Where to eat and shop for the health conscious and speciality diets in Sheffield

I care about what I eat and I look after myself. I've not always been this responsible but I've developed this passion over the past few years. I suppose this comes from working in an organic cafe, researching  nutrition and reading blogs and magazines that promote a healthy way of living.

With my limited diet comes limited eating out choices and I'm not the only one who struggles in finding places to eat and also buy their groceries from. Hopefully this list I've compiled will help those of you in the same boat, if you know anyone with a limited diet, share this post with them and maybe they've got a few I've missed off the list. I'm always keen to discover more places.

Filthy Gorgeous
Brand new greengrocers / health food store literally two minutes from my house. What sets them apart from other health stores is the fact that they make fresh smoothies, sell organic wine AND stock products from pure on raw, including cheesecake! Wonderful! Plus they are the only place I've come across in sheffield where you can buy multicoloured quinoa!
Great for - healthy treats, chia seeds, buckwheat, unusual vegetables.

Rude Shipyard
Not a secret that this is a fav' haunt of mine, they'll always do their best to make something I can eat even if its not on the menu. Lovely quirky bookshop cafe with individual clientèle that frequent there
Great for - cd's from local artists, home made breakfasts ( the potato cakes!), wonderful staff, live music evenings.

the rude shipyard

Beanies
Beanies is run by a workers coop and stocks a variety of unusual vegetables, vegan vegetarian and wheat free produce. They are also Sheffield’s first, longest running, best quality and best value organic veg delivery scheme and they have their own blog too!
Great for - knowledgeable staff, ethical produce, organic veg, good chocolate (booja booja and montezumas)

Pure on Raw
Sheffields only raw restaurant. Their mocha pie with  clementine gelato is one of the best desserts I have ever eaten, fact. You can read my full review here.
Great for - raw macaroons, cashew cheese pizza, home made almond milk coffee

Pure on raw dishes

Zeds
Quirky little shop, always seems like they are having a move around. Located in one of my favourite areas of sheffield, very inviting with green awning and lots of fresh veg and plants outside. Inside is a mix of organic and ethical produce from incense to toothpaste, nut butters and vegan cheese. A nice shop to spend time browsing in.
Great for - raw cacao raisins, dairy free ice creams, candles, tea

Zeds in nether edge

Fanoush
I go here a couple of times a month or more. The salad boxes are packed full of tasty veg, hot fresh falafel and sauce. Full of flavour, cheap and healthy.
Great for - in house pickled turnip, fresh juices, event posters, chatty staff

Incredible Nutshell
Much brighter and friendlier since the new management and name change from "in a nutshell" here is a small and sparkly health store who stock home made fresh soup to go as well as plenty of other exciting food and ethnic gifts and jewellery.
Great for - christmas shopping, happy kitchen brownies, local honey, smoked garlic, tofu

treats at incredible nutshell

 
Saigon 68
Previously pho 68, as far as I know, only the name has changed. They do the most amazing crunchy fresh vietnamese salad with chilli and palm sugar and peanuts. Lunch time offer includes a hot bowl of noodle soup which you can have with rice noodles, delicious and you get a free tea and fruit.
Great for - huge portions, sriracha, people watching on london rd, yee kwan sorbet for pudding

The Blue Moon Cafe
Popular vegetarian late opening cafe in the city centre. Has tasty vegan cakes and gluten free ones too. The specials are wholesome and they serve organic beer and wine too. Menu doesn't change that often if at all so if you have a favourite then you can rest assured they'll have it when you visit again.
Great for - vegan ice cream, tasty jam, a plethora of notices, quirky meal names, pre-theatre dinner.

Just Natural 
I always visit here whenever I'm in crookes. I love the layout, very neat and the little wicker baskets are cute. It is rather expensive though so watch out for that. I love the self-pour raisin and nut selection.
Great for - fresh orange juice, wide variety of fruit and veg, yoghurt raisins, hipster shoppers

Heeley Farm Kitchen
Small bright cafe, located on their farm so nice for visiting after looking at the animals. Always children, always vegan options.
Great for - bringing the kids, petting the animals, the veggie chilli

heeley farm kitchen

 Otto's
 Delicious moroccan food in a busy restaurant that caters for all dietary needs.
 I recently had the fish tagine and there was plenty of tender fish, very filling with the rice.
 Great for - live entertainment, garlic mushrooms, friendly staff


So there you have my favourites. Let me know what you think and tell me yours.

Real people's recipes - Vegetable and coconut curry!

Mado

This recipe comes from my lovely auntie, Mado. I've asked her a few questions to give you a bit of background behind her, hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed hearing the answers!

Where abouts did you grow up and when did you move to Sheffield? In Kharian, Pakistan. I moved here when I was 16, March 1967. I came here to join my family, I had a headache for seven days and was depressed because of the lack of sun. The first time I saw snow, I fell over! I thought televisions were too small because I was used to watching cinema screens. the first thing I ate was toast with butter for breakfast and I thought it was awful because I couldn't taste the butter at all. I soon found out that food here had no taste or smell compared to back home.
Who do you like cooking for? Family and friends.
What is it that you enjoy about cooking? I find it really therapeutic and relaxing, and I enjoy it because I am good at it! It's easy for me. I also like the fact that people enjoy my food when they eat it.
What are the inspirations behind this dish? I wanted to make something different from my usual curries, this was an experiment that resulted in a dish that a lot of people really like. It's very healthy and it can be enjoyed by vegan and meat eaters alike. It's my own creation.
What would be your last meal? It would probably be a mixed lentil curry with a salad of cherry tomatoes, red onions, radishes, cucumber and quinoa. Pudding would be carrot halwa.

Sweet potato, courgette, green bean and coconut curry.
This is a delicious, rich and creamy recipe full of flavour. When served alongside salad and rice and beans it makes for a very satisying dish.

Ingredients
2 Large Onions
4 cloves Garlic
Thumb of Ginger
Tin Coconut milk
2 courgettes
Green beans
1 Sweet potato
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp chilli powder

Method
Fry your onions, garlic and ginger together with salt until the onions have softened.
Add your veg and spices and fry for a few minutes longer, until the vegetables are slightly tender.
If it starts to stick add a splash of water.
Now add the coconut milk and cook until the potatoes are soft.

Sweet potato, coconut, courgette curry. Vegan, gluten free and delicious!