Berwick Fruit and Veggies has done well to survive the Safeway and IGA onslaught that could have…read moreeasily sent them out of business. But, they have survived in this spot forever and obviously the Berwick community has supported this business- which is great, because it is so much nicer buying fruit and veggies from friendly faces rather than in the bland anonymity of a massive supermarket. Berwick Fruit and Veggies has a wide range of stock that varies from season to season. They also sell flowers and a range of other items such as jams and nuts.

I really do like these farmers markets, though of course I'm not going to travel all the way down…read moreto Dandenong just to visit this particular one. However, I still think these places are pretty cool, especially with the diverse range of produce, and this particular market is definitely no different. Actually, it is larger than some of the others located around Melbourne, and has been divided up between the produce section, and what I can the nik-naks section, though that is generally the case with most of them as well. Yeah, this place is pretty cool.

I absolutely love shopping here. A few booths sell items at very low prices. I bought some…read moregreeting cards for $1.50 each, and I got scarves and gloves for very cheap. For some booths, the prices aren't as low here as they are at nearby thrift stores, but there are many friendly and helpful vendors here. I bought some of the cutest and warmest jumpers (sweaters) for $25 each. Currently the outfit I'm wearing is 75% compiled from clothes I bought from this market. Come during lunch hour and watch a cooking demonstration. At the end, you walk away with delicious fresh free food. They also have a wonderful variety of cuisine from around the world to buy here. On my first trip, I bought Mauritian food, which cost less than $5 for two items. Other than clothes and food, you can find electronic accessories, jewelry, toys, movies, and various other items. I bought my auntie some lovely natural soaps from here. Just make sure you have enough cash before hitting the shopping stalls. Some places will accept cards, but not all. There are a few ATM's in the market if you need to withdraw cash.

Luppino Fresh is Dandenong Markets best fruit and vegetable stand. Outstanding quality is backed up…read moreby excellent customer service at this large market stall. For ease of finding in the market, it is situated directly opposite to the Aldi store facing the back car park. Every time you go there , you think why in the hell do so many people shop at Coles and Woolworths? The fruit and vegetable here would save you 30-40 percent , comes straight from the growers and is backed by great customer service.

Really surprised (and pleased) to find a place like this at a truck stop halfway between Melbourne…read moreand Phillip Island. Oliver's offers "healthy" truck-stop food, if you want to call it that. It's an oasis surrounded by fast food joints and convenience stores filled with junk food. When I say "healthy," I mean that it's a far cry from the crappy food surrounding it, but probably isn't as super-nutritious as they try to make it sound. Whatever, I'll take it! Oliver's is a godsend for anyone with special diets. They have clearly marked gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan options on their menu. They've got a variety of pita "pockets," a fridge of pre-prepared stuff like fruit cups and sushi, and a few made-to-order cooked meals like curries and things. They also do coffee and smoothies. The food is nice but expensive. Sushi hand rolls are $4, the pita pockets (which are tiny) are $8-11. It's hard not to wince when you see the total at the cash register, especially when you know that the people hitting the fast food joints next to you are paying a lot less. But there's no price on health, right? Yeahhh. This place is also a bit peculiar on that it actually has a range of literature on nutrition. As in, a whole little library of nutrition books and DVDs for sale. Good on them, although I don't know how many truckers and road-trippers are really in the market for a food documentary DVD when they stroll into a truck stop for a restroom break and a bite to eat on their long journeys. Their vegan options were also few and far between -- I spotted several vegetarian options on their menu that easily could be made vegan. Bit rich for a place that's selling "Forks Over Knives" and "The China Study" to not have many vegan options on their menu. At any rate, beggars can't be choosers, and this is a great place to stop if you're road-tripping from Melbourne to Phillip Island or Wilson's Prom and have special dietary requirements -- or just want to eat healthier food on your journey.

This was a refreshing sight on the freeway, after seeing so many kfc's and Mickey d's…read more I had the baby in the car so hubby went in, took photos of the menu and sent to me to peruse. Apparently this made him look like a creeper and they asked him why and were fairly upset that he did so, which kind of put a downer on the place. Otherwise the fact that I could get a gluten free healthy vegetarian option on the road means a lot to me because I am sick of hot chips! I had a vegetarian roast veggie wrap, with a side of green beans and a protein shake. The wrap was warm, but felt a little premade as if it had been sitting there a while. The green beans were crisp and fresh and an awesome alternative to chips! Protein shake I would have every day if I could! So yummy. All in all a great place to have on the free way and I wish we had Oliver's in South Australia