Aloha everyone, I decided to write a little something for those out there who may be new to health food. Maybe you’ve never even set foot inside a health food store before. Sometimes the unknown can be quite intimidating but fear not, readers, I will attempt to quell your fears here in a few short paragraphs, and who knows, your local health food store may become your new favorite place to shop.
Yes, as I have said, the unknown can be a bit intimidating. I remember way back when I had never set foot inside a health food store. I would drive by it and hear about the foods that were offered there, but I just couldn’t bring myself to take that turn off the highway and go check it out for myself. I was just more comfortable shopping at the familiar grocery chains where my mom had shopped with me when I was young. But as fate would have it, my curiosity got the better of me — thank God.
On a whim, I pulled into the unfamiliar lot behind the Staff of Life natural food store in Santa Cruz, Calif., found a parking space and made my way inside the new and strange “hippie-food” haven. The people who worked there were not at all like the uniformed workers I was used to. These young people were clad is whatever interesting dress, tattoos and facial jewelry they saw fit. They were like a tribe, I thought, as I glanced around, a little uneasy, but very intrigued.
I myself was a bit of a social misfit at that time, usually roaming around on my skateboard with a big Canon camera in tow. I was used to getting stares for my baggy, thrift-store clothes and short, spiky hair. But no one in this store batted an eye as I strolled in to have a look. It was actually nice to be left alone and not glared at like I was going to rob the place. A young man with several lip rings and dyed-black hair came up after a while and asked if I needed any help; I refused and proceeded to scan the shelves.
As I browsed, I didn’t recognize any of the familiar brands I was used to. Everything was strange and exciting. There were all kinds of new products I had never seen before, from super foods to supplements to earth-friendly laundry detergents and skin care products—they had it all. I began to read the labels, something I wasn’t yet accustomed to doing, and found that I could actually pronounce the ingredients listed on the backs of products’ labels. As I put several new items in my basket, I wondered about the ingredients in the foods I was so used to eating, and I told myself that I would start reading the labels on everything and perhaps even do a little research on those strange, unpronounceable ingredients.
I was introduced to the “bulk foods” section for the first time, where I could buy grains, nuts, dried fruits, herbs and spices and be free to decide how much of each I wanted. The produce section was a colorful array of locally grown fruits and vegetables that were in season and smelled delicious. I loaded up on sweet cherry tomatoes, vibrant salad greens and some ripe peaches—all organic and clean of chemical pesticides. I had already decided that this was my new favorite place to shop, and I couldn’t wait to get home and try all of my new edible treasures.
In the checkout lane, no plastic bags were offered, but customers were encouraged to buy a reusable bag or take one of the store’s used cardboard boxes. “Wow,” I thought, “that makes sense!” I was getting really tired of all those plastic bags piling up in my cupboard at home, so I purchased a reusable bag for $1.99. I have brought my own bags to shop with ever since.
It has been a long while since that first experience at The Staff of Life natural food store, but the love and appreciation for health food stores and the service they provide their communities has stayed with me. It is all a part of a more conscious shopping experience.
Health-food stores make an extra effort to find out where their food comes from; they consider the ethical practices of the companies and farms from which they buy. More and more sustainable, organically-grown food is becoming available worldwide and it is a beautiful thing. By shopping for organic and locally grown products, we are supporting a better future for our economy, and more importantly, a better future for our planet.
I hope that by sharing my experience, I have in some way helped to make an unfamiliar shopping experience seem a little less intimidating, and that some of you health food store newbies will take that leap into the unknown, as I did, and have a look at some of the amazing organic products out there. Don’t be afraid to try something new — who knows, it may become your new favorite food.
Yes, as I have said, the unknown can be a bit intimidating. I remember way back when I had never set foot inside a health food store. I would drive by it and hear about the foods that were offered there, but I just couldn’t bring myself to take that turn off the highway and go check it out for myself. I was just more comfortable shopping at the familiar grocery chains where my mom had shopped with me when I was young. But as fate would have it, my curiosity got the better of me — thank God.
On a whim, I pulled into the unfamiliar lot behind the Staff of Life natural food store in Santa Cruz, Calif., found a parking space and made my way inside the new and strange “hippie-food” haven. The people who worked there were not at all like the uniformed workers I was used to. These young people were clad is whatever interesting dress, tattoos and facial jewelry they saw fit. They were like a tribe, I thought, as I glanced around, a little uneasy, but very intrigued.
I myself was a bit of a social misfit at that time, usually roaming around on my skateboard with a big Canon camera in tow. I was used to getting stares for my baggy, thrift-store clothes and short, spiky hair. But no one in this store batted an eye as I strolled in to have a look. It was actually nice to be left alone and not glared at like I was going to rob the place. A young man with several lip rings and dyed-black hair came up after a while and asked if I needed any help; I refused and proceeded to scan the shelves.
As I browsed, I didn’t recognize any of the familiar brands I was used to. Everything was strange and exciting. There were all kinds of new products I had never seen before, from super foods to supplements to earth-friendly laundry detergents and skin care products—they had it all. I began to read the labels, something I wasn’t yet accustomed to doing, and found that I could actually pronounce the ingredients listed on the backs of products’ labels. As I put several new items in my basket, I wondered about the ingredients in the foods I was so used to eating, and I told myself that I would start reading the labels on everything and perhaps even do a little research on those strange, unpronounceable ingredients.
I was introduced to the “bulk foods” section for the first time, where I could buy grains, nuts, dried fruits, herbs and spices and be free to decide how much of each I wanted. The produce section was a colorful array of locally grown fruits and vegetables that were in season and smelled delicious. I loaded up on sweet cherry tomatoes, vibrant salad greens and some ripe peaches—all organic and clean of chemical pesticides. I had already decided that this was my new favorite place to shop, and I couldn’t wait to get home and try all of my new edible treasures.
In the checkout lane, no plastic bags were offered, but customers were encouraged to buy a reusable bag or take one of the store’s used cardboard boxes. “Wow,” I thought, “that makes sense!” I was getting really tired of all those plastic bags piling up in my cupboard at home, so I purchased a reusable bag for $1.99. I have brought my own bags to shop with ever since.
It has been a long while since that first experience at The Staff of Life natural food store, but the love and appreciation for health food stores and the service they provide their communities has stayed with me. It is all a part of a more conscious shopping experience.
Health-food stores make an extra effort to find out where their food comes from; they consider the ethical practices of the companies and farms from which they buy. More and more sustainable, organically-grown food is becoming available worldwide and it is a beautiful thing. By shopping for organic and locally grown products, we are supporting a better future for our economy, and more importantly, a better future for our planet.
I hope that by sharing my experience, I have in some way helped to make an unfamiliar shopping experience seem a little less intimidating, and that some of you health food store newbies will take that leap into the unknown, as I did, and have a look at some of the amazing organic products out there. Don’t be afraid to try something new — who knows, it may become your new favorite food.
