Green Leaf Cafe
Manitoba Hydro Tower, 339-2233

Sometimes, one of the hardest parts about eating out, is finding something healthy. Whether you're trying to maintain your new diet or just want something that feeds your soul, Green Leaf Cafe is the place to go. This fresh new space in the Manitoba Hydro building offers up heart (and waistline) healthy fare that's both delicious and inviting.

Franchise owner Mel George said she was attracted to Green Leaf's philosophy because she has a passion for healthy food and good living. "I've realized a dream," she adds, smiling proudly.

This is Mel's first foray into the world of cafe ownership and she says that she had a lot to learn at the beginning. But one of the most satisfying things about the business is the concept of management and pride in building something for herself. "I've worked very hard and this definitely a labour of love."

Mel says that being inside the Hydro building has been very good for business. "Our first few days we had to close the doors there were so many people lined up," she says. Adding that being located inside the eco-friendly office building gives her a captive audience to build her business.

The restaurant offers numerous healthy choice options including juices and smoothies. Mel says the most popular varieties are chunky monkey made with peanut butter, strawberry banana and the Caribbean breeze. She recommends adding a shot of wheat grass--an ingredient known for it's body-nourishing and detoxifying properties--for an extra kick.

For lunch, the cafe also serves up wraps, panini and sandwiches with numerous fillings from chicken and turkey to veggies and humus. They also serve up a daily soup perfect for these last days of winter.

Along with a menu that benefits your body, the cafe is also eco-friendly, using take out containers that are completely biodegradable.

The space is decorated in bright greens and clean whites, making it the perfect backdrop for this modern cafe. Mel says she can't wait for summer when an outdoor patio will serve the restaurant, offering a perfect place to enjoy a healthy lunch and soak up the sun.