strips.
3. Assemble flatbread by spreading a thick layer of hummus on each piece of bread and topping with cooked onion, artichoke pieces and basil.
4. Bake for 8-10 until crispy and brown on the bottom. (I baked mine for 10 minutes)

Spinach Arugula Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing

Serves 3-4

Salad Ingredients:

1 5 oz package baby spinach & arugula mix
1/2 English cucumber, sliced
1/2 ripe tomato, sliced
1/3 cup chickpeas

Dressing Ingredients:

4 tbsp Dijon mustard
5-6 tbsp maple syrup (or honey if desired)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper

Directions:

1. Assemble salad ingredients into a bowl.
2. Whisk dressing ingredients together in a bowl.
3. Drizzle over salad and store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge.

 Have you ever made a vegan flatbread or pizza? What’s your favorite toppings? Let me know what you think of these recipes by posting below. 

Eating Plant-Based, Vegan and Vegetarian in Reykjavik, Iceland

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Eating Plant-Based, Vegan and Vegetarian in Reykjavik, Iceland

 




(Originally written in July 2010)

I had the chance to spend 5 amazing days in Iceland.  I had never really known anything about Iceland or thought to go there before, but I am really really glad we did.  Iceland not being known for it’s vegan-friendly cuisine or fresh fruit worried me a little at first, but the benefits of visiting Iceland far outweighed any negatives we encountered.

I thought I’d share with you some of our amazing photos, some info you may not know about Iceland and how you can eat plant-based, raw or vegan should you choose to discover Iceland yourself as well!

Nesjavellir, a high temperature geothermal area

Impressions and Interesting Facts of Iceland

Iceland is the 18th largest island and second only in size to Great Britain in Europe. Situated along the mid-ocean ridge of the Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is a geologic “hot zone” with volcanic eruptions, fissure eruptions, shield volcanoes, pillow basalts, glaciers, geothermal features, and more.

There are roughly 320,000 people living all over Iceland with less than half of that concentrated in the capital of Reykjavik.

The Icelandic language has remained relatively unchanged in 1000 years due to their isolation from the rest of the world.

People are friendly to outsiders, but rather shy, since everyone knows each other it is not customary to introduce new friends to people, any newcomers typically introduce themselves.

Thingvillir

Icelanders speak English very well and most people are bilingual, but they often believe their English is not very good and are very modest about it. Even your average bus driver speaks English very well which makes travel very easy for a newcomer.

Icelanders read and write more than most countries, they have one of the highest literacy rates and they often prefer reading to television. Iceland has the highest per capita number of artists and writers in the world.


Iceland’s hot water contains sulfur and is piped in from geothermal plants, cold water is fresh glacial water and clean for drinking. Your bathroom will smell like sulfur, but this is ok!

All movies in Iceland are left in the original language and Icelandic subtitles are added for those who do not speak the language or are too young to understand. Children’s movies can be dubbed in Icelandic.

Ice-cream is available EVERYWHERE, gas stations, gift shops and convenience stores sell both soft serve and ice cream bars, there’s also a wide variety of dairy desserts like skyr (skeer, a cheese like pudding flavoured with fruit) available. Many Icelanders seem to eat a lot of dairy and admit to eating ice cream quite often.

No matter where you go in Iceland you always feel like you’re in a small town and the scenery around you is magnificent.

Although Icelanders don’t believe Iceland to be very touristy, you will find free maps, bus schedules and tour information everywhere you go, even in a small isolated town the gas stations will have maps and tour information.

Vik Beach

The temperature in Iceland is not as cold as you think it would be since the Gulf Stream brings warm water to the surrounding ocean and geothermal vents and hot water from volcanic activity are present year round. Most of Iceland is heated using geothermal water to heat up fresh water and is piped using thick insulated pipes to all of the towns and main city Reykjavik. The daily temperature in Iceland is usually between 0 and 5 degrees C in the winter, 10 to 15 C degrees in spring and fall and up to 20 degrees C in the summer. Overall it’s a fairly mild climate considering it’s northern latitude.

The colourful Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) appear from the end of August through the winter, which is a great time to visit and see this spectacular wonder.

Wool is a staple in Iceland for providing warm sweaters, outerwear and socks for year round comfort when venturing outside.

Before the 1900’s most Icelandic houses were built from stone and turf (slabs of grass and soil cut from the ground) and it was not until the invention of concrete that they were able to build more modern and larger buildings.

Icelandic horse - by Veronica Grace (do not call them ponies!)

Most of Iceland is quite sparse when it comes to trees and shrubs since a lot of it has been cut down and used for firewood or building over the years. Many tree planting projects are now in place to help restore the lack of foliage.


Icelanders are more adapted to their climate and 20 degrees C in the summer time is a very hot day in their opinion!

Over 50% of Icelanders will admit that they believe in supernatural beings (ghosts) or “hidden people” aka elves. If something goes missing in Iceland people will often joke that it an elf is to blame.  You will often see little colored doors painted on rocks at the base of mountains when you drive by. This is so the hidden people can get back into their homes!

Year round heated outdoor pools all over the island - by Veronica Grace

There are heated outdoor pools everywhere, heated by the free geothermal heat provided by the island.

A lot of Icelanders believe they have 100% Viking ancestry, but recent genetics testing has shown than 80% of Icelanders today are descendants of Irish settlers who were brought as slaves (mostly women) when the Vikings first settled Iceland.

While most of the Icelandic diet is based on meat, dairy and bread, there are several vegetarian restaurants, a raw restaurant and a few other restaurants offering vegetarian options in the city of Reykjavik. Outside of the city however, you’re options are basically lacto-ovo vegetarian only as vegetable, cheese and egg sandwiches seem to be the only meal offered for non meat eaters in general. You will find both hard boiled eggs and cheese in almost every sandwich or salad! You can always stop by the grocery store to pick up some fruit such as bananas, oranges or apples though.

Must-See Places in Iceland

thingvellir orÞingvellir - by Veronica Grace

Geysir - by Veronica Grace

The “Golden Circle” – Includes Þingvellir, the waterfall Gullfoss (meaning “golden falls”), and the geothermally active valley of Haukadalur, which contains the geysers Geysir and Strokkur.

Outside The Blue Lagoon - by Veronica Grace

The “Blue Lagoon” (www.bluelagoon.com) The Blue Lagoon is a pool of geothermal seawater (2/3 saltwater and 1/3 freshwater). The source of the water is as deep as 2000 meters/6000 feet. The seawater is led directly from its natural source to the Blue Lagoon where guests enjoy bathing enveloped in the warm blue water.

Blue Lagoon - by Veronica Grace

A glacier walk or snowmobile tour.  There are many glaciers in Iceland, even in the summer time. Skaftafell Glacier is one of the most popular and you can see the glacier breaking and dropping off into the ocean!

Other Tips For Traveling in Iceland

Find a place in Reykjavik to stay when you first arrive so you can check out the city for a day or two.  A lot of places will be advertised to be near Reykjavik so just make sure you know where the hotel is before you go.


If you’re staying more than a few days you’ll more than likely want to check out areas beyond Reykjavik in which case you will want to find a hotel in a central area on the south, west, or northern shore to plan some day trips around. It is too far to drive to most places from Reykjavik to check out all of Iceland.

2 to 3 weeks would be the ideal amount of time to visit if you want to check out everything the island has to offer.  It can take over a week just driving around the Ring Road (with stops) just to catch glimpses of how magnificent Iceland is.

A lot of “hotels” are not actually hotels, but guesthouses where people share common rooms like bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms.  Most actual hotels are very pricey and luxurious so make sure you research the place you are staying.

Grocery stores are available in Reykjavik and can be seen from the main road in every little town you pass through so you will be able to fill up on necessities before venturing out.

Car rentals are very expensive starting at $188 a day for a small Toyota Yaris.  Be sure to decide if you want a vehicle in advance, they can go quickly.  You can also just book tours through companies like Iceland Excursions (www.grayline.is) which will pick you up directly from your hotel or a meeting spot in towns outside of Reykjavik.

Vegetarian Restaurants in Reykjavik

Gló
Raw and Vegetarian Food
Rope yoga center, Engjateig 19
Tel: 553-1111
http://www.glo.is/
Mon-Fri 11:30-20:00 and Saturday 11-15

Is the only restaurant that serves raw food, but they also serve some cooked food. Note their website is only in Icelandic. We tried to contact the owner to do an interview with us on what it’s like to be a raw foodist in Iceland, but she wasn’t interested in returning our request. Perhaps it has something to do with her focus on dehydrated and nut based recipes. So we cannot comment more since we did not try the food.

A Naestu Grosu 
Vegetarian/Vegan
Laugavegur 20b, Simi
Tel: 354-5528410
Mon-Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 5-10pm.
http://www.anaestugrosum.is/

Vegan-friendly, macrobiotic, international, Indian. Buffet style lunch and dinner plates. Seems to very popular, we stopped by and saw it it almost packed and a good variety of salads and vegetable based dishes.

Graenn Kostur
Vegetarian
Skólavörðustígur 8b
Tel: 354-5522028
Mon-Sat 11.30-9.00, Sun 1.00-9.00

Lacto vegetarian options, limited vegan items.

Ecstasy’s Heart-Garden
Vegetarian
Klapparstigur 37
Tel: 354-5612345
Mon-Fri 11:00-17:00, Sat 12:00-17:00, closed Sunday.

Ovo-lacto vegetarian, limited vegan options, some organic, international cuisine.

Madur Lifandi
Health food and Juice Bar
Haedasmari 6, Kopavogur (201)
354-5858710

Fresh juices available as well as health and beauty products.

Vik Beach - by Veronica Grace

Eating Plant-Based, Vegan and Vegetarian in Budapest, Hungary

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Eating Plant-Based, Vegan and Vegetarian in Budapest, Hungary

(taken by me while sitting on top of a moving double decker bus!)

(originally written for another blog in August of 2010)

After my short stay in the Czech Republic for Freshness Week  I headed off to Budapest, Hungary.

I had not planned anything in advance and had no idea what to expect. But I had heard that everyone said it was a beautiful city.

Saint Stephen’s Basilica Budapest

Boy were they right!

Every day was over 35 C / 95 F and it was hot hot hot! But not as humid as a lot of other cities so it was actually quite enjoyable.

I had the pleasure of staying in a hotel with an ideal city centre location, just steps away from the St. Stephen’s Basilica, the largest church in Hungary.

While I did not venture inside, I thoroughly enjoyed marvelling at the impeccable architecture with our heads titled all the way back gazing up in awe at this behemoth of a structure. It is one of two of the tallest buildings in all of Budapest at 315 ft! (The other being the Parliament building) Both of which can be seen from most every part of the city, so it was a great way to orient myself each day!



In my 2 days we spent in Budapest I spent most of our time walking around and touring the city. I have to say that Budapest is a very walkable and easy to get around city. You can see most of the sites in Buda from across the Danube on the Pest side, which made it easy for us to decide where to go first.

I visited the Castle District, the Citadel, the Danube, the Central Market and passed by the famous Heroes’ Square and Szechenyi Thermal Baths to name a few of the highlights of my trip.

I didn’t get a chance to actually enjoy Szechenyi, but if you visit Budapest you definitely have to check it out. The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. The water is supplied by two thermal springs underground with temperatures above  74°C/165°F! Wow that’s hot!

There is simply too much to do and see in Budapest that I plan on returning again in the future to fully enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

One of the best things though, was how CHEAP everything seemed to be. Well inexpensive compared to a lot of other countries in the European Union. It was much more affordable buying fruits and vegetables than previous places such as Copenhagen, Malmo and even Berlin. I definitely would have saved a lot more money on food if I had stayed here longer than more expensive cities like Paris and London I visited.

Central Market – Veronica Grace

The Central Market is going to be one of your must see’s when visiting this city because it’s open all week long, is fully indoors and you will find the largest number of fruit and vegetable vendors you will find anywhere in Budapest. It’s simply the place to go for fresh food.

What impressed me the most was the amount of pride each vendor had for their produce. Displaying all of the items pristinely so that everything catches your eye and you can tell that everything is very fresh. They even pick out any squished, mouldy or wilted fruits and vegetables throughout the day and would never even consider selling it! (Unlike our mishap in Berlin, where a fruit vendor proceeded to sell Frederic an entire bag of golden kiwis that had all fermented and wouldn’t budge on the price…)

In Europe the produce stands are run differently, it is not like your grocery store where you can pick and rifle through all of the produce looking for the best or ripest specimen.

No, in Europe you have to actually get in line and point to what you would like, no touching, no tasting, no smelling before you buy. So this can be a little tricky if shopping at a small produce stand on the street. But this is not so at the Central Market where everything is top quality and a lot of it is locally grown as well.

I did not see anything really exotic there, but we didn’t mind in the least. The watermelons I bought were absolutely amazing, much more reliable than the ones we get in Canada. And the navel oranges were huge and juicy sweet. I also bought blueberries, raspberries and blackberries which were pretty reasonably priced considering the fact that they are usually the most expensive of fruits by weight.



Central Market by Veronica Grace

 

Some of the prices I got:

1 pint of blueberries 2.50 euros
watermelon 0.46 euros/kilo
peaches 1.06 euros/kilo
plums 0.53 euros/kilo
blackberries 1.96 euros/kilo

Converting that to USD per lb:

1 pint of blueberries $3.21
watermelon $0.27/lb
peaches $0.62/lb
plums $0.31/lb
blackberries $1.15/lb

These are specialty fruits and aren’t even as cheap as apples, oranges and bananas, so you can only imagine how inexpensive buying these things regularly in Hungary would be.

The Central Market is also famous for having typical Hungarian (meat based) food stands, paprika, crafts, clothing, collectible dolls, knickknacks and anything else Hungarian you’re in the mood for.

Overall, as a big city with a warm climate it is pretty darn liveable and affordable! It’s also not as small and compact in regards to living space compared to other European metropolises.

I will definitely be back one day!

So if you’re looking to visit Budapest and want to find the best places to find raw and vegan food check these out:

Central Market
1093 Budapest,
Vámház körút, Hungary

Obviously the best place to get your produce from every week, no raw restaurants here though.

Le-bar
Múzeum Körut 19 (at Brody Sandor, Muzeum krt)
Budapest, Hungary
Vegan, Raw options, Organic, Juice bar, Take-out

This place is rumored to have some raw options on their daily menu along with fresh juices and cooked vegan plate lunches.

Edeni Vegan
Iskola Utca 31 (1011)(at corner of Gyorskocsi utca, 1 block from Batthány tér bus and metro station, 1 blk from the Danube)
Budapest, Hungary
+36-6203077575
Open Mon-Thur 8-21, Fri 8-18, Sun 11-19, closed Saturday.
Vegan buffet, Hungarian and Mediterranean food, Juice bar, Take-out
Cash only.

This place has GREAT juices at a steal of a price… 2.50 euros for a large glass and some inexpensive buffet style plate lunches too. They speak a little English here and can tell you about their menu and fresh juices.



Napfenyes Etterem
Rózsa u 39, District VII (1077) (at Király u.)
Budapest, Hungary
+36-1-3135555
weekday 10:00-6:00pm Saturday 10:00 to 2:00pm

Vegan, Organic, Salad bar, Juice bar, Hungarian, Italian

Hummus Bar – Kertesz
Kertesz u. 39 (1073 Budapest VII) (at Jewish quarter, across Franz Liszt Music Academy, metro Oktagon on M1)
Budapest, Hungary
+06-1-3217477
Daily: 12:00pm-11:30pm, close midnight
Vegan, Middle Eastern, Fast food

Falafels, pita, hummus, soups. English spoken and on the menu.

You will also find several little corner grocery stores, but they are particularly small and only sell the bare essentials of the SAD lifestyle, a little bit of fruit, which can be helpful if you’re in a pinch, but otherwise head to the Central Market.

Here are some more of my photos of beautiful Budapest

Parliament – by Veronica Grace

Chain Bridge – by Veronica Grace

The Fruitarian Restaurant: A Decadent Fantasy on Rarotonga, The Cook Islands

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A friend of mine just came back from a trip to an exotic island in the Pacific called Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and was raving about this “amazing” restaurant he had discovered there.

It’s called “The Frutarian”, and truly, it’s the most amazing place I have ever heard of. Apparently the owners have been raw for over 20 years, and have decided to open this place in this remote island, and in spite of all expectations, it’s doing great!

Beach on Rarotonga - by Veronica Grace

I was a little curious because I have yet to find a restaurant that truly blew me away with the type of cuisine I enjoy on a regular basis: low fat raw vegan. Every vegetarian restaurant, let alone raw food restaurant I’ve been to featured the same staples of fatty salads and or nuts as the base of every dish.

So my friend went on describing this place as the new “it” restaurant in the Pacific, it was drawing in lots of tourists among vegetarians, raw foodists and other various health seekers.

It had a breathtaking view of the ocean and an open air sitting room for about 25 people, they were open from 8-5pm and always had a steady flow of satiated patrons. “What did you order there that was so amazing?” I asked my friend. “Fruit and salad!” He exclaimed. I raised my eyebrow in curiosity and he went to elaborate.

Sunset on Rarotonga - by Veronica Grace

Apparently this place had combined all the great things about a juice bar, a smoothie bar, a salad bar and a sit down restaurant and rolled it all into one. He pulled out a To Go menu from his pocket to satisfy my skepticism. I transcribed it for you below:

Breakfast:

All-You-Can-Eat Mono Fruit Plate (banana, mango, papaya, pineapple or watermelon) $10.99
Sunrise Pudding (blend of sweet papaya and bananas garnished with chopped fruit) $7.99
Green Goddess Smoothie (bananas, fresh lettuce) Regular $5.99 Large $7.99
Wake Me Up Mango Smoothie (fresh orange juice, mangos) $5.99 Large $7.99
Going Bananas Smoothie (3 kinds of bananas) $5.99 Large $7.99
Vitality Vegetable Juice (tomato, cucumber, celery, lettuce, carrot, beet) $6.99 Large $8.99

Lunch/Dinner:

All-You-Can-Eat Mono Meal Fruit Plate (banana, mango, papaya, pineapple or watermelon) $10.99
Banana Sandwiches (bunch of bananas served with fresh lettuce) $6.99
Guacamole Wrap (avocado, cherry tomatoes, and lime served with fresh lettuce) $8.99
Veggie Wraps (shredded carrot, cucumber, beet, zuchinni served with avocado and lettuce) $7.99
Island Tacos (guacamole and salsa served with lettuce and cabbage leaves) $9.99
Going Greek Salad (cucumber, tomatoes, fresh herbs, and Greek dressing) $7.99
Mango Love Salad (mangos and sweet oranges on spinach leaves) 8.99
Super Size Me Salad Style (build your own: lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, green onions, red onions, sprouts, snap peas, celery, heart of palm, fresh herbs, apple, raisins, mango) Reg. $10.99 Sumo Size $15.99
Fresh dressings: light guac, sundried tomato, Greek, summer dill, mangolicious, Reg. $1.99 Large $2.99

Appetizers:

Gigantic Fruit Plate *serves 3-4 (banana, mango, papaya, pineapple, apple, kiwi) $15.99
Skewer Me Fruity (pineapple, mango, papaya fruit skewers) $9.99
Mini Pizzas (zuchinini rounds topped with sundried tomato sauce and cherry tomatoes) $8.99
Little Dippers (celery, cucumber and zucchini dippers served with guacamole and salsa) $9.99

Juices:

Fresh Green Coconut $3.99
Pressed Cane Juice $4.99
Orange Juice $4.99 Lg. $6.99
Apple Juice $4.99 Lg. $6.99
Watermelon Juice $3.99 Lg. $5.99
Vitality Vegetable Juice $6.99 Lg. $8.99
Build Your Own Juice $6.99 Lg. $8.99

Smoothies:
Reg. $5.99 Lg. $7.99

Going Bananas Smoothie (3 kinds of bananas)
Wake Me Up Mango Smoothie (mango, orange juice)
Green Goddess Smoothie (banana, lettuce)
Banana Loves Papaya (banana, papaya)
Island Love (coconut water, pineapple, passionfruit)
Workout Buster (coconut water, banana, celery, lettuce)
Green and Lovin’ It (Coconut water, kiwi, dates)
Build Your Own Smoothie

Desserts:

Coconut Cream (Coconut water, jelly and dates) $5.99
Banana Icecream (frozen bananas and vanilla made into softserve) $4.99
Glazed Fruit (fruit plate glazed with date sauce) $6.99
Fresh Dates (seasonal) $6.99

Rocks on Rarotonga by Veronica Grace

This menu looks amazing, I thought. It has everything that a raw food restaurant is missing, fruit and healthy low fat recipes. I couldn’t wait to check out this place and try it for myself. I asked my friend, do you know who owns this place? He flipped over the back of the menu and showed it to me. It read, “Owned and Operated by Veronica Grace”.

Sadly, I woke up at just that moment and realized that this amazing place was purely a figment of my imagination. Yet it had seemed so real. I could actually picture this place existing from the description I was given and this menu flowed out of me with some items I’ve never even made before! It got me thinking though, wouldn’t it be nice if someone somewhere had the same dream as me and was looking for a fresh new edge on the raw restaurant scene?

Muri Lagoon, Rarotonga by Veronica Grace

Maybe one day… but hey until then feel free to reference this imaginary menu to get creative in your kitchen and try some amazingly tasty low fat raw vegan cuisine! You’d be surprised how great your food can taste with only a few ingredients and some simple tools like a mandolin and blender.

This is the menu I dream of and have yet to see anywhere in the Raw Food World!

I actually have visited Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands and unfortunately it was not the fruit paradise I dreamed of, but it was still gorgeous nonetheless so I’ve included some beautiful photos I took on my travels there in 2011. Hope you enjoy my menu suggestions and my island shots!

Muri Lagoon, Rarotonga by Veronica Grace

Eating Plant-Based, Vegan and Vegetarian in Miami, Florida

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Eating Plant-Based, Vegan and Vegetarian in Miami and Southern Florida

by Veronica Grace

Back In April 2010 I spent 10 lovely days in Miami, Florida. What a treat it was to have a little mini vacation from my “tropical paradise” I was living in at the time in Costa Rica.

I have to say it was a little shocking though to go from a tropical third world town to a subtropical first world mega city!

Suddenly certain frustrations like poor internet reception, poor road quality, lack of sidewalks and pedestrian crossings were a thing of the past.

For my first impression of Miami and the surrounding area, I only have great things to say!

Using an iPhone it was more than easy to google health food stores, juice bars, vegan restaurants and even raw restaurants.

I rented a car of course because the city can be a little daunting to a first timer with such a large city to explore with so many options.

I stayed in the Coral Gables area and it was a nice central location to grocery stores and farmers markets.


Here are my picks for Miami area grocery shopping for raw foodists and vegans:

#1. Glaser Farms farmers market

From 10 am to 7 pm. every Saturday, ?3300 Grand Avenue ?Coconut Grove, FL 33133

This is by far the “craziest” raw food market I have EVER seen. You want it? They’ve got it.:

Unpasteurized juices
Raw gourmet salads
Cashew ice cream
Frozen durian
Fresh fruit “pies”
Organic Greens
Tropical fruits
Raw crackers
Nuts
Seeds
Sprouts
Dried fruits
and more!

Basically we went there to grab some fresh juice, a slice of all fruit pie and people watched.  I have never seen such a crazy lineup of people buying prepared gourmet raw foods. It is kind of a novel idea being able to go to a farmers market and eat almost anything you want because it’s almost entirely vegan.  I have to say the cashew ice-cream and the avocado “salad” were the most popular items being purchased.  Instead we enjoyed juices like cantaloupe and honeydew melon that were simply delicious and  picked up a few random items to take back home, like frozen durian and a few pieces of fruit. All in all, it is definitely a must see farmers market but definitely not necessarily the best deal to purchase all of your food. Raw treats are expensive!

#2. Josh’s Organic Garden

Hollywood Beach Boardwalk
Ste 169, 101 North Ocean Drive, Hollywood, FL?
(954) 251-1631?
Sunday 9am – 5:30pm

Josh’s Organic Garden is a great place to grab some fresh produce or spend the afternoon hanging out with friends at the Juice and Smoothie Bar.
We came early in the morning and found parking and walked along the boardwalk until we found it. Josh’s definitely has a great amount of greens and vegetables and fruits seasonally throughout the year.  He’ll even suggest to you what is worth buying each week if you ask! We purchased some mangoes, oranges and greens and then relaxed by the Juice and Smoothie bar and met up with local raw foodists throughout the day. The frozen durian being sold was a real treat, very delicious and reasonably priced.  The wait times for juices can be quite long so be sure to go really early or have some time to kill because everything is hand made on the spot and the juice bar team are busy all day.

#3. Robert Is Here Fruit Stand

19200 SW 344th St
Homestead, FL 33034
Ph: 305-246-1592
http://www.robertishere.com/
8 AM – 7 PM Daily including Holidays.

We drove down to Homestead Florida on our way to the Florida Keys and stopped in at Robert Is Here to see what the hype was all about. Everyone we talked to told us to check it out while we were in Florida.  Robert was on site of course and very friendly and cordial, we chatted a bit about his oranges and I told him it was my first time in Florida. We ended up buying a few delicious jumbo mamey sapotes, grapefruits, valencia oranges and some organic dates. This place is a great option to get some good deals on bulk citrus and other seasonal fruits.  They also carry a wide array of vegetables too.

#4. Whole Foods Market

6701 Red Rd, Coral Gables Florida (33143)
305-421-9421
8am to 10pm 7 days a week


This Whole Foods Market was absolutely amazing compared to the smaller WF stores we’ve seen in the past. There was a lot of organic produce, the navel oranges were pricey but to die for, raw prepared sauces, dressings, desserts all of course from Glaser Farms, and an enormous salad bar and hot food bar with a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. This was our favourite WF in the Miami area, we checked out the one in Miami Beach too but it was smaller and did not have as large of a selection.  I recommend WF to people who want to pick up a few items they cannot get anywhere else, or a quick treat once in a while. The prices are often steep but the quality and selection of foods is top notch.

#5. 4th Generation Organic Market

4th Generation Organic Market 75 SE 3rd Street Boca Raton, FL 33432  ph: 561.338.9920
http://www.4thgenerationmarket.com/

Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 10-6

We stopped in at 4th Generation on our way back from Hippocrates Health Institute at the suggestion of Andrea Page-Nison as a cute organic health store we had tocheck out.  While it was a lot smaller than similar stores like Whole Foods, it definitely had a lot of raw items to offer.  A good portion of the deli section had raw pasta salads, mock tuna pate and crackers.  They also had fresh juices and frozen smoothies.  We picked up some all fruit smoothies and they were absolutely delicious, unlike most places that have bitter real fruit smoothies or artificial sweeteners added. Come here if you are in the Boca Raton area for some essentials or a quick bite to eat.

Raw Restaurants

Om Garden <- Best bet!

(unfortunately now closed, I am not sure why!)

379 SW 15th Rd, Miami Florida (33129) (at Broadway)
ph: 305-856-4433
Monday – Saturday 11:30am – 9:30pm, Sundays 11:30am – 3:30pm

Om Garden was our favorite restaurant by far in Miami.  We liked that they had a good mix of raw and cooked vegan items on the menu, which will ensure they stay open for a long time.  They were always busy and open later than other vegetarian restaurants so this is a good sign as well. The Rainbow Roll was amazing with flavours I would have never thought of combining and the fresh dressings for their salads were delicious too. Unfortunately they did not have any for sale, it would have been great to take home. The cooked vegan section also had a nice selection of healthy dishes offering lightly steamed vegetables, rice, quinoa, sweet and baked potatoes. All in all I liked the vibe here, the staff were friendly and it was definitely a place I’d visit again.

Lifefood Gourmet

1248 SW 22 St, Miami Florida (33145)
Monday to Saturday 12pm to 7pm & Sunday 12pm to 4pm

At the suggestion of a few raw friends in the area we checked out this all raw restaurant.  It was pretty quiet here, not many people attending for dinner as it closes early.  We ordered some apple juice, zucchini rolls, caesar salad and a raw pizza. The food was all right, we really liked the caesar dressing and a few of the dressings on the zucchini rolls, but there were a few things that seemed odd about the restaurant.  They don’t have a juicer, they have to blend the apples and then strain them for juice, the offer paper cups and plastic cutlery for dine in guests and there isn’t really any fruit on the menu. The staff were very kind and friendly but I can’t say this was a place we’d come back to try again.

Other Plant-Based and Vegan Restaurants in the Area:

Garden Of Eatin’

136 NW 62nd St, Miami Florida (33150) (at Martin Luther King Blvd)
305-754-8050
Vegan, Organic, International food, Juice bar, Take-out
Mon-Sat 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Jugos Naturales – 100% Natural Juices

115B SW 107th Ave, Miami, Florida (33174) (at Holiday Shopping Plaza)
305-220-3430
Vegan-friendly, Fast food, Juice bar, Take-out
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Closed Sundays

El Mana Health Food

10676 Fontainebleau Blvd, Miami, Florida (33172) (at 107 Ave)
305-554-4448
Vegan, American food, Raw, Juice bar
Sun-Fri 11am-7pm

All in all, Miami and the Southern Florida area are all very raw and vegan friendly compared to a lot of places that I’ve seen. So no matter where you are you should be able to find a juice bar or a health food store to pick up a quick snack or meal and be on your way. The Florida Navel orange juice is also to die for and a must try if you’re from out of state!

I will definitely keep Miami in mind for future winters to soak up some sun and get some great tropical fruit!

Have you ever been to Miami or Florida? What did you find?

Eating Plant-Based, Vegan and Vegetarian in Banff, Canada

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Eating Plant-Based, Vegan and Vegetarian in Banff, Canada

by Veronica Grace (originally written in 2010 for an old blog)

The mountain town of Banff, Canada is one of my all-time favorite places to visit (and get a delicious vegan meal). The Rocky Mountains surround you from every side, the smell of crisp mountain air and the abundance of the glacier lakes and rivers give rich green landscapes as far as the eye can see.

Growing up in nearby Calgary, my family and I would often take trips to Banff during the winter and summer for things like camping, Christmas shopping, family day trips.

My favorite thing to do in Banff National park is to hike. My top recommendations for sight seeing would be:

Johnston Canyon Falls and Ink Pots (north of Banff)

Time: To Ink Pots – 4 hours return, to falls- 1 hour return
Distance: 5.8 km (3.6 miles)
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 215 metres (700 feet)

A truly beautiful leisurely hike for the whole family to enjoy!

Lake Agnes Teahouse (at Lake Louise)

Time: Half-day (approx. 4-hour return trip slow, 2 hours fast)
Distance: 7 km (4.5 miles) return
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 367 m (1,204 feet)

This was the loveliest surprise, after seeing the beautiful Lake Louise, you get the pleasure of viewing Mirror Lake, Lake Agnes and and the Chateau Lake Louise from the top of the mountain.



The Plain of Six Glaciers (at Lake Louise)
Time: 1.5 – 2 hr one way, 4 hour return
Distance: 5.5 km (3.4 mi) – Lake Louise to Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse.
Elevation Gain: 370 m (1215 ft)
Maximum Elevation: 2100 m (6890 ft)

If you have a full day and a picnic lunch, head on out to Lake Louise for this longer hike. The elevation gain is quite a bit at the start, but definitely worth the rewards. The paths are well beaten and fairly safe as well.

Eating Vegan and Vegetarian in Banff

 
Now eating vegan, the town of Banff has a few challenges for me while visiting: few grocery stores, lack of fridge space in hotel rooms and very meat centred dining options.

Banff thrives on its tourism and one thing that is a little slow to catch on is vegan and vegetarianism. In places like California and British Columbia most restaurants have at least 1 vegetarian option or will cater to your needs, but all of the high end establishments in Banff offer gourmet meat based courses.

So what’s a vegetarian, let alone a vegan to do? Well you could go to the local Safeway and pick up some fruit (it will be more expensive than the nearby city of Calgary), but what if you’d like to enjoy a special night out on the town or you’re traveling with non vegan friends who still want to eat out? Well then you can check out these options below!



Nourish Half Portion of Roasted Red Pepper with Daiya Cheese

Nourish Shepherd's Pie

Nourish Bistro – The Only and Absolute Best Vegetarian Restaurant Around

Vegetarian, Vegan and Raw Food

2nd foor, Sundance Mall
215 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada
(403) 760-3933
Check out the menu here

After July 1, 2013 Address:

211 Bear Street, Banff, AB, Canada

(They are moving soon so check the website for details)

This restaurant is the most inventive restaurant I’ve ever seen with a large palate pleasing menu, most items are vegan, some vegetarian and they even have gluten free and raw options as well. Talk about covering all of your bases in this niche market!

Every time I have visited the owner has greeted me with a smile and we’ve chatted about the restaurant, menu and clientele in Banff. I just find it very fascinating that such a dietary specific restaurant is able to keep busy year round in a province like Alberta which has few and far between vegetarian restaurants even in the big cities.

The meals are served “tapas style” which basically means sharing, and there is always enough to share between 2 people or 3 if you order a few items. Ordering an appetizer and an entree will be enough for 2 people, and add another appetizer or entree per person dining with you. They are famous for their tropical pineapple strawberry salsa which gets added to quite a few dishes that really adds a lot of flavor. Almost all items can be customized for allergies or personal preference, just ask and they will be happy to accommodate!



They just recently increased their portion sizes as well, so although the prices may not look like a deal for vegetarian food, split the price in half and you’ll get an idea for how much it costs per person.

I had mentioned on one of my first visits that I was into raw food and inquired if they ever thought of adding raw food to their menu, citing that there is a lot of raw interest in nearby Calgary with some restaurants having raw options. Well, wish granted! Now even a strict raw vegan can enjoy a night out at this lovely restaurant.

Some of the raw menu items include: Gazpacho, Zughetti and marinara and a large raw sharing platter of fruits, vegetables, crackers and dips. You can also get them to make you a large all raw salad at any time. Check out their juice and smoothie section for delightful fruit concoctions.

Some of the vegan items include: yam tenders (a house specialty), portobello melts, beautiful burrito (with over 20 flavourful ingredients), falafel and stuffed roasted red pepper, just to name a few.

Items from the juice and smoothie menu: raw apple juice, lemonade, cranberry blackberry, strawberry banana and pomegranate blueberry. All without the typical additives like coconut cream, hemp seeds or cacao!

They also serve some raw desserts and tea for after dinner delights. (I’ve always been much to full to even consider getting dessert).

If you’re in the area, I highly recommend you check this place out, whether you’re with raw, vegan or vegan curious friends there will be something for everyone. I know we’ll be back every time we’re even remotely in the area. I enjoy keeping places I love in business while we’re traveling. Nourish is probably hands down my favorite vegetarian restaurant in the world… and that’s saying a lot because I’ve been to over 30 different countries in the past few years as well as all over Canada and the USA. They’re food is amazing!


Other Plant-Based and Vegetarian Options in Banff

If you’re out and about with a non vegan crowd who isn’t up for trying some vegan fare, you can also check out the following restaurants in Banff that do have a vegetarian/vegan option or two:

Vegetarian/Vegan-friendly

Magpie & Stump (Tex-Mex)

203 Caribou street
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Phone: (403) 762-4067
Check out the menu here:

Almost all items can be made vegetarian with no meat, and vegan with no cheese. They use a lot of cheese in there menu in general, so be sure to tell your waiter.

Items include: Casa Gringo Salad, guacamole and chips, refried beans and chips, bean and vegetable quesadilla, vegetable enchilada, bean and vegetable tostadas, bean and vegetable tacos, and homemade salsa.

Timber’s Food Co.

204 Wolf street,
Banff, Alberta, Canada, T1L 1A9
Phone: 403-762-8987
Fax: 403-760-8775
Check out the menu here:

Timber’s Food Co offers a typical Banff style menu with steak, burger, pasta and fish options. There are a few notable Vegan/Vegetarian option: vegetable spring rolls, Gazpacho, Salads (can be modified) Portobello stack burger. A salad would be the best bet for a raw option.

Pad Thai (Thai)

at the back of the ClockTower Mall
110 Banff Avenue,
Banff, AB, Canada
Check out the menu here:

They have a wide selection of inexpensive Thai food, including vegetarian options.

Silver Dragon (Chinese )

3rd floor Park Mall
211 Banff Avenue
Banff, AB, Canada
Check out the menu here (vegetarian menu available at restaurant)

Silver dragon has a very wide selection of vegetable dishes on the main menu. Request the vegetarian menu if you’d like to see all the dishes available.

Coyotes Deli & Grill (American)

206 Caribou Street
Banff, AB, Canada
Check out the menu here

This restaurant has a mix of American, Mexican and Pacific menu options. Vegetarian options include: roasted vegetable pizza, spicy black bean burrito, Mediterranean pasta, mixed greens and roasted pepper salad. For vegan options ask for no cheese on the above items.

Masala (Indian)

229 Bear St.
Banff, Alberta, Canada
403-760-8270

This restaurant gets average reviews for food and service. There is no online menu, but they do mention that they offer vegetarian options.

Grocery Stores in Banff:
Chances are you’ll probably need to hit the grocery store at some point in your trip, whether for a quick snack or to make a meal on the go. While prices are not cheap in Banff for grocery items, at least they’re available in the middle of a National Park. Stores are open early to late to serve you at any time of day. Check the store flyer for weekly produce specials as well.

Safeway

318 Marten Street
PO Box 1450
Banff, AB T1L 1B4
Phone: (403) 762-5378
8am-11pm daily

Nester’s Market

122 Bear St
Banff, AB
(403) 762-3663
8am-11pm daily

Chalet Grocery (grocery delivery)

located at Douglas Fir Resort
800 Tunnel Mountain Road
Banff, Alberta , T1L1C4
(403) 762-5447

http://www.banffgrocery.ca/

So there you have it, tons of resources for your vegan or vegetarian stay in Banff Canada one of my favorite places near by! Enjoy 🙂