I was feeling rather adventurous so I decided to pay a visit to Happy High Herbs while passing…read morethrough West End. The interior is pretty much as one would expect: a combination of new-age funk and downtown grunge. The employees seemed accustomed to groups such as my own coming in to gawk and admire the stores unconventional nature. With a name like Happy High Herbs I couldn't help but look at every object with a feeling of excitement and suspicion. "What will do the job", I thought to myself as I inspected the packets of mysterious herbal powders that hung from the walls. I inspected a bowl of lollipops for a long period of time wondering if they were more then just your standard lollipop. Slowly I began to understand how this store works. It doesn't take a genius to realize that the "popular" products were selling out or there were simply none left to be had. One such example is the powdered wormwood used to create absinthe. I chuckled to myself imagining hundreds of Brisbanites bootlegging absinthe from their bathtubs at home. I'll admit, I was a little too shy to ask directly "which products will make me happy and high" and I also wasn't sure if I was actually interested in buying anything. With this in mind, for those of you who mean business shopping at Happy High Herbs I urge to either ask for assistance from the shopkeepers or to ask some friends what you should be looking for. Don't assume you'll jut know.

You can't help but notice that this unusual shop is here, mostly because when you see the words…read more'Happy Herb Shop' along with noticeably colourful decor your curiosity as to what's inside is involuntarily piqued. The combination of these characteristics also makes me feel like I should be sneaking in to the store unseen, but luckily there's nothing to be frowned upon (or to make you frown) in this place. In case you haven't figured from the name, these guys are the herb specialists, offering herbal solutions to pretty much any problem you may have. Their herbs come in a variety of forms; teas, skin care and I assume some are smokable. It's a small shop but the space is used well and it's full of hundreds of little bags featuring different mixtures of things grown in the earth designed to help you achieve a desired effect; detox, better sleep, laughter. It's certainly interesting and worth a visit.

Mrs Flannery's is worth travelling some distance for if you're after organic, completely natural…read morefoods or anything gluten, dairy, etc free. They have a huge range of stock, including fresh organic fruit and vegetables, cold goods and supplements in a surprisingly large store. The assistants are friendly and knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions you might have. I go in for their supply of 'Lentilicious,' one of the many locally produced products for healthy living they have in store and their organic fair trade coffee. Even if you aren't sold on organic foods, its a great place to find healthy, nutritious food stuff.

As far as health and organic food stores go, Mrs Flannery's in Taringa is one of the best ones I…read morehave been to. This mainly due to the size allowing them to really fill up the place with a wide variety of goods. I am used to health food stores being the size of boutiques, not much larger than and average sized bedroom kind of thing. Surprisingly, 'Mrs Flannery's' is the size of a small IGA or your local food store. It has a few aisles like the ones you find at the Supermarket! Here you will find, organic cereal, wide range of nuts and whole grains as well as natural household and beauty products. I am fond of their peanut butter which is literally grounded peanuts with no additives, preservatives and flavourings. Of course shopping here is not as cheap as the local supermarket but you feel so good about yourself for being so healthy after shopping here. I obviously would not do my entire groceries here as that would burn a hole in my pocket though. 'Mrs Flannery's' is a must for anyone into natural health and organic foods who lives around the 'Taringa' area. You will not be disappointed by the range this place has to offer.

For a suburban health food store, blazing star does an OK job. The store is limited by what it can…read morestock due to its size but it still manages to stock a reasonable amount of health products at reasonable prices. Blazing Star sells a sound variety of natural health food products but when it comes to vitmanins or health juices, it lacks in that department. For instance, Goji berry products can only be found in dried, powder or tablet form, unfortunately I was not able to find it in juice form. Things Blazing Star is good for though would be dried food; organic rice, beans, dried fruit and cereals. There is also a small selection of natural cosmetics that are free of harmful chemicals and perfumes. These products are more expensive that what you would expect to pay at the supermarket but compared to other health food stores, the prices at Blazing Star are pretty reasonable.

Tucked discreetly away on brunswick st, sun and earth is one…read moreof the best looking organic stores I've seen. The space is light, airy and really shows off their kick ass products. This store is amply stocked with a range of fresh organic fruits and veges, herbal supplements, lovely looking makeup, skin and hair care, cleaning products, teas, meats, snacks, sauces and breads. (Phew!) They also have this fantastic back section dedicated to bulk foods. (Think LSA mix, fruits, nuts, flaxseed meal, seeds and other natural goodies.) Be sure to try out their range of made to order fresh juices as well as the yummy organic takeaway lunches (vegan and gluten free!) This is one of my favourite pit stops when out and about and well worth a visit when in New Farm.

A new year, and so begins the obligatory fresh start feeling. Siobhan, put down the salted caramel…read moreand make some better choices about your diet (salted caramel is delicious though). Sun & Earth Organics is a great place to start if you are in need of some healthy options and inspiration in your life. The store on Brunswick Street houses everything you could imagine in terms of healthy lifestyle and dietary choices. From dried fruits and fair trade coffee beans, to pour-your-own organic laundry liquid. Sun & Earth really does remind you of how many great, healthy alternatives there are. With the busy lifestyle I lead, I often get caught up eating on the run and not really making the best choices about my diet. I think I will incorporate Sun & Earth into my weekly grocery shopping routine to make the health kick habitual. Believe me, the produce in Sun & Earth is enough to make your mouth water as much as any burger shop walk-by. If you are a health nut, in need of a boost in your dietary health, or simply wanting to embrace a more organic lifestyle, then I highly recommend you pop into Sun & Earth Organics.

Let's just say you find yourself needing more than a coffee on a Friday morning to get yourself…read morestarted. Let's say your body is screaming from the inside out for some greens. Sure it really wants steamed asian greens in oyster sauce and a dumpling but hey, it's 7.00am. Hold your horses. So you make a deal. You'll get the green smoothie now, packed with banana, kale, coconut water and other delicious things, and let yourself have that dumpling fest later on. And that's how you find yourself at Pineapple Express's newest outfit on James Street. What was once Press, is now part of the Pineapple's growing empire and offering similarly healthy eats to James Street regulars. The most noteable difference in their offering is that these guys sling the instagram worthy Cocowhip. Forget Acai Bowls, it's all about the 'whip now days. So whether you need a smoothie on the go, an after lunch healthy treat with cocowhip's dairy free creations or a more substantial salad bagel or wrap, Pineapple Express has you and your health covered.

I have just had a rather bland lunch from Pineapple Express and been left with an incredibly bad…read moretaste in my mouth after witnessing the employees working there publicly mock and man who submitted his resume in search of a job. There is nothing that disappoints me more than seeing acts of unkindness in a world as troubled as we are forced to experience today. I'm sorry guys but I won't be able to dine here again, I feel so disappointed by this behaviour.

What's up with the service here? I avoid this place like the plague simply because I refuse to walk…read moreinto a store where I'm going to be either ignored, growled at or dismissed by one of the staff. You would think that people employed to work at a store that promotes healthy, principled, community minded living would reflect some of these characters- not at the Green Grocer. I distinctly get the feeling that I'm burdening them when I walk in to purchase something from their store. "Oh I'm sorry, you interrupted my doing nothing. How dare you." HOW DARE YOU, Green Grocer girl. How dare YOU. It is a good store to get things like moon calendars, healthy snacks, natural supplements, seeds, remedies and cure alls. The products are great. The Green Grocer is unique in that it's one of the only stores of it's kind in the area. The Green Grocer is actually a great shop, it's just a shame that it's staffed with people who don't seem to give a damn about anything.

I do like having a shop like the Green Grocer handy for those times when I'm chasing some obscure…read moreingredient that can only be found in a health food store. However, I struggle to see how the place stays alive. It has a shabby, unkempt feel to it and there's not a time I've been in there when I've received overly friendly service. The vibe is that they couldn't care less whether customers came in or not. This said, they stock a small but good range of organic dairy products, including the lovely Barambah; pre-packaged Sol Bread; a good range of herbal and organic tea; plus quite a few things in bulk bins. All in all, a well-located store that could do with a bit of fresh life brought to it. Note: $5 EFTPOS minimum.

Off the beaten track ...which is to say this business is tucked away around the corner from Banks…read moreSt (Moore st is opposite the Catholic Church, this is a great place for a quiet coffee and a delicious biscuit. I challenge you to find a more crumbly melting morsel of moment. Mistress of Spice stocks colourful and whimsical kitchenware & wears (aprons, teatowels) as well as having a large wall freezer full of simply scrumptious curries. These are qwell balanced and not overly oily like takeaway curries too frequently are. The spices are flaoursome and balanced very cleverly against the textures and tones of the other ingredients. My favourites : lamb and spinach curry, mauritanian chicken and potato, byt then again the beef dansak is fabulous and my son swears by the butter chicken. Yes you do have to heat it but believe me it is very easily done. Dessert? How about white choclate coconut truffle or hold on! bread and butter pudding. Rode past on my bicycle the other morning and there were no less than 8 chaps sitting out front with their coffees. Not an Ashgrove housewife in sight! The morning school shift must have just finished.