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Originally Posted by onesnowyowl
Once you get to Seattle, yes, go to TJ's, go to Safeway, and go to Freddy's--they also have a good organic selection. QFC also has a lot of organic and nutritional foods. Fred Meyers/QFC carry a store brand called Private Selection (Kroger's store brand) that offers premium deli meats. If you're in need of sandwich meats, I would suggest whatever Private Selection is on sale--it's high quality and the majority of their meats are low in fat. Fred Meyers also frequently has Clif Bars and organic bananas (my ultimate stand-by foods) on sale.
If you're close to downtown Seattle once you move, Pike Place Market has a great selection of fresh food of all kinds, and the crowds lessen in winter (it's kind of a tourist spot, obviously). There is also a great place to eat called the Soundview Cafe there, so take a Saturday, go down to the market, grab a bite to eat, and shop for some fruits and veggies. Plus, De Laurenti Specialty Foods is at the market--I really recommend them for perusing cheese, olives, and olive oils, as well as other Italian cooking goodies. They also have awesome pizza and paninis, if that's your thing.
afterglow's list of suggestions is excellent. Once you move, get a rice cooker. Brown rice is healthiest. I also really like Japanese rice (white shortgrain Calrose rice); it's not as healthy, but it is very filling, and goes well with stir-fry. Brown rice is great, though, because it can go with so many things--stir-fry, curries, black beans. We have a variety of rices for our rice cooker--Calrose, jasmine, brown. Yum yum.
And once you get to Seattle...Seattle is organized up into neighborhoods, which often center around one main commercial street. Take advantage of this. Walk, walk, walk. Get a bike--check Craiglist--put fenders on it, and ride that sucker. Incidental activity is great. Use it to your advantage!
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I second QFC - the one on Cap Hill is 24 hrs! And I'd occasionally buy fancy gear (there's a great wine/truffle place) at Pike Place to supplement the cheapy goods from Chinatown (Uwajimaya is the upscale Asian market there if you're interested - grossly overpriced!).
If you take up running (and you SHOULD in Seattle)/walking/blading/skating, here are some great places to go (for a walk even) - btw, because Seattle is so hilly, you get a lot of variation in your training - I never had hip pain when I was running up/down but I get it when I do flat surfaces:
Along the waterfront (downtown) - this was my usual route from Jackson down to the newish Sculpture park - it's pretty flat but really scenic. I also used to do a run down 1st or 2nd Ave from Jackson and loop at Pike St - it gives you a hillier track and the streets are pretty deserted car-wise after 10pm. Sometimes the Pioneer Square crackheads holler at you but they are harmless.
Greenlake - really lovely place - flattish run
Discovery Park - the best park in the world with the most beautiful view of the sunset over the Sound - a good uphill and then flattish area and then a run back downhill. At least hike this place. It's well worth it. If you walk everywhere you will get an ass of steel because damn, those hills be steep!
Skiing in the winter, YEAH!!! Oh btw, don't join All-Star Gym on Cherry? 4th?... err, near the library downtown. It sucks and it's hard to find the door to get in!!! Tiny pool - not worth it at all.
Faaaack, I loved living in the Northwest. People there are really open-minded, kind and health-conscious to boot! Such a good place.
Where in Seattle are you moving to?
PS. Love Oregon as well.
PPS. Regarding tea - if you dig it, there are some awesome tea shops in Pike Place (at least one I know of is on the north end). There's a lot of variety in tea from smoky lapsang souchong (tastes like liquid smoke but in a good way) to a fruity herbal hibiscus/rose hip to well.. everything. Anyway, worth checking out cuz you can lose your sweet tooth in time and I really feel your tastes buds start to pick up more nuances as a result. Tea and wine get to be really interesting.... soda, overpoweringly and disgustingly saccharine.
PPPS. If you do yogurt, bone up and get the plain kind. TJ's actually carries this really delicious French Cream yogurt (can't remember what it's called) but the cream rises to the top and it's a tasty indulgence once in awhile. You can mix it with a bit of honey, fruit or jam for taste. You really cut out a lot of calories when you add your own sugar. Plus you can use the plain as a side with spicy Indian food or in place of sour cream in tacos. Shit, I miss that yogurt.