New Year's Resolution: Eating healthy (and how easy it is in Asheville, NC!)

On the same theme as before, let's explore another New Year's resolution: eating healthy. And why, you ask, would coming to Asheville help us with this?? It's simple: Asheville, NC is on top of the game for healthy eating! With so many local restaurants, and so many of them buying local produce/ meats/ eggs and such, the standard is set here for eating healthy all day long. Check out a couple of the restaurants, but why not gather the family together at your Asheville vacation cabin and remember the joy of cooking a few meals??

It is really hard to pick which restaurants I think are the healthiest; most all of them that I have seen in our parts have at least something on the menu that can be eaten without much guilt. Here are a few that I can think of off the top of my head, while also thinking of affordability:
The Laughing Seed: a vegetarian restaurant, a really good vegetarian restaurant! A great place to go for those that understand (or are attempting to understand;) that you don't need meat at every meal... you actually don't need meat every day...
Sunny Point Cafe: a favorite, where you can get breakfast all day long... I love breakfast... offering many options for meals that are healthy and additive- free
The Green Sage: many offerings, focusing on quick bites and such
Rosetta's Kitchen: another vegetarian restaurant; I think they say it right when they tout themselves as "farm fresh vegan soul food"

And, if you decide to utilize that great, fully-equipped kitchen there in your home away from home, here are some great places to get groceries for a homemade, healthy meal:
Greenlife Grocery:This is my favorite place to shop in town, where the folks who work and run the joint know what they're talking about, and understand what you are looking for! As the saying goes, they practice what they preach!
French Broad Food Coop: Our local cooperative, small but full!
Earthfare: A chain of stores that sells healthy products.
Amazing Savings: our local scratch and dent, often having organics and great products.

Ingles and The Fresh Market have their sections of healthy stuff, too, but I always shout out to the locals and organic markets.

So, here it is. Your list of how to eat healthy, and why a trip to Asheville can help with that! Remember, too, that Carolina Mornings offer eco-friendly rentals if your resolution reason is to help save the world!

Did you know: Asheville is America's "Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small City?"

Image by amber in norfolk via Flickr

According to HelpingAnimals.com, Asheville Ranked #1 among small cities as the MOST vegetarian friendly. Noted for being the "open-minded mecca for artistic people who are active in all creative adventures," Asheville is host to a variety of vegetarian restaurants, markets and other hot spots.

The website highlights notable spots such as the Laughing Seed restaurant, Barley's Taproom, Asheville Pizza Company and Mellow Mushroom. Serving as a hub for more than just vegetarian restaurants, Asheville is home to different kinds of humane businesses including Beaufort House, a bed and breakfast, and Animal Haven, a rescue for farm animals.

If you are looking for quick vegetarian food, check out The Earth Fare in Westgate Plaza! The hot food bar and salad bar offers a variety of vegetarian AND vegan foods to satisfy all of your cravings!

The Asheville area also has a vegetarian food service, Veg-In-Out , that supplies bulk gourmet vegetarian meals that can be delivered to your Asheville, NC cabin! Great food without leaving the house!

Asheville hosts a website devoted solely to vegetarians in the area. The site features vegetarian restaurant reviews, recipes to make at home and even a VegDiscount Card for discounts in and around Asheville. Want more? Carolina Mornings is also pet-friendly! Check out these pet-friendly Asheville cabin rentals! Our office also has gift bags for your favorite pooch so please stop by on your way through Asheville!

What is your favorite spot on the Western NC map for vegetarian food, pet-friendly Asheville cabins or restaurants?

Did You Know? about Asheville accolades

Asheville makes it onto the list for several national rankings. Here are a few interesting ones (with some related Asheville links thrown in):

One of "The 50 Most Alive Places To Be" (Modern Maturity)

One of "America's Top 25 Arts Destinations" (AmericanStyle)

The "Happiest City for Women" (Self)

One of the "Best Places to Reinvent Your Life" (AARP Magazine)

The "New Freak Capital of the U.S." (Rolling Stone)

"A New Age Mecca" (CBS News' Eye On America)

The "most vegetarian-friendly" small city in America (PETA)


Plus, Asheville Magazine wrote an interesting story regarding the attraction of Asheville.