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It is very important that you feel good about what you are eating and that you and your family is getting the proper nutrition from their meals. We realize that foods which are easily available in your country may not be available in Kingston.  If you cannot find something that you eat frequently in your country, ask the people you have met from your cultural community what they have done to make sure their meals are healthy.  Healthy Eating resources are available from the Health Promotion team at Queen's Health, Counselling and Disability Services.

• Where can I go to buy food?
  

  • Supermakets or Grocery Stores

  • Bulk Food Stores

  • Health Food Stores

  • Bakeries

  • Butchers

  • Specialty Stores

  • Farmers Markets

  • Restaurants

• I cannot afford to buy healthy food for myself or my family, is there help?

• Further Questions?

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Where can I go to buy food?

Most people in Kingston buy their food at supermarkets or grocery stores.  In these large stores, many types of food can be found including fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, canned and dried goods, fresh and frozen meat and other items.  Generally, specialty shops specifically for one type of product do not exist or are difficult to find.  Here are some of the places where people in downtown Kingston shop for groceries (food and kitchen items):

Supermarkets or Grocery Stores

•   Food Basics - Corner of King and Barrack Streets, 33 Barrack Street.
  

•   No Frills - Corner of Division Street and Dalton Avenue, 1162 Division Street.

•   Loblaws - Kingston Centre, Princess Street at Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard, 1100 Princess Street.
  

•   Metro - corner of Barrie and Princess Streets, 310 Barrie Street.
  

Bulk Food Stores

Bulk food is food sold out of large bins.  You put as much as you want into a bag.  The bag is weighed and this determines the price you pay.  Bulk food shopping can be more economical than buying pre-packaged items.  Dry goods are most commonly found in bulk food stores/sections (grains, etc.).

•   Tara Natural Foods - 81 Princess Street, 613-546-4439

•   Bulk Sections in grocery stores - see above.

Health Food Stores

Health Food is food considered by many North Americans to be better for you because:

• It does not contain certain preservatives, artificial colours and flavours or other chemicals or ingredients which many people have allergies to.

• Some of it is produced organically or without hurting animals.

• Health Food stores sell food for vegetarians and other alternative diets and a variety of foods from other countries. ‘Health Food’ in general is more expensive than common foods.

  • Tara Natural Foods, 81 Princess Street , 613-546-4439

  • Sigrid’s Natural Foods, corner of Bath Road and Days Road, 613-384-1756

Bakeries

•   Bistro Delight, 164 Princess Street, 613-545-9626

•   Cards Bakery, 304 Bagot Street, 613-544-4448

•   Golden Rooster Delicatessen, 111 Princess Street, 613-542-5676

•   Pan Chancho, 44 Princess Street, 613-544-7790

•   Wolfe Island Bakery, 311 Queen Street, 613-545-9434

Butchers

Butchers may offer higher quality and a larger selection of meats than grocery stores. They often sell cheese as well.

•   Block & Cleaver Ltd. Meat Market, 322 King Street East, 613-542-1160
  -deli products, cheese and meat trays

•   Hindquarter Quality Meats, 637 ½ Princess Street, 613-542-7262
  -cheese and dairy proucts

•   John’s Delicatessen and Meat Market, 507 Princess Street, 613-548-7638
  -Greek olives, pastries and cheese
  -Middle Eastern pita bread

•   M & M Meat Shops, 795 Gardiners Road, 613-384-6892 and 277 Bath Road, 613-531-8888

Specialty Stores

You may find some of the foods that you are looking for in these shops:

South Asian and Middle Eastern

• Masala Foods & Take Out, 320 Princess Street, 613-766-2338
  - specializes in Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern Foods

• Quattrochi’s Specialty Foods, 662 Montreal Street , 613-542-4996
  - has many different spices and vegetable-especially good for Middle Eastern and Far East Foods

Asian

• Dat Lee Hong and Company, 561½ Princess Street, 613-544-6555
  - specializes in Oriental Foods

• Asian Market, , 354 Princess Street, 613-547-0329
  - specializes in Oriental Foods

European

• Golden Rooster Delicatessen, 111 Princess Street, 613-542-5676
  -specializes in European Food
  -many items imported from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Holland

•   Cooke’s Old World Shop, 61 Brock Street, 613-548-7721
  -mainly foods from Britain and some from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Scotland and Denmark

Farmer's Market

Local farmers set up outside-stalls and sell a wide variety of produce.  The items sold depend very much on the season, but usually fresh vegetables, fruits, cheese, meats, maple syrup and baked goods are sold.  The farmer's market is located in the square behind City Hall.  It is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from about 8am-5pm. On Sundays, there is an antiques market.

Restaurants

Kingston has many restaurants appealing to different tastes and income levels.  Generally speaking, it is more expensive to 'eat out' at a restaurant than it is to prepare meals at home.  A selection of Kingston restauarants representing a variety of cultures can be found at www.themenusite.ca.

Most Canadians eat instant or “ready-to-serve” food only occasionally. Although the packaging on these foods is highly attractive, be aware of the nutrient value and the cost (usually quite expensive). In the grocery store or supermarket, there is a wider variety of food available than there first appears to be. Once you go to the same store a few times, you will get to know where different items are and will discover new items that you may want to try. Remember that Canada has a northern climate and therefore a very short growing season. This means that during August, September and October, fresh food grown in Canada is abundant and cheap. After this, during the winter months, fruits and vegetables must be imported from the United States and Central America. The food found in stores will be of lesser quality and become very expensive all of a sudden. In winter, fruit juices and frozen vegetables can be used in your meals instead, as they are less expensive and of equal nutritional value.

It is a good idea to take your own cloth shopping bags or reuse old plastic ones. This will limit waste, conserve the environment and save you money as some discount grocery stores (like Food Basics) charge you for bags.

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I cannot afford to buy healthy food for myself or my family, is there help?

If you find that you are unable to provide healthy food for yourself and your family, there is assistance available. The Alma Mater Society (AMS) at Queen's runs a Food Bank which is open:

They are located on 218 Earl Street, MacGillivray-Brown Hall. Enter through Barrie Street entrance and then turn immediately to your left.  All you need to do is present your student card. Your comfort and confidentiality is ensured. Non-perishable food items can be picked up FREE OF CHARGE. For more information, contact the Food Bank Co-ordinator at 613-533-6972.

The Partners in Mission Food Bank in Kingston will supply a week’s groceries to a family who really needs it. In order for you to receive such assistance, you must be referred from another agency, such as the QUIC. Please check with the International Student Advisor at the Queen's University International Centre, for more information.

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Further Questions? 

If you have further questions, after reviewing the information above, advising is available (without an appointment) from the International Student Advisors at the Queen's University International Centre from Monday to Friday between 1:00pm and 4:30pm.

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