Missoula, Montana, nestled in the foothills of the Rockies, offers a vibrant food scene that caters to health-conscious diners. While traveling can sometimes present challenges to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Missoula provides ample opportunities to stay active and nourished. From restaurants with locally sourced ingredients to fitness studios and spas, Missoula is a haven for wellness. This guide explores some of the best healthy restaurants in Missoula, helping you make informed choices and enjoy delicious, nutritious meals.
Embracing Healthy Eating Habits
Before diving into specific restaurants, it's helpful to consider some general principles for adopting and maintaining healthy eating habits. Making gradual changes is key. Instead of completely overhauling your diet all at once, try making small, gradual changes. For example, you could start by adding more vegetables to your meals or swapping out sugary snacks for healthier options like fruit or nuts.
Planning ahead is also crucial. Planning your meals and snacks in advance can help you make healthier choices and avoid impulse eating. Consider preparing healthy snacks to take with you on the go, or planning out your meals for the week ahead of time. Education plays a significant role. Learn more about healthy eating by reading books or articles, watching videos, or taking a class. Understanding the benefits of a healthy diet can help motivate you to make positive changes.
Seeking support from others can be invaluable. Surround yourself with people who support your goals and encourage healthy habits. Consider enlisting a friend or family member to be your accountability partner, or joining a support group or online community focused on healthy eating. It's also important to focus on the positive aspects of healthy eating. Instead of focusing on what you can’t eat, try to focus on all the delicious and healthy foods you can enjoy. Experiment with new recipes and flavors to keep things interesting and enjoyable. Remember, developing healthy eating habits takes time and effort, so be patient with yourself and don’t give up if you experience setbacks.
Top Healthy Restaurants in Missoula
Here are some standout restaurants in Missoula that prioritize healthy and delicious food options:
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
The Good Food Store: This health food store and café offers a wide range of healthy, organic options including soups, salads, sandwiches, and smoothies. It's a local favorite with great options for all diets, and their deli and bulk foods section is a dream for health food fans.
Market on Front: This local favorite offers a variety of healthy options, including vegan and gluten-free dishes. Their salads and sandwiches are made with locally sourced ingredients, ensuring freshness and quality.
Masala: This Indian restaurant provides a variety of healthy options, including vegetarian and vegan dishes, allowing diners to explore flavorful and nutritious meals.
Five on Black: For a fast and casual option, Five on Black offers Brazilian-inspired bowls with a base of greens, rice, or quinoa, topped with a variety of protein and vegetable options. It's a great way to customize a healthy and satisfying meal. Feijoada is the National Stew of Brazil.
Basal: Known for its delicious salads with a wide variety of toppings, dressings, and flavor combinations, Basal is a must-try. The chicken caprese is a fan favorite, and the Brussel Caesar salad is also highly recommended. They have a great selection of vegetarian options, and everything is tasty and interesting. Basal also has an espresso bar that serves up some of the best coffee in town. Prices range from $11 to $15 per generous portion.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
The Green Source: This establishment serves up delicious green smoothies that are perfect for breakfast, a snack, or as a meal replacement. They have two locations: one on the Hip Strip and another inside VRTX Fitness on Russell Street (Green Source Encore). The Hip Strip location fosters community and connection, mixing deeply nourishing food with a high-vibe cafe atmosphere. The Green Source Encore offers grab-and-go options available anytime the gym is open (5am-10pm M-F and 8am-8pm Sat/Sun), with regular cafe hours from 8am-5pm M-F.
Gluten-Free Dining
For those with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities, Missoula offers excellent choices:
- One establishment provides an entirely Gluten Free menu. Everything is Gluten Free which means it is Celiac safe! The food is amazing.
Staying Active in Missoula
Missoula offers a variety of ways to stay active and enjoy the outdoors:
- Winter Activities: During winter, downhill skiing is a favorite pastime. Snowbowl is the closest ski hill, but areas like Discovery Ski Area and Lost Trail are also a short drive away. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing abound in Missoula, with gear rentals available from the Trailhead if needed.
- Fitness Studios: Missoula is home to many boutique fitness studios, including yoga at Hot House Yoga or Inner Harmony Yoga, and spin and fitness classes at places like HypeHouse, the Sweat Shop, or Sobba Cycle.
Wellness and Relaxation
Traveling can be the perfect time to take care of your wellness, and Missoula has no shortage of spas and health centers for you to relax and give your body a much needed treat.
- Enlyten Lab Float Center: Offers float therapy, where you can float your worries away in a room with no sound, no light and no gravity. Enlyten also has massage therapy, an infrared sauna, massage therapy and yoga.
- Traditional Spa Services: Places like Skin Chic, Apothecary Aesthetics, Sorella's, and Cedar Creek Spa and Salon offer traditional spa services ranging from facials and massages to nail care and waxing services.
Additional Resources
For more information on healthy eating and wellness, consider exploring these resources:
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution
- “How Not to Die” by Dr. Michael Greger: This book takes a deep dive into the science of nutrition and explores the link between diet and chronic disease.
- “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan: In this book, Pollan investigates the origins of our food and how our diets have changed over time.
- “Salt, Sugar, Fat” by Michael Moss: This book takes a critical look at the processed food industry and how it has contributed to the rise of obesity and chronic disease.
- “Forks Over Knives”: This documentary explores the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet and features interviews with doctors and nutrition experts.
- “Fed Up”: This documentary examines the role of sugar in the American diet and how it has contributed to the rise of obesity and chronic disease.
tags: #healthy #restaurants #Missoula #Montana