Food Shopping advice?

Anyone know of places to buy decent and reasonably priced health food in the UK or online? Things like nut and seed butters, seeds (chia seeds and other less common ones), dried fruits and nuts (to purchase in bulk) etc....? All the Julian Graves nearby are closing and Holland and Barratts range is quite limited.

Also looking for frozen edamame beans, the local supermarkets only sell them in a ready prepared salad (which is mixed with a larger quantity of cheap peas and yet they still charge a fortune for them!)

Living on a tight budget at the moment which doesn't always go hand in hand with trying to eat well!

Replies

  • Illona88
    Illona88 Posts: 903 Member
    Farmer's markets.

    Also Lidl has quite cheap nuts, seeds and dried fruit in big packages, though some of the nuts are salted (walnuts and the mixes definitely aren't, don't know about the rest really).

    Frozen edamame beans you can maybe try at whole foods? I don't really know.
  • LittleNicci
    LittleNicci Posts: 284 Member
    Are there Aldi's in the UK? I love that place!

    THERE ARE! http://www.aldi.co.uk/

    I shop here every week, their produce section is fantastic, prices are wonderful, you do have to bag your own stuff (and either pay for bags or bring your own) but so what, that makes it so the prices are cheaper. They have a wide selection of many things, I just got a great price on a steam mop from there! I have a ton of food allergies and Aldi's always has things I can eat :-)
  • lisav6
    lisav6 Posts: 56
    thanks, I do pick up a fair amount at lidl and aldi but again, the ranges are fairly limited. They are def the cheapest for staples like almonds and walnuts etc....
  • Illona88
    Illona88 Posts: 903 Member
    Are there Aldi's in the UK? I love that place!

    Yes, there are.
    Not as many shops as Lidl though. Lidl is pretty much the same concept, just with more variety and fresher fruit/veg.
  • lisav6
    lisav6 Posts: 56
    Are there Aldi's in the UK? I love that place!

    THERE ARE! http://www.aldi.co.uk/

    I shop here every week, their produce section is fantastic, prices are wonderful, you do have to bag your own stuff (and either pay for bags or bring your own) but so what, that makes it so the prices are cheaper. They have a wide selection of many things, I just got a great price on a steam mop from there! I have a ton of food allergies and Aldi's always has things I can eat :-)

    "you do have to bag your own stuff" - Do you have people who do that for you where you live? We always bag our stuff here in the UK unless there are brownies or scouts collecting for charity. I am a bit OCD with bagging my shopping too, don't think I could hand over the responsibility to someone else! ha ha
  • I was just thinking the same thing, I'd be watching them pack it going "No, don't put that there, those go in a different bag! Look, just let me do it!"
  • Illona88
    Illona88 Posts: 903 Member
    I think the US (and maybe Canada?) are the only places where they pack your bags for you.
    I couldn't stand it. I'd rather do it myself, so it is done properly and I know where everything is.
    And I bring my own canvas bags to the supermarket anyway, so I don't need those plastic ones.
  • naomi8888
    naomi8888 Posts: 519 Member
    That's funny! I'm in Australia and the check out people bag your shopping for you here (unless it's Aldi). I always bring my own reusable bags.
  • lisav6
    lisav6 Posts: 56
    bumping in the hope of some more suggestions!