Our Faves

small space with big selection!

Rated this place:

Just because you are at Whole Foods, does not mean that everything in store is healthy - remember, you are your own best advocate and should read every label everytime and decide how the item got on shelf and where it's going after you put it in your cart! Having said this, you can find almost everything you need in this tight space (considering the vast selection). Bulk Foods aisle (take your reusable bags), phenomenal supplements and Whole Body sedction with phenomenal staff able to actually answer your questions, lots of baked goods (sha sha breads - sprouted, organic and nut-free selections) and the whole selection of Mapleton's and So Delicious ice creams (very important). The produce section is vast, but lots of conventional and from far away too...no excuse that this store shouldn't carry local and organic when it's actual in season! Get your gifts bought, reusable bags ( RuMe Bags in every size, colour and pattern), and plenty for each season including back to school, holiday, valentine's etc...they make it easy and get us to part with our green for their green! Watch out! :)

• Favourite thing(s) at this place:
• mapleton's ice cream
• RuMe Bags
• whole body section
• frozen spelt pizza dough
• so delicious "ice cream"

YUM

Rated this place:

The go to place for fresh foods. The cheese selection is out of this world

gourmet groceries

Rated this place:

If you like to cook and try out new dishes head to Whole Foods to get the items on your shopping list, especially if you're following a gourmet chef's recipe. There's nothing worse than substituting all the ingredients with the cheapest ones that you can find! It won't taste the same, I promise. Everything is fresh and of high quality at Whole Foods, from the produce to the many varieties of cheeses to the fish and meats. I like to make rack of lamb and I usually come to Whole Foods to buy my lamb racks. There's also an excellent selection of already prepared foods and a gourmet cafe located inside, which is great if you live or work nearby.

Always be prepared!

Rated this place:

Whole Foods has an extensive prepared food section. If you live on your own, it’s a great place to get individual-sized portions of lots of different items. (Rather than being stuck with a huge order of one thing that you get tired of before you can finish it.) You’ll find everything from delicious and hearty soups, to inventive salads, to hot entrees like pasta and roast chicken. It’s also a great place to go if you’re hosting a group and don’t have the time (or inclination) to cook. Best bet for a brunch: ready-made goat cheese and leek quiche. (Hide the box, heat it up and claim you made it yourself … wink!)

• Favourite thing(s) at this place:
• prepared food

A dose of healthy eating

Rated this place:

One of the best natural supermarkets in Toronto. They have a fresh meat bar, fish bar, freshly prepared foods, skincare boutique and bakery. The staff has all the answers to your questions about safe fish, meat and other products. You can find everything that you need to support your organic and natural lifestyle. They also have a classroom with all sorts of health interest classes (including Sprout Right’s workshops!). Free parking for 90 minutes makes it easy to do your shopping while being in the centre of the city. Be careful though, prices are more expensive than some local shops… your bill at checkout may not be so healthy!

• Favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Yorkville
• natural supermarket
• organic

Beauty products from the grocery store

Rated this place:

I don’t go to Whole Foods for the food, even though everything they carry is top notch. I go there for the beauty products, because it’s the most convenient and well stocked array of all-natural (and mostly natural) shampoos, creams and lotions in town. I went “all natural” with all my toiletries and makeup a while ago, and it’s been a real chore to find paraben-free lotion and sunscreen, not to mention aluminum free deodorants, sodium lauryl sulfate free toothpastes, et cetera, et cetera.Rather than boring you with the details, let me just say that it’s the only place in town where I can get 100% pure tea tree oil, Burt’s Bees carrot day cream (for some reason not carried at any but the most select few Shoppers’, which otherwise sell a relatively full array of BB stuff), Kiss My Face peach lotion and an array of chemical-free UV protection. Some of this stuff is a bit pricier than the drugstore brand equivalent, but not much more expensive than the higher-end brands that people splurge on. Except you’re not putting three dozen weird additives and chemicals on your face every time you wash it.

• Favourite thing(s) at this place:
• paraben-free lotion

Gourmet to go

Rated this place:

I was reliant on a good Whole Foods run when I lived in the states, so it's great to have a WFM near me...great selection of interesting prepared gourmet food, like roasted potatoes and onions, rice paper wraps, sushi, fancy chicken salad....go see for yourself and bring your appetite and some extra cash!

• Favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Gourmet to go

Organic grocery store

Rated this place:

I like the smaller stores that sell organic, natural and vegan products as well, but Whole Foods has a lot more selection if you're looking for organic fruits and vegetables or hard-to-find products. And they recently banned plastic bags. It's a trendy, expensive place to shop - I can't afford to buy everything I need there - but it's always fun.

• Favourite thing(s) at this place:
• organic grocery store

Market

Rated this place:

You can find pretty much anything your looking for as an organic or environmentally conscience shopper. Great service and informative staff. Quite pricey but you could rest well knowing your food is fresh, natural, and ethically produced.

• Favourite thing(s) at this place:
• market

Gourmet food shop

Rated this place:

Not only can I shop organic, I can have lunch there too!

• Favourite thing(s) at this place:
• gourmet food shop