On entering the shop, my eyes were met with a beautiful array of fresh, organic fruit and…read morevegetables. (Or venchtables as I used to call them, until I was embarrassingly old enough to know better.) Large wicker baskets full of apples greet the customer, many having the all important bonus leaf. It truly made me want to pick them up and start skipping through a nearby meadow, wearing a flowing dress and possibly conversing with tamed animals. Too far? Forget it. A former vegetarian myself, I understand the convenience of having somewhere like Out Of This World to rely on in a city centre. It means being able to purchase items which are sometimes not even stocked in the larger supermarkets, to maintain a balanced diet without being forced to use unwanted substitutions. Too well stocked to be a health food shop, Out Of This World falls into the category of health food supermarket. There is a huge range of the usual nuts, seeds and pulses; but also a surprising number of Traidcraft toiletries, recycled stationary, hair dye and household cleaning products. Alongside fairly traded tea and coffee, vitamins, supplements and natural remedies, the store also caters for sufferers of restrictive diets. There is a varied selection of groceries for people who have to omit gluten, wheat and diary from their nutritional intake, and a large number of vegetarian and vegan ready meals. One reason why I particularly like Out Of This World, is because they stock Samuel Smith ale and lager. A real favourite with my Other Half and I, they provide us with a constant hoard. Bondgate Bakery in Otley supply the store with freshly baked loaves and buns, with gluten and wheat free alternatives available. A deli counter offers freshly made quiches, samosas and wraps - a handy lunch or a lazy supper. The staff are very approachable and were more than happy to assist me in finding a difficult item for a family member. What I mean by that, is my Gran was looking for bee pollen, because the lothario that she listens to on her local radio station had been praising its medical benefits. Any shop that can help me in my quest for bee pollen, has earned respect in my eyes.

This shop is the city centre's answer to Chapel A's Love Organic. It has been here ever since I…read moremoved to Leeds and as such is certainly one of the more longstanding stores in town. A lot of places have changed in what feels like a very small space of time, but not Out Of This World. I used to come here on Saturdays to purchase their organic milk and elderflower cordial for the bar that I worked at on Call Lane. It was always handy to stock up in case anyone wanted a White Russian, but really it was mostly to supply my need for coffee. Also, there is nothing quite as refreshing as elderflower cordial and lemonade. Seriously, it used to be my favourite drink. I love the smell when you walk in to this shop. It's not exclusive, it's that same smell most organic shops have, but it is lovely. The smell of good. Only goodness. Nothing in here can really be bad for you. At least, that's what we can believe until we learn otherwise! Within you will find, as well as hoards of organic foods, all sorts of enviro-friendly cosmetics, cleaning products (for you and your clothes) and much more. It errs on the expensive side if you wanted to do your weekly shop here, but it is sure worth buying that elderflower cordial. Yum!

Sometimes even I get bored of being such a materialistic and basis human being. It's times like…read morethese that I feel the need for action. Let's make the world a better place and spread some love people. That's exactly what the Green Action Food Co-Op tries to do. This is a top little find. How refreshing to find a place dedicated to making the world a better place to be in. Run by volunteers, it aims to provide cost price ethical food. Hoorah I say, take a bow. It's a truly fresh vibe kitted in hand written posters and bright funky colours. What you'll get is good quality food and services without the guilt. Without a doubt, try the vegetable boxes and you'll not regret it. Beautifully fresh and pure as the day is young. Sourced locally and organic as well. I think you're onto something. It's not just about the produce either. Pop along and engage in the green action movement through the library, action groups or purely meeting like minded people. It's a total experience and we should be supporting such groups to make sure their existence continues. Viva Le Revolution, Le Green ActionFood Co-Op Revolution.

One of the last bastions of free thinking being put into action (not many Universities seem to…read moreencourage this anymore, tis all about the money L ) the Students Union allows shops like the free-shop and the Green Action Co-op to exist by not charging rent. The Co-op (opening times are variable as it is run by volunteers) allows for reasonably priced health food products to be sold in a not for profit way which keeps the cost of speciality foods like coffee from the Zapatista's, coconut oil, millet and eco detergent at an affordable price. They also offer and organic veg box service which, by buying in bulk to a central area also keeps costs down. If this isn't an excellent thought and service I don't know what is. It allows access to goods that are normally charged at a premium down to an affordable level.

Young student girl very helpful and polite.read more

This shop is a lovely gem of a shop in the little town of Oakwood. It might not have the fruit and…read moreveg section as in Love Organic, Chapel A, but it certainly can match them for organic nuts and seeds! As well as this there is a vast selection of health supplements, which is surprising for such a small space, of all kinds from homeopathy right through to oral vitamins. They also have a huge selection of quirky items such as organic beers and alcohols, free from foods and even those awesome old school jam jars of sweets, like mint imperials, which are the kind of thing you expect from a gift shop in Devon. The lady at the counter was absolutely lovely and gave excellent service - multi tasking a customer on the phone and a lady in the shop simultaneously! They also have an in house Doctor who can provide acupuncture, amongst other services - housed above the actual store. All in all I found this shop to be brilliant. For all your organic health needs, come to The Health Store in Oakwood.

A lot of stalls inside and out. If you need something I can guarantee you would find it here!read more

A humongous indoor market that holds hundreds and hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of food and…read moremerchandise. A wide variety of items can be found, although I can't speak for the quality. The website lists the available traders along with a map. The area was bustling with people on a Friday afternoon, but not as crowded compared to some of the other markets that I have visited. We simply did a brief walkthrough that took about half-an-hour. There is a food court too for those looking for a quick bite.

Do you fancy a place that has more awards than a pre Oscar's shindig? You know you do and…read moreSwillington Organic farm fits the bill. This is a great find and has an excellent reputation for some of the best organic meat and veg in the area. Not only do they have a long list of awards but they also provide supplies to Harvey Nichols as well. Not a bad boast. You can even try some rarer breed pork if that tickles your fancy. For me it's the organic free range eggs that appeal and some hearty herbs. You'll also be shopping in the knowledge that not only are they providers of organic produce but they also pride themselves on their fine animal welfare certificates for looking after all their animals. For me that is very important and I cannot praise them highly enough for it. They also offer guided walks around the farm and outlying area from time to time so it's a good idea to keep checking their website if you want to see more about where your food is coming from. Brilliant suppliers.

This company is fantastic and most of all passionate and committed to their values, to which i…read morewholly admire. The people i spoke to really knew their product and were so very much commited to ensuring the best lives for their animals this level of passion is wonderful and the sausages i tasted were wholesome, nourishing but best of all I knew when chomping down this meat had been looked after and nurtured in the right way. My hats off to you and i hope this business continues for many generations xx

Wow this was an absolute delight to go to last weekend, I can't believe I have lived in Leeds all…read morethese years and never been before. I didn't actually believe that anything substantial, let alone good, could take place in the small rose garden outside of the bar, The Arc, in Headingley. It just looked too small. But when I went last weekend it was like the space had magically morphed and increased in size! There were stalls selling organic vegetables, fruit, cheese, local wine, local meat, cakes, bread, Indian food, eggs, even a stall selling plants from a nursery in Pudsey. They had some pots of raspberry stems but I was on my bike so I couldn't get them home. Fortunately, I got their card and might pop along during the week to pick some up as they were a good price and I know they will work on the allotment as they have been grown in Leeds. Besides the market stalls there was a live band! This made it for me as usually at farmers markets you want to linger a bit but once you've made your purchases can't really find a reason to but the band was the perfect Saturday morning entertainment. If you haven't been down you better give it a go!

There's nothing quite so entertaining as watching harassed-looking people stumble out of…read moreSainsbury's with bags bulging with bread, eggs and vegetables while you hop across the road to buy the same goods at cheaper prices and a far higher quality - such is the beauty of Headingley Farmers' Market. With stalls selling tasty organic vegetables, free-range eggs the size of your palm, fresh fish and meat, artisan cheeses and a whole host of seasonal, local treats, this market, held the second Saturday of each month, turns the weekly shop into a day out in its own right. There are always plenty of free samples to taste, and with each purchase helping to support local farmers and keep your food miles low, stuffing your face has never felt so good!

I love this little shop. They sell an excellent range of herbs, which is usually the main purpose…read moreof my visit, along with a good range of wholefoods and related items, also bird food for our feathered friends. A proper little Aladdin's cave. The staff are always lovely and incredibly helpful without being remotely pushy. It's like stepping into a rather lovely alternative universe for a while. A visit to this place always makes my day brighter.

I have been on a bit of an anti diet recently. I know girls are always meant to be watching their…read moreweight and trying to loose some. I on the other hand am doing the reverse. I needed to bulk up a bit for some training and somebody suggested I try protein shakes. This place has a great selection of health supplements and herbal fixes. The lovely lady working there that day spent ages with me talking through all they had to offer and even suggested a few things that might be of use. Needless to say I left with lots more than I intended to buy but you cant put on a price on health can you.

I came in here to purchase some jasmine tea and happened to ask about what they might have to…read moreremedy sciatica, as I've been suffering for nearly a year now, and am getting a little fed up with it. I explained I'd been to the doctors and have tried prescription drugs and am soon to receive physio but would like to look at other options. The chap in here was great, really friendly and immediately got his booklet down to show me the info he had. Apparently I can try St. John's Wort, amongst other things, so that was really useful to know. At only £5 roughly per bottle, it seems like that would be a pretty reasonable amount to spend, should physio fail me, so I am seriously considering coming back in the near future! My guess is that if you've an ailment and the traditional routes are failing you, as they are me so far, then absolutely pop in for some advice. I can't speak for the effectiveness of herbal and homeopathic remedies, other than my own experiences, but you'll be getting advice from someone who certainly knows this area well! (I've used homeopathic remedies before and actually, placebo or not, have found them to be successful!) As mentioned previously, this shop also holds all manner of speciality products (tofu, vegan items, wheat free etc) and a number of organic bits as well. Prices on those items are a little bit more than you'd hope to pay, (I almost gasped at the honey price tag, it's true) but I guess that's the premium that is speciality, isn't it? I'm sure, if there's a particular item that relates, this place would have it. For healthy bits this place is great and the staff offer lovely advice, but if you just want some plain free range eggs, at £2+ a go for six this mightn't be the shop!

If your lifestyle is taking it's toll and you are one of the very fit and healthy people in Leeds…read morewith a passion for a healthy welfare, you really need to know about Headingley Natural Food store. Leeds is without a Holland and Barrats, therefore Natural Food Store is a popular alternative. However it's prices reflect it's smaller chain name. In particular Maximusicle and other weight and muscle products (such as protein shakes) to me seem rather pricey with Maxi Muscle products being ten pounds more expensive than what larger brands offer! For a smaller store the selection is huge and the staff will order in any products you are after. The staff also seem to have a huge knowledge of their products. When questioning them on their whey products the bloke that served me really knew his stuff!! Located on North Lane you will have to search for near by parking however is very handy if you live close by and you are within walking distance.

Sourced Market is a really cool location, located in Leeds Skelton Lake Services, it is their…read moresecond location, and the newest of the two, I much prefer this to their original location at London St Pancras. The store is bright, bold and modern, they have a wide range of offerings, showcasing a variety of Yorkshire brands,, as well as fresh and organic produce, the prices are competitively priced compared to what you'd pay at a regular farmers market, and more than worth it for the quality. The staff were really friendly, they were happy to help and show me around the store and what items were gluten-free, I do think the gluten-free sections could have been better, but I was able to get some fantastic shortbread, from a local family-run business, in terms of hot food offerings I was able to have a rotisserie-style chicken. My chicken was really good, it was seasoned perfectly with a fantastic salt, they upgraded me for to a full chicken as they were close to closing time, which I felt was a kind gesture, it meant I had some to take home later, and it actually warmed up surprisingly well too. I do think it would have been nice to have stronger cutterly as the knifes kept breaking when I was cutting into the chicken breast, and I would have liked to have a selection of sides, some carbs to go with the chicken (potatoes, rice) would have made it perfect. I picked up a rotisserie style chicken, gluten-free short-bread and a pack of locally sourced eggs, which all came to £11.40 which I was pleased with. They do have a small seating area within the store, part of it was cornered off (alcohol section) which I presume was due to current UK government guidelins. 4* - The store had a really good feel to it and the staff were excellent, I loved the organic and fresh produce, this is one of the best stores I've actually found in a motorway service station, the main improvement would be to increase their food for now menu however possible, especially as UK government restrictions ease which means more people will be travelling, and adding a few more gluten-free options overall, as they were slightly limited in that department.