Eating Healthy in Charlottesville
Charlottesville is a foodie town – there are more restaurants per square capita than larger cities – so it’s heartening to see that for those who are trying to eat healthy it’s easy to find many options that will suit any palate.
Farmer’s Markets
Long time residents look forward to the time of year in the spring when the farmer’s markets start up and faithfully go every week to find the freshest fruits, vegetables and meats/fish possible. If you don’t have space for a garden in your yard or a green thumb, several CSA farms have sprung up and you can pay a fee and receive fresh produce weekly during the season.
One of the oldest farms to start this trend is Planet Earth Diversified, a regular at the City Farmers Market, but you can also find information on Brightwood Vineyard & Farm and Whisper Hill Farm, which both a drop at Meade Park, as well New Branch Farm, which supplies Fifth Season Gardening and Layz S Ranch, which comes to Mountaintop Montessori School at Pantops.
Organic Grocery Stores
Integral Yoga has been a longtime proponent of sustainable and organic foods. Their location on Preston draws in students and professor alike from UVA, as well as local families and professionals.
Rebecca’s Natural Foods in Barracks Road is another option for locally sourced items. Both places are happy to answer questions about food preparation and ingredient sources.
Local Restaurants
Many local restaurants offer various options on their menu for those who have gluten allergies, or would like to eat vegan or vegetarian.
The Farm-To-Table movement has really taken hold and several stores have sprung up that are supplying the eateries – like Feast in the West Main Street Market complex or Timbercreek Market off Preston Avenue, or ones you can find at the Farmers Markets held around town on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Stroll the Downtown Mall and you will come across several venues that offer fresh ingredients and scrumptious offerings.
Revolutionary Soup – which also has a location on the UVA Corner – has been offering vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options for years. Fresh, local ingredients from organic, eco-friendly and sustainably maintained farms are the first step in this process. Unique, creative recipes based on classical preparations are the next step.
Established in 2015, The Spot offers vegan-friendly options at a tiny take-out window just off the Downtown Mall. It offers vegetarian and vegan fare. On the menu are dishes like Vietnamese noodle bowl, jackfruit BBQ, vegan bahn mi, collard wraps, weekly specials.
The Juice Laundry – located off Preston Avenue – offers a vegan menu as well as
an organic juice and smoothie bar along with acai bowls and salads. Juices are cold-pressed.
Nude Fude – located just off Hydraulic Road across from Albemarle High School – has several vegan options available.
A Healthy Journey in Time
Charlottesville has come a long way from the days when a fun night out with the family involved Barnaby’s Pizza and Carvel ice cream for dessert – not exactly super healthy.
As people have gotten more health conscious, a balance has been struck. You can now have a healthy dinner Downtown, for instance, and still treat yourself to a Chap’s Ice Cream or Splendora’s Gelato for dessert and know you are getting the freshest ingredients possible and are still supporting the local shops. A true win-win!
