The French Girl’s Guide to Healthy Snacking in Paris

Visitors in Paris for couture week beginning Sunday won’t be likely to hear their Parisian neighbors complain about their juice cleanses—because when it comes to matters of fitness, diet, and overall health, the French are anything but extremists. “It’s a very different approach than what we’re doing here,” says New York–based Parisian Lola Rykiel. “In Paris, you eat a lot of healthy stuff that’s not labeled ‘healthy.’ ” Rather than sticking to a liquid diet, Rykiel may snack on goat cheese and Poilâne toast, fresh oysters, or a hearty bowl of grilled vegetables. “It’s less neurotic,” explains Paris-based New Yorker Marc Grossman, who cofounded one of Paris’s first juice bars, Bob’s Juice Bar, 10 years ago. “People are interested in having something healthy and vegetarian, and then they’ll get burgers.” The good news? For all the bread, cheese, and wine in the city, there are just as many places to enjoy gluten-free, macrobiotic, and vegetarian treats. Here, Rykiel and Grossman offer their guide to the city’s best healthy snacks and meals—to stay, to go, and to have at home.

Bob’s Juice Bar
When Grossman arrived in Paris 16 years ago, he noticed a lack of the sort of fresh juice options that had been widely available in his native New York. Six years later, he opened Bob’s Juice Bar as an old-school made-to-order juice shop. Now, the anti-hard-core health food establishment has expanded into a kitchen and bake shop featuring everything from gluten- and dairy-free buckwheat pancakes to soups, stews, salads, and almond milk–based and berry-topped chia pudding.
15 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris

Wild & the Moon
One of the newest additions to the third arrondissement, Wild & the Moon offers all things vegan, gluten-free, and organic. “It’s very cool. All my friends are going there,” says Rykiel of the haven for fresh-pressed juices, homemade kale chips, smoothies, and turmeric lattes.
55 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris

Chambelland
Relatively new to the 11th arrondissement, this bakery is entirely gluten-free and the bread all organic, though, according to Grossman, you’d never know it: “The bread is [so] good, it appeals to people whether you eat gluten or not.” In addition to sandwiches and fresh loaves, it offers authentic French tarts, cookies, cakes, and sweet breads.
14 Rue Ternaux, 75011 Paris

Guenmaï
“It’s really nice and has been there forever,” says Rykiel of the macrobiotic stalwart in the sixth. “It’s sort of like Souen [in Manhattan], but the portions are much smaller, which is how you’re supposed to eat.” Along with a daily rotating menu of dishes like chickpeas in tomato sauce, sweet potato tarts, and tofu ravioli, you can also pick up supplies of vitamins and supplements to continue your healthy lifestyle at home.
6 Rue Cardinale, 75006 Paris

Balls
When she’s looking for something nutritious that’s not “rabbit food,” Rykiel heads to one of the two locations (Pigalle and Rue Saint-Maur) of this meatball-based restaurant. “They have vegetarian bowls and sides of salads,” she says. “It’s very trendy and it’s real food.”
47 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris

Rose Bakery
Rose Bakery has long been a Parisian favorite for fresh juice, organic food, and homemade and wholesome treats. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items pepper the menu of saumon fumé, risottos, and salade du jour. “They also make a good oatmeal-like porridge, which is hard to come by in Paris,” says Grossman.
30 Rue Debelleyme, 75003 Paris

Clamato
“When French people want to eat light, we eat oysters, ceviche, and carpaccio,” says Rykiel. “Most girls in Paris are more into eating real food, but the quantities are different.” To fulfill any raw fish cravings, she heads to this 11th arrondissement haunt: “It’s so nice.”
80 Rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris

 

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