There’s no denying that Mexico is famous for its Vitamin T (tacos, tortillas, tamales, tequila, tostadas etc.) and while it is certainly not difficult to find healthy food here, those with special dietary requirements will need some insider tips if they don’t want to waste precious holiday time searching for places to eat.  Any gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and raw food fans can also enjoy Mexico’s renowned cuisine with the help of my tips.

Don’t forget to check out my video as well as my blog post on the subject!

 General Information Pages

• There is a “Raw Food in Mexico” Facebook group although much of the information is in Spanish.
• Guide to eating vegan in Mexico City by Mexico City Streets here.
• Guide to eating vegan in Mexico City by A Vegan Obsession here.
• List of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Mexico City by Happy Cow here.  You can also download their handy app for use while you are here.  More info here
• Mexico City vegetarian survival guide here.
• Directory of vegetarian restaurants here.
• Guide to eating vegan in Mexico City by vegan blogger Vegan Miam here.
• Review of Condesa-based Cate de mi Corazon vegetarian tacos here.
• This blog by a celiac in Mexico has a handy printable card to inform people of your dietary requirements in Spanish.
• The Mexican Celiac Association organise gluten free bazars now and then.  Their webpage is only available in Spanish here.  They are usually held in Casa Fusion in Colonia Juarez so keep an eye on their Facebook page for info on future events.
• The Mexican Celiacs group recommend a Facebook group for gluten free hotels here.  They also list gluten free restaurants here, stores selling gluten free products here.
• Acelmex, the Mexican Celiac Association has an app “mobiCeliac acelmex” that lists gluten free products available in Mexico.

Markets

• Markets are the best (and cheapest) place to find freshly picked and locally grown produce which is why I prefer them to retail chains.
• This article by Culinary Backstreets Mexico explains how much of the produce eaten in Mexico is already organic and tells you what to look out for to avoid chemically treated imports.
• Vendors will thoroughly encourage you to try before you buy.  Don’t be afraid to take a sample of their fruit and vegetables.  They keep a handy waste bin by their stall for you to dispose of the skin.

Fruit sellers

• You will spot fruit sellers on every other corner in Mexico City.  They will have a little cart where they peel, cut and prepare fruit cocktails and vegetable salads right there in the street.  It works out cheaper than buying the produce and chopping it yourself.
• Mexicans usually take a squeeze of lime and a sprinkling of chilli powder on both fruit and vegetables so just say no if you aren’t a fan of spicy foods.  If like me you adore burning your oesophagus, they’ll usually give you a choice between slightly spicy and blow your tongue off spicy.
• I suggest you try fruit with chilli powder at least once during your trip.  It really serves to emphasise the flavour of the fruit.
• Some of the fruit sellers will also hack the top of a coconut and sell you a cup of fresh juice for less than the price of the innutritious pasteurised store-bought stuff.

Juice stands

• You’ll find juice stands both inside markets and on the streets in Mexico City where you´ll get a whole litre of juice for around $30 MXN ($2 USD)!
• Sometimes there’ll be a menu on display with juices to help with weight-loss, flu-fighting, energising, detox, hangovers etc.  Either go for one of these or invent your own using the ingredients you see in the jars on the counter.
• My favourite juice makers are the guys at Jugos El Shaday in the market on the corner of Michoacan and Tamaulipas in La Condesa.  Here your juice comes with free entertainment as Ismael and his gang incorporate flair bartending tricks into their juice making.

Urban gardens

Huerto Romita / Centro de Agricultura Urbana Romita (CAUR)

Callejon Durango (no number) right on the corner with Plaza Romita in the La Roma neighbourhood.  View on Google maps here.

• Small urban garden focusing on container gardening.
• Website here
• Open to the public 10am – 2pm Monday to Friday and on the last Saturday of every month from 10am – 2pm.
• Members of the public are free to call in and have a wander around or ask any questions they may have about gardening.  Good knowledge of English among staff.
• Workshops (are in Spanish) cover various aspects of permaculture and you can view details here.
• They have a home garden design, assessment and installation service.  For further information, see here.
• They produce over 170 types of organic plants in their greenhouse which members of the public can purchase.  For further information, see here.
• Find them on Facebook here.
• Anyone interested in volunteering would need to speak good Spanish and can find further information here.
• Off the beaten track, Plaza Romita, the beautiful old square in which Huerto Romita is situated isn’t even well known among Mexico City residents despite its fascinating history.  Read more here.  If at all possible, try to visit on the 28^th of the month when the neighbourhood residents celebrate St Judas Tadeo.  Fans of classic Mexican cinema should also look out for the plaque on the wall of the Cultural Centre stating that the 1950’s film “Los Olvidados” (The Young and the Damned) was filmed there.

Huerto Roma Verde

Jalapa (no number), between Coahuila and Campeche, La Roma neighbourhood.

• Large community garden behind large gates that are often shut.
• Open to the public Tues, Wed, Thurs 10am – 2pm.
• Website here.
• Anyone interested in volunteering can apply for further information here.
• They sometimes hold farmers markets, cultural events and food trucks days.  Check their Facebook page for further information.
• Details of workshops are also updated via their Facebook page and not via their website.

Farmer’s markets

Mercado el 100

• Mercado el 100 is a farmer’s market in which producers come from no further than a 100-mile radius (hence the name) with fruit, vegetables, herbs, coffee, cacao, body products, mezcal, meats, cheeses, baked goods and gardening products, all of which are produced organically and sold at fair prices
• Colonia Roma:  Sundays 09:30am – 2:30pm Plaza del Lanzador, on the corner of Orizaba on and Antonio M. Anza.
• Coyoacan: Saturdays (every 15 days) 11am – 4pm Miguel Angel de Quevedo no. 687, Colonia Cuadrante de San Francisco (inside the Veracruzano Social and Cultural Centre)
• Benito Juárez: Wednesdays 12pm – 5pm Jardín Santiago Felipe Xicoténcatl, on the corner of Soria and Isabel La Católica, Colonia Álamos, Delegación Benito Juárez.
• They sometimes pop up in other locations which they announce via their Facebook page.  Workshops are also announced via Facebook.
• Website (in Spanish) here.

Bosque de Agua

• There is another lesser known farmer’s market that sets up shop at no. 616 Nicolas San Juan, (between Luz Saviñón and Torres Adalid ), Colonia del Valle on Sundays 10am – 3pm.
• See their Facebook page here and website here (both in Spanish).
• I highly recommend the produce by Fundación la Rústica, an organic ranch in Queretaro. Their potatoes are the best this Irish girl has had so far in Mexico!

Restaurants

Pan Comido

Tonalá (no number but if it did, it would be 91).  Between Alvaro Obregon and Chihuahua, Colonia Roma. 

• 100% vegetarian restaurant that also caters for vegans and has a couple of gluten free dishes (although they cannot guarantee cross contamination).
• As well as meatless burgers, hotdogs and meatballs, they also do vegetarian versions of Mexican classics.
• Open Mon – Sat 9am – 9pm and Sun 10am -6pm.
• They also own the little place next door where you’ll find vegan milkshakes, ice cream and desserts.
• Everything on the menu is named after famous vegetarians which I found fascinating!
• Facebook page here.

Green Corner

5 branches (See below)

• Santa Fe: 1205 Guillermo González Camarena, Plaza Garden Santa Fe, 2nd floor
  Colonia Santa Fe.  Mon – Sun 07:30am – 10pm.
• Polanco: 1730 Homero 1730, facing the Red Cross, Colonia Polanco.  Mon – Sun 07:30am – 10pm.
• Coyoacán: 353 Avenida Miguel Ángel de Quevedo on the corner with Prol. Zaragoza,
  Colonia Romero de Terreros.  Mon – Sun 07:30am – 10pm.
• Condesa: 81 Mazatlán on the corner with Fernando Montes de Oca, Colonia Condesa.  Mon – Sun 07:30am – 10pm.
• Cuajimalpa: 395Jose María Castorena, Plaza Cuajimalpa, Colonia Cuajimalpa Centro.  Mon – Fri 8am -9pm.  Weekends: 10am – 6pm.
• Green Corner is probably Mexico City’s most popular organic store selling 3,500 products including gluten free flours, superfoods such as spirulina, maca, cacao etc. organic Mexican coffee, fruit & veg, nut milks, dairy products, and cosmetics etc., all of which are locally produced by 250 producers.
• They have restaurants at the Condesa and Coyoacan branches that serve the store’s organic produce in the form of meat, vegetarian, vegan and macrobiotic dishes.
• Due to the high prices of organic certification, many products by local farmers do not carry the organic seal although they are however organic.
• Look out for “La Cocina Verde” branded products.  These come from the organic ranch owned by the store

 Coco y Chia

Providencia #1263 on the corner with Pilares, Colonia del Valle

• Gluten free, raw-friendly, 100% vegan restaurant with fantastic décor.
• Tues – Fri 1pm – 10pm.   Sat 11am – 10pm.  Sun 11am – 7pm.
• No preservatives, white sugar, flours, colourings, freezers or fryers.  Check out their menus here.
• At the time of writing they are holding documentary nights on Tuesday evenings.
• Facebook page here and website here.