UK people - where do you shop?

AirCircleI
AirCircleI Posts: 334 Member
edited November 9 in Food and Nutrition
I currently get my weekly groceries through Tesco online, which is very convenient, BUT they don't always have some of the more specialist items, like uncooked Quinoa or even black beans. Holland and Barret are not cheap. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I live in London but am also happy to buy things online.

Any suggestions?

Replies

  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    I use Tesco as my nearest has a Nutri Centre inside (a good health shop full of amazing goodies)

    I also use Sainsburys now they do brand match and they also have good specialist products

    But mainly I use Asda for price!
  • JE55Y
    JE55Y Posts: 333 Member
    Tesco is usually pretty good for health, specialised, and cultural foods. You might need to try a tesco in a different area, as I've notice they stock different items depending on where the shop is located.
  • sunflowers8
    sunflowers8 Posts: 83 Member
    for me its tesco and asda.
  • sandradi11
    sandradi11 Posts: 29
    I usually do my weekly shop in Tesco or Sainsbury but I have to say that if i'm having trouble finding anything Waitrose saves the day. They seem to have everything there and although quite pricey the quality and selection is definitely spot on.
  • lucybell333
    lucybell333 Posts: 94
    I'm a dedicated Ocado shopper - they do a great range of healthy brands, eg Food Doctor, Rude Health etc. I pay £10.99 per month to get unlimited deliveries - that way I can have twice weekly deliveries, so always have the freshest fruit & veg!

    I also get the Graze snacks that someone else mentioned - I have four boxes a week, so always have a stash of healthy snacks to get me through the stressful working day! :smile:
  • em9371
    em9371 Posts: 1,047 Member
    I shop mainly at sainsburys and coop, they always have a good selection of healthy stuff. My nearest is Asda but I hate it there they never have anything left!!

    Does anyone know where I can buy wonton / spring roll wrappers? I saw a recipe for Parmesan chicken wraps but I've got no idea where to find them!!
  • truelypinkthing
    truelypinkthing Posts: 164 Member
    I usually do my weekly shop in Tesco or Sainsbury but I have to say that if i'm having trouble finding anything Waitrose saves the day. They seem to have everything there and although quite pricey the quality and selection is definitely spot on.


    I agree with above, if you go to waitrose on Sunday about 1 to 2 pm the fish n meat is virtually given away at our local store!! I also use birminghams fab fresh food market in the bull ring and Chinese supermarkets . Joe Richards is a good chain of green grocers which is v reasonable. And we have an amazing local butcher, classic meats, which sells quality, high welfare meat.
  • Whinchat
    Whinchat Posts: 84 Member
    I loathe tesco with a passion and only go in there if I really have to. I tend to shop at Aldi mostly, along with the local Farmers Market and odd bits in Morrisons. I'll also top up from the local Health food shop for certain things like mushroom stock cubes and 1kg tubs of Meridian peanut butter :happy: Oh, and the local indian/chinese 'supermarket' for spices and bulk buying stuff like lentils and dried beans :smile: Spend about fifty quid a week for everything for me, husband, daughter and dog. :smile:
  • Jain
    Jain Posts: 861 Member
    I use the Co-op mostly with the occasional trip to sainsburys. I'm luck to live in a small town full of independant shops, including a small organic health food shop, so whatever I can't get at the Co-op I can usually get locally.
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    Sainsburys is definitely the best for fresh produce, always really plump and healthy looking!!

    I wish i was rich enough to do all my shopping at M&S/ Waitrose!!
  • BSummers321
    BSummers321 Posts: 94 Member
    Mainly Tesco and Lidl and occasionally Asda and Aldi.


    I'd definitely recommend Lidl and Aldi (especially if you're a classy bird like me), since they have a lot of healthy food i.e Veg and fruit for cheap! Aldi have a 6 for 59p deal and you can get cheap fruit and veg. We usually go to Lidl first for fruit and veg (since it's right next to Tesco where I live) and then pop over to Tesco for the rest of the shop, we save so much money.

    There are websites online like hotukdeals where you can see the latest deals at different supermarkets/stores, for instance Morrisons had a great deal on salmon recently, didn't have any in my local :laugh: but it was nice to know!

    Also always check the reduced section if you want to save money, you can get cheap veg and fruit for pennies sometimes,
  • bebeschtroumph
    bebeschtroumph Posts: 15 Member
    Tesco does have quinoa. They also have black beans, but not tinned. They call them black turtle beans, sometimes. If you have a Morrison's near you, they have tinned black beans(85 p a can where I am, in North Wales, it's an organic brand) as well as quinoa. Tesco has quinoa on the grocery website, and I assume yours would too, especially in London:
    http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=256517423
    just search quinoa, not uncooked, or whatever. It's there.
  • FoxyMcDeadlift
    FoxyMcDeadlift Posts: 771 Member
    Sainsburys. Its right next to my house and the quality is good.
  • grrrlface
    grrrlface Posts: 1,204 Member
    Sainsburys, the fresh produce is definately so much better than other shops. :-)
  • Yasmine91
    Yasmine91 Posts: 599 Member
    I like Asda since they have a wider range for vegan/vegetarians :)
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Waitrose at the weekends, Sainsburys for top ups during the week. I don't like online shopping, as I like to see exactly what I am getting.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Tesco or Sainsbury.s whichever I'm passing. I mange to get quinoa in them both - try the specialist section, or the free-from aisle.
  • raindropwishes
    raindropwishes Posts: 182
    I currently get my weekly groceries through Tesco online ... like uncooked Quinoa or even black beans. Holland and Barret are not cheap. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I live in London but am also happy to buy things online.
    Any suggestions?

    Wow, really? Our ones in Bristol stock all of the above and also have a brilliant Caribbean & Asian isle. Have you tried Sainsburys? They're pretty good with what they stock, is also check for independent health food shops in your area. we have a few that are quite reasonably priced and definitely cheaper than H&B!
  • trud72
    trud72 Posts: 1,912 Member
    :noway: 98% asda then the other 2% at morrisons(what asda dont have)! lol
  • TamsinEllis
    TamsinEllis Posts: 293
    I use Sainsburys, Co-op and M&S (as well as farmers markets, Holland and Barrett - but you said too expensive - and any sort of market selling fresh meat and veg is always good place to look around). M&S are obviously more expensive but their tinned fish is the best (as is their fresh fish haha) because they've got really good ethics and don't cover the stuff in damn sunflower oil so it tastes much nicer. Sainsburys and Co-op are for everything else (other then bread that's M&S too, and a lot of my meat I get from the butchers but do get stuff like packet ham and that from supermarkets). You say you have a problem finding certain things, a lot of shops will put those under the label of "free from" so search for that on their websites :)
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    I use Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons. I try to get most of my meat from Morrisons, because it's usually better quality, Asda for Fruit and Veg for the same reason and Sainsburys when I'm passing because it's the most local.
  • MissMaggie3
    MissMaggie3 Posts: 2,464 Member
    Sainsbury's as a rule, but Waitrose for a few things I can't get anywhere else. Love Waitrose, but times are hard.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I usually do my weekly shop in Tesco or Sainsbury but I have to say that if i'm having trouble finding anything Waitrose saves the day. They seem to have everything there and although quite pricey the quality and selection is definitely spot on.


    I agree with above, if you go to waitrose on Sunday about 1 to 2 pm the fish n meat is virtually given away at our local store!! I also use birminghams fab fresh food market in the bull ring and Chinese supermarkets . Joe Richards is a good chain of green grocers which is v reasonable. And we have an amazing local butcher, classic meats, which sells quality, high welfare meat.

    This is exactly what I do, I go just after lunch on Sunday and everything is reduced.
  • loopybec2002
    loopybec2002 Posts: 313 Member
    I do Tesco on line and Aldi for the salad and fruit.
  • lisaslim1976
    lisaslim1976 Posts: 145
    Waitrose are great as they offer free delivery but their meat is quite a lot more expensive than sainburys and tescos
  • angevee
    angevee Posts: 55 Member
    I am a recent Aldi convert and I love it! The fruit and veg s fantastic and brilliantly priced. Most of their meat is British,( not that I eat the stuff, it's for the husband and the kids) which I prefer to buy as our welfare standards are so much higher. For the awkward things I'll go to the local big Sainsbury's.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I am a recent Aldi convert and I love it! The fruit and veg s fantastic and brilliantly priced. Most of their meat is British,( not that I eat the stuff, it's for the husband and the kids) which I prefer to buy as our welfare standards are so much higher. For the awkward things I'll go to the local big Sainsbury's.

    I went to an Aldi last year, we walked in and my 3 year old son looked around, said "Thith ithn't Thainthbury'th!" and burst into tears. I haven't been back!
  • tashajayne2011
    tashajayne2011 Posts: 288
    Aldi (59p blueberries this week as one of their super six) for as much as poss, then tesco for everything else.. I did go to lidl today and was really surprised by the variety of fruit and veg (39p cucumbers?)
  • jennarandhayes
    jennarandhayes Posts: 456 Member
    I mainly shop at Tesco, my store has Quinoa and they used to have canned black beans in the Caribbean isle but whoever ordered for them last purchased black eyed beans instead of black beans. They still have the label there so I hope they will return some day soon. I eat black beans often so I make a weekly stop at Waitrose for my beans these days.
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