8 Ways To Eat Healthy In Banff National Park

Banff National Park truly has it all.

It has the beauty, the adventure, the nature, but it also has the food.

Want a locally brewed beer to cheers to a successful day on the slopes? Banff Ave Brewing Co. has got you covered. Or a perfectly cooked steak for that post-hike hunger? Chuck’s Steakhouse is your answer.

But the culinary scene isn’t just for the average foodie. It’s also for the healthy foodie. You know, those green juice-drinking, yoga-pant-wearing, plant-eating subspecies? The ones who get abnormally excited when they spot a farmer’s market? Those people, my people, also have a place in Banff. In fact, I can think of 7 places where they can get their fix of local kombucha on tap, sourdough bread and plant-based menus. And that’s just off the top of my head!

So before you start stocking up on your fair-trade, organic protein bars to survive your next trip to Banff and Lake Louise, allow me to showcase 7 awesome destinations in Banff National Park for the health nut in all of us.

1. Wild Flour Bakery

If you’re visiting the town of Banff, you must pay a visit to Wild Flour Bakery. Be prepared to have a hard time picking what to eat! All of their pastries and homemade breads are made from organic, local ingredients with plenty of gluten-free, vegan and special-diet options. If you’re a bread connoisseur, don’t leave without trying some of their homemade sourdough.

2. Nourish

Health nuts will love Nourish, Banff’s famous vegetarian restaurant. Serving up plant-based delicacies like vegan nachos and homemade kombucha on tap, you will likely find yourself going back to Nourish more than once during your stay.

3. Baker Creek Bistro

Nestled in a cozy log cabin on the Bow Valley Parkway, the location of Baker Creek Bistro is hard to beat. Couple that with their seasonally changing menu featuring Canadian cuisine made with local and regionally sourced ingredients and you've got a dining experience that can't be missed.

4. Farm & Fire

Keeping things simple, Farm & Fire use farm-to-table practices to source fresh local ingredients and offer a signature menu inspired by the rotisserie and wood-fired ovens that make up the heart of the restaurant. Enjoy a selection of small or big plates or indulge in one of their woodfired flat breads.

7. Park Distillery

Although the local distillery might not be the first place you think of for healthy food, I can assure you that Park Distillery has you covered. Known for their locally-sourced, campfire-inspired cooking, Park offers indulgent comfort food and a delicious cocktail menu, but also boasts a dedicated plant-based menu that will satisfy even the healthiest of diners.

8. Seed N Salt

This is the perfect place for a quick and nutritious meal for everyone in your group. Seed N Salt offers delicious dishes created from locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. From fresh green and grain bowls to tasty smoothie bowls, you’ll find the ideal choice to fuel your adventures in Banff National Park. The menu changes seasonally, but some regular favourites are the Tangled Thai grain bowl and the Sunshine smoothie bowl.