Eating healthy

healthy Eating

in the 7B

by Olivia Keyes

The desire for healthier eating has become a prominent discussion nationwide. It is rare to find a grocery store or restaurant in our area that doesn’t offer some form of vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free food. Health, wellness, and slow living are integral to the lifestyle that Sandpoint has to offer, and our restaurants have come to reflect that. Here’s a sampling of just a few.

What kinds of food can people expect at your location?

Winter Ridge: We are a grocery store focused on local, natural, and delicious foods. We have a fantastic selection of clean organic foods. Whether it’s house-made in our deli, bakery, meat department, or everywhere in between, we offer the best quality for the best price. City Beach Organics: We are a cafe/ restaurant with a full espresso menu, a juice and smoothie bar, and we serve our popular wraps and melts on our house-made GF tortillas. We also have fresh salads, avocado toast, and quinoa bowls. Heart Bowls: Acai bowls, smoothie bowls, rice bowls, avocado toast, and a variety of seriously healthy, delicious fully dairy-free & gluten-free options like dairy-free milkshakes, baked goods, and more! Yafay Wellness: We are a wellness space offering a restaurant, naturopathic doctor services, massage services, and vitamin IV Drips, among other things. We offer an extensive menu, and anything can be made vegan or gluten-free. We also offer lovely mocktails.

What would you recommend to a new customer?

WR: Pop over to our bakery case each morning and try a freshly baked cinnamon roll or bear claw. For lunch, saunter over to our hot bar for daily rotating soups or proteins and sides. If you’re still looking for something special. make your way to the meat department where our crew cranks out the best house-made sausages in town. CBO: The pesto melt is a crowd favorite. I’d accompany that with our house-made lemon berry cheesecake and a Pend Oreille Paradise smoothie. HB: I always recommend an Acai bowl or smoothie bowl for first-timers. Our smoothie bowls are the star here at Heart Bowls. For those new to them, they are made with 100 percent real food, frozen fruit blended into a thick, creamy, ice cream-like base topped with gluten-free granola, nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit. YW: Our Signature Szechuan tofu or chicken lettuce wraps. Absolutely delicious! We’ve been asked to sell our signature sauce which is made in-house. We’ve also been told by several

PREVIOIUS PAGE: BECKY SAWYER AND JANA WHITE SHOW OFF SOME OF THE DELICIOUS, HOMEMADE BREAD AT WINTER RIDGE; THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT: YAFAY WELLNESS SERVES A WIDE VARIETY OF “MOCKTAILS;” EAT YOUR GREENS (AND MORE) WITH A CITY BEACH ORGANICS NORTHWEST/ SOUTHWEST SALAD, AND A SCHWEITZER SUNSET JUICE; A HEART BOWLS ACAI BOWL IS LIKE EATING SUMMERTIME IN A CUP.

serving you 7 days a week at three locations!

come hungry

save room for our tasty beers on tap stay late

open until 10 p.m. eat well

Something for Everyone - Bring the Family

www.sweetlousidaho.com

Sweet Lou’s Restaurants

locals that we have the best burger in town with our Gourmet Bison Burger which features our own pesto-mayo sauce.

How have health and wellness trends influenced your business?

WR: Health and wellness trends for others happen to be a lifestyle for us. Many of our employees and loyal customers prioritize health and wellness and we are here to provide them with the tools they need for success CBO: We’ve noticed little things, like the celery juice craze a few years ago (I know, weird). Our juice and salad sales go up after the first of January, and sometimes there’s a random ingredient people are suddenly asking for because some celebrity was talking it up. Overall, though, we don’t notice these trends making a significant impact on us. HB: The dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free movements are growing nationwide which brings people to Heart Bowls because our menu is 100 percent dairy-free and vegan and everything can be made gluten free. So, we have seen more and more people coming to eat with us because they are seeking out healthier plant-based foods. We are very excited to be sharing this wholesome food with the community and those who are new to it. Yafay Wellness: I have been

into health and wellness for the past 20 years. The timing has been perfect for my business, there are more and more people questioning the standard American diet and health, even prior to COVID.

Connie’s Cafe and Lounge (323 Cedar St.) is a Sandpoint tradition, in operation since 1952 when it started as a simple lunch counter in Fred Hartley’s Conoco gas station. Its history is what attracted its latest owners, Lars Hall and Chris Ankney, and they honored that history this summer by refurbishing the 1950s-style sign at the front of the building.

Seventy years later, locals are still pouring in to enjoy such Connie’s classics as the garden skillet breakfast or a 1/3-pound Angus burger. And not to miss on a winter’s day is their navy bean and ham soup, on the menu every day!

If you don't mind a little eavesdropping, take a booth near the counter and listen to the regulars as they share their stories about old-time Sandpoint. You'll probably even hear tales of "the one that got away!"

“The locals keep our lights on,” said Lars Hall. “We listen to what they have to say, because we want to continue to be your local hometown diner.”

Whether stopping in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner you'll find the menu choices expansive, and every Friday evening prime rib is on the menu. There's a great kids' menu and specialty cocktails for the adults, making Connie's a place for the whole family.

-Trish Gannon

CRAFT BEER, WINE, EATERY, EVENTS, LIVE MUSIC

SANDPOINT, COEUR D’ALENE, & NEW! SPOKANE WONDER BUILDING

524 CHURCH ST, SANDPOINT 504 E SHERMAN AVE, COEUR D’ALENE WONDER MARKET, 821 W MALLON AVE, SPOKANE