Food Shopping Recommendations By Phoebe Auckland, Naturopath

Today, I'm bringing you a little guide on some of my go-to brands & farmer’s markets, Coles/Woolworths and health food store picks. This has come highly requested, so save it for future reference. One of the highlights of my week since moving to the Gold Coast is heading to the organic farmer’s markets on a Saturday morning, then to Coles or Woolworths for some extras, then to the organic butcher and health food store on James St, Burleigh. I hope you can find as much joy (if you don’t already!) in sourcing and enjoying food that is going to nourish your skin, gut & hormones. It can be expensive to purchase good quality food (local markets help keep costs down!), but in my opinion, it is one of the better investments you can make. My mum used to say when I was growing up, “if it’s going on your skin, on your hair or in your mouth, get the best you can afford”, and I think this has stuck with me as an adult.

Nimbus Wellness

August 6, 2025

My Current Farmer’s Market Shopping List

FRUIT: (seasonal) but my go-to picks include organic berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries) apples & pears for a snack or to be stewed for dessert, gut-loving fruits like kiwi fruit (leave the skin on), papaya & dragonfruit, frozen mango and banana for smoothies. Back in Summer I was loving polyphenol-rich plums.
VEGETABLES: I usually get ingredients for a big salad (roquette and mixed green leafies, red onion, avocado, capsicum, cucumber, lemon juice for dressing, tomatoes), and then a few types to roast/air fry such as sweet potato, pumpkin, squash, green beans. My new mashed potato recipe includes: potato, parsnip, parsley, cauliflower, garlic and onion.
Free-range, organic eggs (I make scrambled or boiled eggs almost every morning) and get 1-2 dozen per week.
Bread: organic sourdough or spelt rye, they also have some gluten-free varieties. Minimal ingredients and so easy on the gut! If you can get your bread from the markets, I would highly recommend this.
Meat and fish (markets and local butcher): I typically opt for sausages (pork, beef, chicken) or sliced turkey to have alongside eggs with breakfast for extra protein. I also typically get 2 types of protein for the week (beef patties or meatballs, salmon fillets, white fish fillets, chicken breast or marinated chicken legs), and have them for dinner with my green salad or roast veggies. Sometimes I’ll try a TikTok recipe such as the viral Chicken hot pockets or Beef Protein bowl and get chicken or beef mince for that.
Bulk section: spices like cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, chia seeds, flaxseeds, sometimes olives/pickled veggies/sundried tomatoes and little picky deli bits to add to salads & alongside dinner to add extra flavour.
Local honey (I’ll sweeten my coffee or cacao with this)

SHOPPING TIP #1 on the day that you do your big shop, write a list of meals out for the following week so you know exactly what to shop for and can plan to have a big source of PROTEIN & fibre with each meal.

My Current Coles/Woolies & Health Food Store Shopping Picks

Greek yoghurt from Jalna (if you’re dairy-free opt for Coyo, Cocobella or Meredith Dairy goat’s/sheep’s yoghurt). Farmer’s Union is also nice.
Nut mylks: unsweetened varieties of almond or almond/coconut blends from Pure Harvest, Mandole Orchard, Inside Out, Nutty Bruce. If you DO consume cow’s dairy, opt for whole fat, grass-fed and ideally organic, including the brand Barambah; they have great milk, high-protein cottage cheese, and yoghurt. Opt for grass-fed butter INSTEAD OF margarines/Nuttelex.
Meredith dairy goat’s cheese.
DESSERTS: Dark chocolate 85% Lindt or Coles brand, Coyo or Denada ice cream to have with stewed apples/pears, Banjo Carob bears, Fundae lollies. For baking: Noshu brownies, Mt Elephant banana protein bread.
Good Fat Mayonnaise from Undivided Food Co (they do healthier sauce options too).
Dressings/drizzles: Apple cider vinegar (Braggs), extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tahini.
Byron Bay Peanut Butter company peanut butter (on sourdough as a pre-workout snack) or almond butter, or ABC butter (more nutrients and better for the skin/thyroid).
HERBAL TEAS: Dandelion root, ‘Skin Glow’ or the organic Ginger tea from Love Tea, or organic green tea from Pukka or Clipper.
Sauerkraut: I use lots of brands including Peace Love & Vegetables, Love Your Guts, and have it with eggs at breakfast sometimes. For extra probiotics, try Blue Bay goat’s milk kefir.
Coffee: Organic Mountain (I make my own iced coffees at home).
Ceremonial cacao from various online sellers or the health food store.

SHOPPING TIP #2 with fibre and diversifying your fibre for a healthy gut microbiome, try to pick 1 new fruit or vegetable or different coloured fruit or veg variety (e.g a yellow capsicum, purple carrots) each week and incorporate that in.

My Current Coles/Woolies & Health Food Store Shopping Picks

Mueslis and porridges: Brookfarm products including their GF porridge, also Farmer Jo’s paleo granola.
Olina’s GF seeded crackers, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Orgran Buckwheat crisp bread.
Pilpel hummus.
Chief Collagen protein bars.
PROTEIN POWDER: Nuzest Clean Lean protein, Chief Dark chocolate collagen protein, Tropeaka vegan protein.
Tinned fish: Good Fish does excellent tuna, salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel. When buying tinned fish, opt for fish in olive oil or springwater NOT blended oils with canola.
Gluten-free bread products: GF Precinct bread, B Free gluten-free wraps, Almond Road GF Lectin free bread, Venerdi paleo bread.
Pastas: San Remo high-protein pulse or red lentil pasta.
Bone broths: Nutra Organics, Best of the Bone, Byron Bay Bone Broth.

SHOPPING TIP #3 if it’s in a packet, bag or tin, READ THE LABEL! Avoid as much as you can with ingredients/names you haven’t heard of or don’t know what it is, and products containing vegetable/seed oils such as Canola oil & sunflower oil.

Happy shopping!

Words: Phoebe Auckland, Naturopath.