I'm not really sure why but I've never really liked eating fruit and veg much, but I definitely…read moredon't eat enough. Maybe it's because my parents didn't force it down me enough as a child, or not often enough anyway. Whatever it is, I always struggle with eating it and I'm definitely not ever going to be one of those people that order a salad for lunch, either. Thankfully, local greengrocers like Branfresh in Ormskirk village almost make me change my mind and start eating my greens more often. The shop is full of various freshly grown and picked produce that even I must admit does look quite tasty, even if I'm reluctant to actually eat it. As it's a small local business, the service they offer there is personal and friendly, meaning the staff are chatty and happy to help if you can't find the cucumbers or oranges (although the shop is set out well enough for you to probably not need them anyway) and their prices are more than reasonable enough for you to consider choosing them over the local supermarkets.

This is a wonderful fresh produce shop on Church Street. I say wonderful because they stock far…read moremore than the average fruit and veg shop. Besides an abundance of tasty and decently priced fruits and vegetables, Branfresh also sells some grocery items, a wide selection of herbs and spices, and some organic/health foods like dried fruit, nuts, and my all-time favourite--yoghurt covered raisins! The prices here are very good. I was very pleased with the garlic chips and the yoghurt raisins that I bought. I would definitely come back here if I were planning to be in the area again.

Only Natural is a nice little independent health food shop, its slightly out of the town centre and…read moreIve always wondered how they manage to thrive as there is never anyone in whenever I go! But they must get some customers as they have been open for more than 20 years now! The staff are very friendly and will happily chat with you. They sell a good variety of products from run of the mill vitamins to rarer harder to find supplements and aromatherapy products and homeopathic medicines. Additionally they also have a nice little range of veggie foods too which is an added bonus especially as the food isnt the typical veggie foods you normally expect to find.

From the owner: At Only Natural we have a large range of food supplements. Vitamins and minerals, Sports…read moresupplements, Bodycare products, Healthy foods and snacks. We also have a range of foods for gluten free diets. Our assistants are happy to discuss your needs and offer advice whenever possible.

Appleseeds is a good all round health food store…read more It caters for people with food intolerances such as gluten free and lactose free diets. In addition they sell naturally based remedies and food suppliments. I love the real peanut butter from here, and the bread is good. I would recommend coming to the very bottom of Market Street, where you will find not just these goodies, but friendly and helpful staff.

Clare at this shop is always friendly when I pop in for the odd item she usually has time to chat…read moreand carries a good range of items (some of which you might not expect to find in a health food shop such as bamboo socks (very comfy).

This is a lovely store which sells eco friendly and ethically sourced products including skincare…read moremade from all natural ingredients. The store was set up by two sisters who are vegetarian and qualified therapists and you can also buy online from their website. They stock Dr Hauschka skincare products and vegetarian vitamins from Viridan as well as Weleda, Bioforce and Greenpeople to name a few. You can even purchase a jute bag to carry your purchases which is fully biodegradable once you have used it for a lifetime.

Gorgeous shop selling the most amazing range of products - i buy all my vitamins there, they are so…read morehelpful and have so much advice - def worth a visit.

This is a lovely little family run shop. The staff are all very knowledgeable about the products…read morethey stock. Inside it is a very clean, well lit shop with nice shelving all the way around. It is the perfect place to go for an affordable gift for someone who is a little under the weather or for a natural remedy for life's little aches and pains. They even sell organic fruit and veg at a very reasonable price (a lot of items are cheaper here than in the supermarkets) So for a bit of friendly chat at advice, I can't recommend a better place.

Holland and Barrett is a great little shop for the health conscious or the occasionally health…read moreconscious. They sell a myriad of supplements, from multi vitamins and herbal remedies, to dried fruit and nuts, healthy drinks and bulking protein supplements for gym lovers! Although this shop is a little pricey and you can probably find a lot of their shop cheaper online, it is very conveniently located in the centre of town, and sometimes has some great 2 for 1 offers on all supplements and multivitamins. They are very helpful inside the shop and they know their products inside out. I would fully recommend this shop for all the alternative remedies that they sell and for the expert advice that they offer to all their customers! It's definitely worth popping in just to get some multivitamins and Echinacea to ward off the colds and flu that float around the city!

Holland and Barrett is one of the best health shops around. I'm not often a health freak so I don't…read morebuy supplements for muscles or vitamins for instance. However, for those of you who do, this is the place to buy them. The reason I might go here, is to buy cereal bars as I much prefer these over full fat chocolate bars which I find too sweet. This form of health food is the tasty option filled with oat flakes, fruits and nuts! There is much more variety of healthy options than you can find in your local supermarket at prices which sometimes be a little pricey but you can't really argue for a shop of this speciality and with staff who are always willing to help you.

Nature's Remedies is a lovely little family-run shop in Southport that offers its customers a fine…read moreselection of health foods, vitamins and supplements that aims to provide natural solutions to any health problems customers may have. The staff there are highly knowledgeable and experienced, meaning they are able to offer advice on things like sports nutrition as well as testing for allergies. The range of different nutritional goods there is both extensive and varied, meaning you should be able to find whatever you are looking for. The shop itself does look quite small and cramped from the outside, but as you enter you find that it is quite spacious and you are able to feel quite comfortable browsing without being bothered too much by the staff there, who are both patient and approachable.

From the owner: We are an independent family and friends run health food, natural lifestyle, and holistic therapy…read morestore. We offer natural, nutritional, herbal and homeopathic remedies, dietary and lifestyle advice, and lovely organic skin care products. Our visiting therapists offer a range of treatments from allergy testing, aromatherapy massage, hypnotherapy, reflexology and reiki.

Brilliant takeaway. You know you are on to winner when you can eat a kebab, enjoy it and not feel…read moredirty for doing so before 10pm at night! Most of the food here is cooked in atraditional clay oven style which means that it's not quite as fast as your usual fast food outlet but if you get the chops by God you'll be glad you waited. Chops? In a takeaway? Yup, regular chops, cooked so the meat just falls of the bone and with a slightly spicy sauce - can't beat it.

An Egyptian takeaway is not something you see too often but The Nile does the nation proud and is…read moreone of my firm favourites amongst the menagerie of food stores along the Smithdown road. I'm not entirely sure what is so different about clay oven kebabs but one thing is for certain you can taste the high quality. I have ventured into this place on many a drunken night and have always found it to be excellent value and excellent taste on the whole. This place is different to your standard takeaway and even serves roast chicken and the best word to describe that particular taste is succulent, I cannot describe what a treat it was to get roast chicken as opposed to your standard takeaway fare. This place is really refreshing and does the job whatever your needs, with excellent staff and great value The Nile is one of the best places to visit in Smithdown.