It can be hard to fit healthy foods into a hectic schedule without thinking ahead. Snacks are often the first to suffer – but reaching for a mid morning muffin or an afternoon chocolate bar can be bad for both your energy levels and waist line. Picking nutrient dense foods is vital to stabilize blood sugar and control cravings, and the right foods can be an important part of a balanced diet.
All too often, we get hit with hunger pangs when we’re out and about but have nothing on hand. Check out these local spots for a healthy snack or light meal.
Nature’s Emporium
naturesemporium.com
Specialties: smoothies and juices, fresh baked organic, gluten-free and whole-grain muffins, bagels and raw snacks.
Menu Item: Lean, Mean, Green Machine Tropical Smoothie
Health Benefits: Enjoy a quick snack to keep you going with this low fat, tropical green smoothie. It’s packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and energy boosting carbohydrates from organic fruit.
16655 Yonge Street, Newmarket
Rawlicious
rawlicious.ca
Specialties: smoothies, beverages, snacks, salads, sandwiches, entrees & desserts
Menu Item: Superfood Cookies
Health Benefits: There are an amazing 13 ingredients that make up this energy cookie – almonds, walnuts, coconut, goji berries, cacao nibs, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, bananas, currants, cinnamon, vanilla and a dash of agave.
210 Main St S, Newmarket
Ambrosia Natural Foods
ambrosia.ca
Specialties: all natural foods
Menu Item: Ambrosia’s Own line of freshly prepared organic salads.
Health Benefits: grab a fresh garden salad with carrots, cucumber, red peppers and protein-rich chick peas. Ambrosia’s Own products are great alternatives to commercially-packaged goods.
16925 Yonge St., Newmarket
Newmarket Farmers Market
newmarketfarmersmarket.com
Specialties: It’s OK to show up hungry at the farmer’s market, ready for a snack and extra goodies to bring home for later. The weekly outdoor market runs from May through October.
Menu Item: Baked goods, organic produce, natural honey, and more – including fresh smoothies from the Mix It Up Health Bar.
Health Benefits: the opportunity to eat locally-grown, fresh produce and baked goods will give you a little more peace of mind knowing where your food is coming from, and it’s healthier too.
200 Doug Duncan Dr, Newmarket
Aurora Farmer’s Market & Artist Fair
theaurorafarmersmarket.com
Specialties: fresh baked goods, locally sourced meat, cheese and produce.
Menu Item: Green River Coffee
Health Benefits: Enjoy a freshly roasted organic cup of coffee to go with any of the market’s fresh baked breads and snacks.
49 Wells Street, Aurora
by Sarah Penney
