Fresh & Natural Foods

Finally! A grocery store I can trust! Quality food, a clean environment, helpful associates, amazing deli, and decent prices for the food offered.

We are regulars here, love the sense of buying chem free and locally grown. The staff is very helpful and there is plenty of parking. I usually order my coconut water by the case and get a discount.

There’s no place I would rather get lost. I love checking out all the bath and body products and am always pleased with the varieties of fresh and organic food at a reasonable price. The atmosphere is mellow, which makes for a comfortable shopping trip. I love to support local stores like fresh & natural. A very cool little spot in Shoreview!

I get a warm and fuzzy feeling for this place. There’s something about organic micro-​greens and chia seeds by the bulk that just feels so right. Seriously. But most importantly, there is no snooty air about Fresh & Natural. And I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen anyone with dreadlocks either.
I come here when I feel like treating myself to something special. Something special that I won’t feel guilty about after! I will shop for grocery items that I cannot find elsewhere (because anywhere else you do find it will be cheaper anyways) as well as sample all of their hot bar. They prepare the besssst soups! The creamy chicken & wild rice is blissful, and made with all organic ingredients and amish chicken breast. My favorite guilt-​less soup is this beet and cabbage soup. It’s sweet and savory and hearty but fresh, without feeling heavy. It has really helped me through the winter! And the employees are so accommodating that the chef even calls me when they’ve made that soup. Precious! Today I was there, and was looking for matcha tea powder for a friend. They were currently out of stock, so I asked an employee when they were expecting the next shipment. She phoned a couple people out back and turns out the shipment was on the dock, and if I waited 10mins for them to unpack everything then they’d bring some out. 30 SECONDS later, a woman comes running out to hand-​deliver it to me, with all smiles. Now that’s service!
I could never afford to come here often, though. They are pretty pricey. For example, for $ 25 I only got: a small cup of soup, a scoop of chicken salad, and 1.5oz of matcha powder. But obviously it is delicious and well worth it. Plus you can’t find this stuff at many other places outside of the cities.

Its not just a health food store. Its a parrot food store.
This is the only place remotely nearby where I can get all the grainy goodies my fine feathered friends love. It takes a bit of doing, but their bulk food section delivers the goods.
And for me? Malted Barley Syrup (mmmm so good in (not on) waffles).
Chicken not swimming in frankengoo.
And whatever else catches my eye.

Cool store with with great bulk section. Staff not very knowledgeable. I asked a clerk the difference between white and black chia seeds and he replied, «I have no idea». I’d go back when in the area though. It really deserves 3 ½ stars in my book.

The reason I love this store is that it carries a lot of items that I don’t see around. My absolute favorite item was the liquid sugar in the raw. That stuff is great. They carry the 1000 Hills cattle co. grass fed beef items. I got a beef stick, uncured hotdogs, and a ham steak. The ham steak was delicious in a pea soup. For bread they have my local Bonnie’s Great Harvest, but also A Toast to Bread. A great deli section of brands known and unknown, including their own house made dips, hummus, etc. The only thing on sale that I got was tuna 2@$ 5. I found a different brand of local maple syrup, Waletzko. For me the stop is on the way to or from Cajun Potluck, at a super convenient intersection. You may choose items based on price, and shop around for better deals, but there will be very specific items you’ll want here.

Great lunch option for very reasonable prices! I work in New Brighton and the area could be called a restaurant desert — one chain after another with extremely boring options. If you walk back to the deli they have a setup where an employee will make you a sandwich. You can choose from pre-​selected combinations or have them make a custom sandwich. They have several kinds of breads, toppings, etc. There are also a few sides to choose from. The full sandwich and side is usually less than eight dollars and the people at the deli have been friendly. Their own brand of hummus is also very tasty, which is one of the spreads you can pick.

Any store that is doing the label-​reading for me is a huge time and money saver. The buyers for this store are the most discerning I have met since I was a co-​op member in San Francisco. When I was looking for a toothpaste without mint, I asked about a Tom’s of Maine cinnamon. They told me they didn’t carry because it had SLS in it. At Whole Foods, i would have bought the toothpaste, used it and figured out it had SLS then had to throw it away. At F+N they give me confidence that I won’t get any ingredients I don’t want. And I have always found them very helpful. If you are new to a diagnosis or food limitation, tell them that.
And yes, you may choose to buy mac-​n-​cheese elsewhere, but nowhere else up here sells: non-​homogenized milk, whole wheat tortillas without fillers/​garbage, local and organic veggies, great meats, whole-​milk yogurt, alternative yogurts and milks, jovial cookies and pastas… then there are the supplements and personal care items.

We have been here a few times and they aren’t very helpful and somewhat snooty. Although they are closer its worth the drive to go elsewhere.

I love to wander the healthy aisles of this store, but don’t buy a lot there, as it is über overpriced (it costs $ 2 more here for Annie’s Organic Mac & Cheese than it does at Super Target). I go for specifics, like my Ginger People drinks (don’t you wish your ginger were hot like me?), but not much else.

My first Health Food Store love. You never forget it, do you? Starry-​eyed, I pored over his selection of gluten-​free foods. No one else around had gluten free like this! I went back for more and more; weekly I snuck back to him. I knew he was sharing his love with the vegans, the lactose intolerant, the supplement poppers, and the simple organic lovers, but I didn’t care. One day, he added special labels to all his gluten-​free items, and I swooned with un-​sought joy. And his meat? A glory to behold. Free range, organic, nitrate/​nitrite free; he knew every style, and used them all with finesse.
Oh yes, it cost me, but what is money when you’re in love? For special times, he’s added a well-​edited liquor store, with very thoughtful, helpful staff. An animal lover, he offers natural pet food and treats, and because he knows that spontaneity keeps the fire going, he keeps a small deli, for soups, sandwiches, and smoothies. He has taught me much in the ways of love, and offers a variety of classes in baking, health and wellness. His staff is always helpful and beyond friendly (could it be they know of our love?).