Across America you can find more than thirty-five thousand health food stores. But just because something is available at the health food store doesn’t mean it’s better than what is in your regular grocery store.
Health food store DOs:
- Do take advantage of the dairy and nondairy selections to get plenty of calcium in your diet. You’ll find the usual milk and yogurt and cheeses that you’re used to from the usual grocery store, plus more exotic or unusual offerings like soy and rice-based dairy products and yogurt made from sheep’s or goat’s milk.
- Do investigate (and try) vegetarian meats — the high-protein, fiber-rich lunch meats, hot dogs, burgers, and more. They’re often free of saturated fats that can up your risk of heart disease. These days, you’ll find just about everything that can be made with meat is also available in a vegetarian version.
- Do shop for produce at the health food store. Often, you’ll find fruits and vegetables from local growers that are good for you and good for the earth (fewer carbon emissions as a result of shorter transport).
- Do check out classes. Your local health food store may offer nutrition seminars, healthy cooking demos, and more.
Health food store DON’Ts:
- Don’t be fooled by “natural sugars” on the label. Natural sugars like turbinado and sucanat can be just as high in calories as products with refined sugars!
- Don’t be fooled by unfamiliar fats. For example, ghee (clarified butter) has just as much saturated fat as regular butter does. Keep an eye on fat content in cheeses and ice creams and other treats, just like you would at the regular food store.
- Don’t assume a health food store clerk is trained in nutritional science. The clerk may not know any more than you do!
- Don’t go overboard with supplements. Health food stores tend to have big supplement departments — as much as fifteen percent of the total store. Try not to spend more on supplements than you do on actual food.