Want Answers About Today's Health Food Store

Growing up in the 1970's most people had been used to weekly excursions to the grocery store, or bakery or butcher shop. They never heard of the terms "organic" or "free range". Health food stores were for people like the neighbors up the street who had been flower children back in the 60's. All that was known about health food was that is smelled funny and if you babysat for vegetarians there was rarely anything "good" to snack on. In the 80's more people had the opportunity to learn about health food stores. They learned about herbs and what organic food was; and they learned how to "juice" fresh fruits and vegetables. Many had the opportunity to try some of the foods their local store had to offer. In the last ten years, health food stores have grown considerably and are on par with most conventional grocery stores.

Wild Oats is a franchise in many cities and when you go into the store, you can tell right away that the basic Mom and Pop operation had changed. This particular chain began eighteen years ago in Boulder, Colorado and has expanded over the years to include more than 110 stores in 24 states and British Columbia. It is clear to see how this company became the standard for the organic market industry.

At first glance, their store looks like any other large grocery store, and you can probably find many of the same items that you would in a standard grocery store - but with one twist. Everything is organic. Usually when you hear the word organic, you might think two things; bland and expensive. However, with all the options and improvements in the way of organic foods are produced, there are many items that are very tasty, and the prices have become comparable to those of a conventional grocery store.

Many of the old staples that one would expect in a health food store are still there. The aisle with the candles and incense is hard to miss. You can easily get lost sniffing all the available combinations of aromatherapy scents available. And there are books, tapes and DVD's on yoga, meditation and New Age music. There are still aisles of herbal remedies and environmentally friendly household products, and the standard juice bar with (you guessed it) wheat grass juice.

Some additions are a pleasant surprise, though. There can be four different "deli" counters. There is usually a butcher counter with free-range chicken and beef and a plethora of fresh seafood. Another counter may display an array of amazing baked goods (bagels, cakes and pastries), and in many stores there is yet another section that caters full meals for a quick healthy lunch or a dinner party. The modern health food store also had a section for wine and beer, an astounding array of cheeses, and an extensive frozen foods section.

It is heartening to see how far the health food store has come. You can still find the small ones here and there; but generally, you will get the better prices in the larger franchises, since buying in bulk allows for more discounts on products, which in turn, can be passed on to the consumer.