Coffee & Treats in Louisville

When the Perry and Burke families joined forces to open Sweet n Swirly, they shared a vision of promoting a healthier alternative to ice cream. Neither family could have predicted, however, how quickly that vision would catch on.

Today, visitors stream into a trio of cheery, welcoming locations in Kentucky and Indiana, eagerly sidling up to self-serve stations that protrude from walls painted in vibrant pinks and purples. These stations pump out 10 creamy flavors at any given time, including no-sugar-added options and nondairy sorbets.

The ever-changing lineup of flavors runs the gamut from refreshing to decadent. On one side of the spectrum are tart, summery variations such as blueberry, ginger lemonade, and non-dairy sorbet, whereas choices inspired by more traditional desserts include peanut butter and root-beer float. A candy wall proffers toppings such as jellybeans and chocolate sunflower seeds.

The day starts early at Great Harvest Bread Co., where grain gurus Blake, Sharon, and Mike bake loaf after loaf of all-natural, housemade bread. Each batch of dough begins with freshly ground whole-wheat flour milled from family-owned farms in Montana. Salt, yeast, and local honey soon follow. By 9:30 a.m., the Stoimenoffs start pulling their first loaves from the oven, handing out warm, complimentary slices to customers as they enter the store. The bread schedule changes every day, but patrons can always purchase seven of the shop’s mainstays: honey whole wheat, white, nine grain, and four varieties of cinnamon swirl.

Great Harvest’s breads can surely stand alone, but that doesn’t stop the Stoimenoffs from offering made-to-order sandwiches stacked with ham, turkey, or chicken and three types of cheese. For dessert or a sweet breakfast, patrons can grab pumpkin cream-cheese scones and low-fat raspberry muffins, or—if they're kids or adults disguised as kids—score cookies on the house.

Great Harvest specializes in baking tasty delicacies and healthy, homemade breads ($5+ per loaf) that are high in fiber, free of preservatives, and crafted every day with freshly milled flour. The bread selection changes each day of the week according to a monthly schedule; previous offerings include honey whole wheat and Dakota bread, a baked bundle of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and millet. For carb connoisseurs who prefer doughy delights that are easily juggled, Great Harvest bakes scones, muffins, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and bars. Also try a sandwich like a traditional peanut butter and jam for $3.95 or a vegetarian sandwich with red pepper hummus and feta cheese for $5.95.

Choices Yogurt Bar lays out a spread of 15 healthy frozen yogurts and 50 toppings and keeps health-savvy patrons informed by posting the treats' nutrition stats online. Tongues travel across a varied landscape of yogurt flavors⎯from Blueberry Acai Original Tart to smooth and creamy Country Vanilla⎯each packed with beneficial live cultures that aid in digestion, help reduce cholesterol, and introduce stomach to opera. Cups weigh in at the counter as patrons check email or skateboard the web over the shop's free WiFi.

With a dexterous whirl of her hand, a staffer fills a cup with a soft swirl of frozen yogurt that curls into a perfectly formed peak. After festooning the icy treat with a smattering of cookie crumbs and chocolate chips, she hands the cup over to its owner, who eagerly begins excavating the frosty treat.

This scenario plays out daily at I Can't Believe It's Yogurt, where champions of healthy dessert sling frozen yogurt in a multitude of flavors, as well as low-fat, no-added-sugar, and nonfat varieties. The signature soft-serve can be wolfed down unadorned or bedecked with an assortment of toppings, including fresh fruits and hand-polished sprinkles.