Top five stores for finding your healthy-eating, clean-food bliss
My wife brought up the idea: How about trying one of those elimination diets? You know, the ones that don’t allow sugar, grains, soy, dairy, alcohol … or just about anything else delicious on the planet?
At first I wasn’t keen on the idea of my coffee without the sweet, frothy elixir I’ve perfected over the years, but eventually my competitive side took over and I was all in. Our program of choice? The Whole30, where we learned to be content eating nothing but protein, veggies and fruit for 30 days.
If you’ve ever attempted a lifestyle change like going full-on Paleo or vegan, or simply aimed to do better than living on lattes and noodle bowls (no judgement!) you too may have found yourself searching for unusual items like “coconut amino acids” and hunting for all things organic and 100 percent grass-fed.
A photo posted by luzziphoto (@luzziphoto) on Sep 14, 2015 at 3:02pm PDT
//><!--There are actually many amazing stores to choose from in greater CLT, but here’s our top-5 guide to where you too can find your clean-food lifestyle bliss://--><!
(1) Whole Foods
Yes, I’ve heard the “Whole Paycheck” jokes, but did you know you can get an amazing breakfast, lunch or dinner for under $20 for two and not feel guilty about what you ate on-the-go? They regularly have Paleo and vegan options on both the hot and cold sides of the buffet. We’ve often been under $15 for two and believe me, I’m loading up on smoky BBQ, not lettuce.
Living #Whole30 (#Paleo, #Vegan, etc.) and eating out can be daunting. But @wholefoods gave us options that were not only delicious (smoky #bbq, #mediterranean, #nakedrotiserrie) but we both were able to fill up for under 20 bucks. #cleaneating #localfood #glutenfree #clteats A photo posted by luzziphoto (@luzziphoto) on Sep 14, 2015 at 5:33pm PDT
(2) EarthFare Market
Shop the sales and you’ll walk away with a ton of great local and organic produce, sustainable seafood and fresh ground turkey or grass-fed beef for less than you think. (We now make our own breakfast sausage and are yearlong grilling enthusiasts, so we stock up.)
A photo posted by luzziphoto (@luzziphoto) on Sep 14, 2015 at 4:44pm PDT
(3) Healthy Home Market
Our favorite of the three Charlotte stories is on Galleria Boulevard. This stop filled in a lot of hard-to-find items, from compliant nut butters to seaweed snacks. Their selection is impressive, including an expansive bulk isle and huge natural supplements/vitamins section.
Our #Whole30 scavenger hunt is on: We were looking for elusive compliant #seaweed snacks and nut butters…found em! Thank you @healthyhomemarket! Awesome selection all around. #CLT #cleaneating #glutenfree #Vegan #Paleo #soyfree #clteats A photo posted by luzziphoto (@luzziphoto) on Sep 14, 2015 at 5:15pm PDT
(4) Berrybrook Farm
This quaint but hopping market (the first natural food store to open in CLT back in 1972) is popular for its vast array of delicious smoothies and other healthy lunch options. Don’t let the size fool you: we found many soy-free and gluten-free options we couldn’t find elsewhere, as well as local duck and chicken eggs.
A photo posted by luzziphoto (@luzziphoto) on Sep 14, 2015 at 5:23pm PDT
(5) Earl’s Grocery
Located in Elizabeth, this spot is the perfect place to spice up your menu with flavorful oils and international sauces. It’s also a good place to meet friends for lunch yet “stay on track” as there are numerous options that follow Paleo and vegan rules.
Don’t let committing to the #Whole30 mean you eat bland, boring food! Check out places like @earlsgrocery for #spicy compliant sauces, flavored oils and pre-made #Paleo and #Vegan sides! #CLT #eatingclean #eatwell #Elizabeth #clteats A photo posted by luzziphoto (@luzziphoto) on Sep 14, 2015 at 5:27pm PDT
Bonus stop: Matthews Farmers Market
This place boasts strictly local items grown or made within a 50-mile radius. One of our favorite finds was purple okra. It’s great sliced in half, tossed in oil and salt, and baked for a healthy, salty snack.
How about you? Trying to eat healthier before the holidays arrive? Let us know about your victories and not-so-glorious moments too … we all have them.
Photo: CharlotteFive Staff
This story was originally published November 22, 2015 at 10:02 PM with the headline "Top five stores for finding your healthy-eating, clean-food bliss."