Healthy Mama

The wellness movement is gaining a lot of traction in the Windsor area – a very welcomed breath of fresh air for those who prefer kombucha and kale chips to beer and chicken wings. And although “gentrification” may have a negative connotation in some cities, I feel we’re in the perfect position to be open to outside influences and alternative restaurants. Tecumseh’s, family-run Healthy Mama, is an easy breezy, laid-back vegan restaurant and wellness education hub that is perfect for the seasoned guru, private events, cooking classes or a first plunge into the concept of food as medicine.

Photos by Karitas Photography – Karitas Photography

Mateo Roksandic, the marketing manager and owner’s son explained how the whole “healthy mama” concept was born from his mother’s curiosity and self-tested research into ways to ditch the pills and prescriptions she found herself being urged into taking. After fine-tuning healthy recipes and frequently setting up at farmers markets, their raw/dehydrated crackers became a fan favourite and catapulted them into a full-time restaurant with a full plant-based menu, grab n’ go fridges and a mix of local products on display.

Their location, in the renovated Shore’s Edge Wellness Plaza, an old Knights of Columbus has become home to different businesses with the same vibe – as a yoga studio, aesthetician and natural soap maker for example. Their clientele, who come for the mostly local, mostly organic, seasonal food, is an eclectic mix of the “hip and creative foodies, health conscious 16-year-olds to a group of about 10 grannies who come in on Friday mornings”.

Thanks to Mateo, I now know what ashwagandha is, and that an absolutely fantastic faux-caesar salad is right around the corner. Teaching people like me about the healing properties of food is important to the Healthy Mama fam. They host cooking classes and workshops with educational nutritionists and naturopathic doctors that delve deeper into their favourite recipes and ingredients. The Mushroom Hub will also be hosting an upcoming event highlighting some of the “lesser known” properties of our favourite fungi varieties.

For dessert (which would be a sin to skip here) I suggest grabbing a Chalice Spice tea or Brewin’ Bros detox bevvy in this light and airy, Los Angeles/beach inspired eatery. Healthy Mama has changing daily lunch specials, a spring/summer patio is planning a dinner menu soon!