Guide to the best healthy grocery stores in Birmingham

I grew up in a small town in North Alabama. The fact that I had a Wal-Mart less than ten minutes from my house was a blessing. But, now that I live in Birmingham, I have found tons of great options for grocery shopping. In fact, so many I did not even know where to begin when it came to finding the best healthy grocery stores. But, after a couple of years in Birmingham, here’s the list I’ve put together of grocery stores I often shop at to fill my pantry for the week.

Organic Harvest

Located in Hoover, Organic Harvest has served the people of Birmingham for over ten years. Plus, it is a family owned business.

In particular, Organic Harvest is a market, cafe, and nutrition center. The cafe menu is reasonably priced and offers many delicious options from salads to sandwiches and smoothies.

However, perhaps the best part of Organic Harvest is the fact that they carry many local products to support businesses in Alabama.

Follow Organic Harvest on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on any upcoming news.  They often host events and seminars in the store so that you can learn more about health and nutrition from experts in the community.

Trader joe’s

Located at the Summit, Trader Joe’s opened in Birmingham in 2015. However, the small chain of Trader Joe’s convenience stores started in 1958.

I have found that Trader Joe’s offers unique products for a relatively low price. There are many items in my paleo diet that I can only find at Trader Joe’s (i.e. plantain chips- yummy!).

Also, the Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer is entertaining, as it contains stories about products, Trader Joe’s news, and even comics. You can sign up here.

Sprouts

Ah, my personal favorite grocery store is Sprouts (so, beware, this section may be a little biased).

With three locations in Birmingham, Sprouts offers weekly and monthly specials unique to each location. You can find the weekly deals in the Sprouts flyer, or by downloading their mobile app.

On the app, you have a personal bar code to scan during checkout that builds rewards and increases savings. So fun!

Sprouts has a bakery, meat counter, deli, vitamins and supplements, beer and wine, and more. Plus, one of my favorite things at Sprouts is the sushi counter. You can pick up fresh, in-house sushi rolls for a low price. It is great for a quick dinner on the go!

Whole foods

Located in Mountain Brook, Whole Foods Market meets nearly every grocery need.

Including a bakery, beer, cheese, coffee, flowers, groceries, meat, produce, prepared food, wine, body products, and things for your pets, Whole Foods has it all. Check out their weekly deals here.

Plus, I’ve found that Whole Foods represents its core values quite well, which creates a high quality experience.

There are many great grocery stores throughout Birmingham. There are many healthy, trendy grocery stores around, but you can also find organic products at chains such as Wal-Mart, Publix, and Aldi.

What’s your favorite place to shop? Who has the best deals?