Vancouverites are known to embrace a healthy West-Coast lifestyle, with our love for specialty food stores, and health fairs such as last month’s Gluten-Free Expo. However, trying to stay away from some food items can be a challenge, and even if you promise yourself you’ll skip out on dessert, eventually you may get cravings for something sweet.
The good thing is, when it comes to bakery items, Vancouver has a variety of “healthy” options – from gluten free, to preservative free, helping make your eating as guilt-free as possible!
Here our 5 health-conscious bakeries near you:
1) Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery (Vancouver)
Lemonade only offers completely gluten free products, such as bread, cakes, tarts, pastries, cookies, squares, and of course lemonade! They are also all natural, contain no preservatives or additives, and are made of canola oil that isn’t genetically modified.
The bakery, which is situated on the corner of Cambie Street and 18th, has definitely impressed Vancouver residents, and was voted as one of the top local bakeries in WE Vancouver’s “Best of the City 2013”, by readers.
2) Clever Cupcakes (Coquitlam)
Located just outside of Coquitlam Centre, Clever Cupcakes offers cupcakes in 4 different sizes, and 15 different unique flavours including apple-cinnamon and chocolate-cream cheese. Better yet, all of their products are 100% natural, having no preservatives, additives, or artificial flavours. They also bake gluten free options daily, for those who are removing gluten from their diet.
In addition to what they bake in-store, they also offer special orders, and even run in-house cupcake decorating birthday parties for children, so you can pass on the healthy-cupcake mindset to your little ones.
3) Panne Rizo Bakery & Café (Vancouver)
Panne Rizo is a full-fledged bakery and café on Cornwall Ave (just off of Burrard Street). Not only do they make their goods gluten free, use natural ingredients, and use non-hydrogenated oils, but they also make their products all from scratch! This includes breads, squares, pies, and cakes. If you are looking for something more, they also offer items such as wraps, soups, paninis, and crepes. Finally, if you want to re-create some of their gluten-free items at home, they also sell their signature pancake and waffle mix, and white or brown all-purpose flour. For the past two years they’ve also taken home the Georgia Straight’s “Readers’ Choice Award”- so they are sure to please!
4) Spiritual Ingredients (White Rock)
Spiritual Ingredients is located on Marine Drive in White Rock, right near the beach, so you can taste delicious bakery items while watching the waves role in from the ocean! They offer a variety of all-natural desserts including homemade cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, and ice cream (yes, that’s right, the ice cream is homemade too!). They also offer all-natural soup and rolls, so you can have a complete meal!
To top it off, they use local ingredients, and fair-trade products for their non-local ingredients where possible. The bakery has also put extra effort into being eco-friendly, by using compostable packaging and donates $1 of each of their “Cupcakes for Conservation,” to one of three environmental charities.
5) Edible Flours (Vancouver)
Edible Flours offers it all. They are a natural vegan bakery with all products being dairy free and egg free. Some of their products are also gluten free, soy free, and sugar free. In addition, they also use unrefined sweetners and organic ingredients. With a range of products such as cakes, cupcakes, donuts, muffins, breads, scones, and chocolates you’ll definitely find something in-store to satisfy your cravings! The bakery, which is located on West Broadway, also offers a relaxing place to enjoy your treats with a living room inspired seating arrangement.
Written by: Kerri J