Ive noticed in canada all supermarkets sell so much fake looking meat processed and mushed up then reformed to look like meat. Ive never really seen this back home in england.

Today i discovered walmart and no frills. Still expensive compared to back home but cheaper than metro.

Which meats are you looking at? If it's deli meats, chicken nuggets, and such, then yeah it's processed and I wouldn't expect it to look real. If you are looking at real meats like chicken legs, roast beef, etc. then if it didn't look real I wouldn't buy it.

I try to avoid Metro (always been expensive) and only go to any of the Loblaws chain stores (Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills.... all the same company) when I need to find a specific item since they have a bigger variety. I try to find the smaller stores/chains or Costco and I am usually happier with the fresh meats.

I am an avid Costco shopper. It just seems to me that their meat and produce are really really good, if you can afford to buy their larger packages.

I think costco you have to buy a membership dont you? Snd the locations are in the middle of no where. I have to use ttc to get anywhere!

Ive also noticed that every kind of yellow/orange cheese is called cheddar even though its just a mild plastic-ey cheese

Here in Ontario our main grocery stores have two differenct sections for cheese. One is in the dairy fridges where most of the cheeses are simply mass produced cheddar or mozzarella mixed with a few other mass produced varieties. If you want a stronger flavor without the fresher squeaky feel then buy the extra old. It's more dry and crumbly, the fresher/milder the cheese the more moisture it has changing the texture. Fresh, mild cheeses are very popular here. Almost all of our stores have several local companies who deliver cheese daily after it's made in the morning. If you go to the second cheese area that is normally found somewhere around the deli/fish/vegetable sections then you will be able to find more expensive but much better cheeses. They usually have a much bigger variety and better quality, from small local cheese factories to international imports. Give the specialty area a try and I'm sure you may find something more to your liking. I usually skip the ones in the dairy fridges unless I'm using it to bake with. If it's something for us to simply eat and enjoy I make sure to buy good stuff.

Also, try shopping at a small fruit and vegetable stores or specialty shops. Most of them have sections with meats, dairy, cheeses, etc. with a greater variety, better quality of whatever your looking for. They are also more likely to order something specific for you and even imported to get that taste of home you seem to be missing. If you are looking for quality instead of simply the price I'd really avoid the big chain stores.

And, I know you said Costco is not convenient for you to shop at but they do have wonderful selections of cheese. I think you can shop there as a guest but pay an extra percentage on your bill? I'm not sure but you could give them a call. If you could return with a taxi on stock up on items you want it would likely be worth your effort and extra bit of expense. They also fully guarantee everything you buy and there is no time limits of when you can return items. So if you buy something, don't like the taste or quality you can simply freeze it and return it on your next trip, even if it's 3 months in the future.