BuddhaBerry Offers a Healthy Twist to Frozen Yogurt

Nancy Passaretti, owner of BuddhaBerry frozen yogurt, is a mother of four who wanted to find a healthy alternative to her children's sweet tooth. 

Having spent 20 years in the medical software industry, the Manhattan resident saw her dream realized when she opened BuddhaBerry two months ago. She said it brings the same self-serve yogurt experience of large brands like 16 Handles, but with an added nutritious twist.

"The whole concept is from what people say that frozen yogurt is healthy until you put all that junk on it," Passaretti said. Not only is BuddhaBerry's yogurt made from actual yogurt, unlike most frozen yogurts today based off of powders and water, but this shop gives the options of truly healthy toppings like super foods such as quinoa and fresh berries.

Passaretti got the idea from her children's yogurt eating habits, where she would bring home frozen yogurt from her local store and add healthier toppings in her kitchen. "It's a great way to introduce it to your kids by giving them options," she said, "Yeah, you can get the candy, but put the quinoa on there too."

Additionally, for the sake of hygiene, self-serve toppings are distributed through a rotating dispenser, unlike other chains that have the salad bar style.

Though Passaretti enjoys flavors like chocolate, vanilla and peach, the most popular seller is Caramel sea salt pretzel, made with real pretzels. BuddhaBerry also offers to gluten-free, fat free and dairy free sorbets, and two Greek yogurt-based options which are lower in sugar and higher in protein. Her fresh fruit is delivered at least once, if not twice daily.

The response from locals has been great, she said. "I have rough gruff fishermen who would never eat frozen yogurt who come in three times a day," Passaretti said.

BuddhaBerry is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, except for Fridays Saturdays and Sundays when the store is open until midnight. The average price per cup is between $8 and $10. Apart from yogurt, the shop also offers buckwheat Belgian waffles served with seven different mixtures including hemp, flax and chia seeds.

BuddhaBerry is located at 43 South Euclid Ave.