“B-More Healthy” Changing How the Charm City Views Health

Apr 20, 20232 min read

BALTIMORE, MD - Family-owned nature store OK Natural Food Store has been providing the charm city with holistic grocery alternatives since 1978. Located in the heart of Mid-Town on West Preston Street. Shoppers say it is more than just healthy produce. It is a lifestyle, and you are healing your body in the process.

Credit: Benjamin Doyle via Google Reviews

OK Natural customer, Josiah Brady explains how the store provides him with different alternatives that may be hard to find elsewhere. “Normal stores like Whole Foods… sell generic or basic… things that’s very out in the mainstream but it’s not particularly always good quality all the time.”

Many shoppers say they enjoy the store for its health-conscious food and grocery options. OK Natural provides the community with an engaging environment. Raven Davis visits the store approximately twice a week. Davis says, “It’s like I’m going in my kitchen to get what I need. . . it’s a mom-and-pop shop so to speak.” The annual Baltimore Food Justice Forum equips Baltimore City residents with information needed to improve their health and affordable food in their neighborhoods. The forum also discusses the food injustice in Baltimore and community solutions.

The son of the owner, Sam Kipnes, expressed how his father’s inspiration for opening the store was because he saw “some serious transformations in his physical health [and] mental health” when eating holistically after experiencing health issues at 23 years old.

According to Kipnes, that is when his father birthed the idea of providing alternative health for his community. He did not foresee the longevity of his business endeavors; however, it serves as one of few holistic grocery stores in Baltimore.

There is evidence that shows counting calories is not enough. The quality of your diet is important. Many chronic illnesses are caused by nutritional excess or lack thereof. Many dietary and herbal methods assist in balancing overall nutritional well-being, according Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Many of the shoppers agree that the store associates are knowledgeable when they are giving suggestions for the specific needs of the customer. Frequent shopper, Nico says “[Holistic health] is something that you have to be patient with and put a lot of research and. . . time into.” Many of the shoppers agree that the store associates are knowledgeable when they are giving suggestions for the specific needs of the customer. Frequent shopper, Nico says “[Holistic health] is something that you have to be patient with and put a lot of research and. . . time into.”