Franklin, Tennessee, offers a diverse culinary scene, including a growing number of establishments dedicated to providing healthy and delicious food options. Whether you're a long-time resident or a visitor, finding nutritious meals that cater to your dietary needs and preferences is easier than ever. From organic markets with in-house restaurants to juice bars and farm-to-table cafes, Franklin has something for everyone seeking a healthier lifestyle.
Exploring Herban Market: A Hub for Organic Goodness
Herban Market stands out as a cornerstone of the healthy food scene in Franklin. Founded in 2015 by Matt and Ashlea Hogancamp, this establishment began as a health food market with a focus on fresh, organic produce, grocery items, olive oils and balsamic vinegars, health supplements, and drip coffee. Over time, it has evolved into a thriving organic restaurant, wine bar, and coffee bar, all while maintaining its commitment to its original core mission. The addition of award-winning Chef Bobby Benjamin has further elevated the culinary experience, bringing refined techniques to every menu item.
A Commitment to Quality Ingredients
Herban Market's dedication to quality is evident in every aspect of its operation. They prioritize sourcing ingredients that meet their stringent standards, refusing to serve anything that falls short. This means using only whole, real ingredients and avoiding shortcuts. Every dressing, spread, and sauce is made in-house from scratch, ensuring freshness and flavor.
Diverse Offerings to Cater to Every Need
Herban Market caters to a wide range of dietary needs and preferences. Their menu features all-organic, made-from-scratch dishes, with many ingredients sourced locally. For breakfast, the Breakfast Burrito, made with a house-made organic pita, local pastured eggs, breakfast sausage, avocado, black beans, cheddar cheese, and homemade salsa, is a popular choice. The pita can be substituted with a gluten-free coconut wrap to accommodate those with gluten sensitivities.
The market also boasts an impressive selection of grocery items, carefully curated to exclude GMO ingredients, soy, and canola oil. The refrigerated section offers local finds like organically-fed duck eggs, cheeses, and high-quality lettuce. For those interested in enhancing their well-being, the supplement section offers a wide array of herbal remedies, homeopathic options, medicinal mushrooms, and CBD products, catering to various stages of life and ailments.
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The Olive Oil & Vinegar Bar
One of the unique features of Herban Market is its Olive Oil & Vinegar Bar. Customers can sample ultra-premium olive oils and white and dark balsamic vinegars, ranging from classic flavors to more adventurous options like Alfoos Mango and Cascadian Wild Raspberry. These products contain only real ingredients, with no added sugars or artificial flavorings. The oils and vinegars are poured directly from the fusti into the bottle size of the customer's choice, ensuring freshness and quality.
In-House Bakery
Herban Market's in-house bakery uses only the finest organic ingredients to create a variety of baked goods, supplying the restaurant with everything from hamburger buns to pies. Specialty items like gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate banana muffins and sourdough bread loaves are also available, but they tend to sell out quickly.
Clean Beauty Products
Recognizing that what we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in them, Herban Market offers a selection of non-endocrine-disrupting bath and beauty products. This allows customers to maintain a clean lifestyle in all aspects of their lives.
Other Healthy Food Destinations in Franklin
While Herban Market is a standout, several other establishments in Franklin offer healthy and delicious options.
CoreLife Eatery: This eatery focuses on clean eating with bold flavors. Their menu features scratch-made meals with whole ingredients that are easy to pronounce. Everything is chopped, simmered, roasted, and seared in-house, ensuring fresh and flavorful meals. CoreLife Eatery is known for its hearty bowls filled with lean protein, fresh greens, and healthy grains.
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Grabbagreen: If you're looking for a quick and healthy lunch on the go, Grabbagreen is an excellent choice. They offer a variety of grabba bowls and smoothies packed with nutrients.
Health Sushi: For a guilt-free sushi experience, Health Sushi is the place to go. Chef Joseph Khup sources only the best organic and wild-caught ingredients, and each item is made to order. Gluten-free and wheat-free options are also available.
Frothy Monkey: This downtown Franklin cafe features a variety of healthy and delicious menu items made with locally sourced ingredients. Their Quinoa Bowl, made with quinoa, herbed tofu, basil pesto, marinated chickpeas, sprouts, red onions, cucumbers, and sun-dried tomato pesto, is a protein-packed and nourishing option.
Juice Bar: With several locations in Williamson County, the Juice Bar is a convenient and fast option for fresh juices and smoothies. They offer a variety of fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies made with high-quality ingredients.
Dushi Wrap: For a unique and flavorful healthy meal, Dushi Wrap offers Caribbean-style dishes that are anything but boring. Their Mixed Grill Kabab, featuring grilled steak and chicken smothered in chimichurri sauce, is a popular choice.
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Franklin Farmer’s Market: On Saturday mornings, the Franklin Farmer’s Market offers local produce, baked goods, and food trucks like Califarmia, which serves food made with ingredients grown by Tennessee farmers.
Franklin Juice Co.: Located in the Factory at Franklin, Franklin Juice Co. offers BomBom Bowls and fresh, raw juices. Their Acai bowl is topped with granola, cacao powder, bananas, strawberries, almonds, and honey.
Honey Butter Cafe: Honey Butter Cafe uses locally sourced, fresh ingredients from Wisconsin to bring you the farm-to-table experience. They offer a variety of breakfast and lunch options, as well as handcrafted cocktails.