healthy eating — Blog

We are minimizing grocery shopping visits these days, as I’m sure many of you are doing as well. We are also incredibly lucky that our favorite place to shop is a small, family-run grocery store in the city that offers incredibly fresh selections. My favorite part about this store (Bi-Rite, for all you San Franciscans) is that they support local, organic farms so not only can we be assured that the food quality and flavor is top-notch, but we also feel like we’re doing our part to support local businesses.

Now, regardless of where you are shopping, I have a few tips for how to stock up in order to eat well for a couple weeks.

With Vegetables and Fruit:

When buying FRESH, look for root veggies (sweet potatoes, potatoes, parsnips, carrots), squashes (acorn, delicata, butternut), onions and garlic, and durable lettuces (kale, chard) because these will stay fresh longest. Cruciferous vegetables tend to store well too, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussel sprouts. Another tip, try to shop for unripe veggies/fruits like avocados and bananas to keep them longer.
When buying CANNED, look for the labels BPA-free and organic to assure you’re getting the healthiest options out there. I stock up on canned tomatoes (for pasta sauces), all sorts of beans, and canned coconut milk (great for soups and curries).
When buying FROZEN, look for organic. I personally stock up on frozen berries, spinach, broccoli, and peas. I feel like I can add these easily to a meal to get some extra nutrients. Buying frozen is a great option because fruits and veggies are frozen at peak ripeness, meaning they are rich in nutrients!

What Else am I Shopping For?

I am stocking up on my favorite grains, pastas, and snack foods, like rolled oats, quinoa, brown rice, pasta, rice cakes, almond flour crackers, nuts, and nut butters.
For meats, I am stocking up on wild-caught canned tuna and salmon. We are also getting pasture-raised organic chicken, ground turkey, and fish to freeze.
For eggs and dairy, we are getting 2 dozen eggs at a time and hard cheeses that last in the refrigerator.
Of course, we’re getting some baking essentials like chocolate chips, almond flour, cinnamon, and maple syrup so we can make homemade treats!

PLAN ahead!

(Plan for your grocery run and plan for your meals!)

When meal planning, think about your fresh foods. Try to use produce that won’t last early in your meal plan. If you’re making a soup, stew, or curry, make a double batch so you can freeze the leftovers for a meal down the road! Share your favorite recipes with friends and family. We can all use a little inspiration now that we are cooking every meal at home!
Make a menu for the week to plan out what you’ll be eating using the ingredients you have! TIP: Hold on to these menus so that you can refer back when you need dinner ideas down the road!

This is for all my San Francisco food lovers out there! Or for people visiting this amazing city :)

Eating out is fun, social, convenient, and a great opportunity to taste delicious and unique dishes. However, oftentimes after eating out, we leave with a stomach ache or feeling gross from the rich, oily, greasy, and heavy dishes we consumed. We typically over-indulge and then beat ourselves up afterwards for making poor choices. As you know, I am a true believer in the saying “you are what you eat” because the nutrients from the food we eat are quickly absorbed into our bloodstream and are distributed to the rest of our body. Our cells are constantly using nutrients to repair and rebuild, and when we supply our cells with processed foods, refined oils, and foods devoid of nutrients, they don’t have much to use to function optimally.

When I eat out, I want to enjoy flavorful dishes, satisfy my taste buds, but also feel satiated and good when I walk out the door. Below, I have listed my favorite cafes in San Francisco to go for a healthy and delicious breakfast, lunch, or pick-me up! Lunch and dinner spots will be coming soon! I had every intention of adding those into this blog post, but I got way too excited with the cafes and didn’t want to overwhelm my readers..

My almond milk matcha “to go” from the Jane. Their “to go” cups are pretty darn cute :)

My Favorite Healthy San Francisco Cafes!

Jane - This cafe has TONS of healthy and delicious options! Their menu focuses on using high quality ingredients and has something on it for everyone. They have healthy breakfast bowls (like their warm quinoa bowl), gluten-free breads, high quality tea and coffee, and fresh salads loaded with things like almond turmeric pate and sesame sea vegetables. Their breads are baked in house daily using locally sourced whole grains.
Nourish Cafe - this is a plant-based cafe that has amazing breakfast and lunch options. While there are no meat options, the dishes are plenty filling and satisfying! They use all organic and non-GMO ingredients, and I promise you will walk out of there feeling great! They also use Josey Baker Bread for their toasts (with gluten-free options as well), which is made fresh daily with whole grains grown in San Francisco. Some of my favorites are the acai bowl, the nourish bowl, and almond butter toast. They also make vegan cakes and cupcakes if you order in advance!

Avocado Toast with smoked salmon at As Quoted. Also pictured is the apple cider vinegar shrub spritzer.

As Quoted - This cafe is perfect for anyone who is gluten-free, but their food is delicious and will satisfy the gluten-eaters too! Fun fact: I used to work here while I was studying to be a health coach. I was so impressed by the quality of ingredients being used - everything was organic and sourced locally. I am personally obsessed with their avocado toast with either a poached egg or smoked salmon, bone broth, bone broth based soups of the day, salads, and banana muffins. From their coffee/tea menu, they use the highest quality matcha from Japan, Three Trees unsweetened almond milk (costs extra), delicious coffee (and I’m not even a coffee drinker) sourced from Andytown local coffee roasters, and unsweetened (and non-caffeinated) chai spices for chai lattes. SO good!

Wholesome Bakery - At this vegan cafe, everything is made in house with sustainably grown and organic ingredients. Plus, all menu options are gluten-free as well! They are well known for their tasty treats, like their cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and brownies. All sandwiches and toasts are made on their homemade olive oil oat bread, and they also offer delicious salads. My favorite is Mandy’s Salad, which has pickled red onions, watermelon radishes, and avocado.

Judahlicious - This Ocean Beach cafe offers a delicious vegan and mostly raw menu. They use fresh and locally-sourced ingredients to create nutrient-rich and satisfying dishes. My favorites are the acai bowl, nekked burrito, and their juices.

Paleo Bowl at Samovar. Their salmon is delicious!

Samovar - This tea lounge offers much more than their delicious teas (which are definitely worth trying). They also have tasty and healthy breakfast and lunch options, like their paleo bowl (avocado, smoked salmon, wilted greens, sous-vide eggs and more) and their smoked salmon salad on spelt toast.

Beloved Cafe - This cafe uses only organic and plant-based ingredients to whip up delicious breakfast and lunch options. They offer superfood smoothies, tonics and elixirs, delicious teas and herbal lattes, and guilt-free treats (like their Masala cacao ball and raw vegan cheesecake). Some menu favorites are the quinoa bowl, stuffed delicata squash, green goddess bowl, and their golden milk latte.

Stonemill Matcha - This Japanese-inspired cafe is known for their authentic and tasty matcha, but it’s worth a visit for even more than that. The space is beautiful and inviting, and their small plates are so tasty and satisfying! My favorites are the Matchazuke (with rice, salmon, and nori) and the Chicken Okayu (with rice porridge, nori, egg, and mushroom).
Native Co - This cafe sources from and supports local farms for their organic ingredients to create seasonal dishes, including soups, salads, toasts, and smoothies. Most menu options are plant-based, but you can be sure the meats you order were raised without hormones or antibiotics. Some favorites of mine are: smooth lavender smoothie, native salad, and the red lentil soup!

Comment below with some of your favorite healthy cafe spots in SF!