• I visited a grocery store in the longevity Blue Zone of Loma Linda, California.
• The food there was more affordable than Whole Foods, and tasty too.
• A few favorite nutritious items were the coconut “chunks of energy” and the lentil soup.

In America, healthy eating often feels like a luxury item reserved for the rich.

Whole Foods is begrudgingly nicknamed “Whole Paycheck,” and in most neighborhoods it’s not practical to expect people to prioritize healthy food in their diets, because fresh produce is either more expensive than fast food, offered wilted or unripe, or simply unavailable.

But somehow, just 10 minutes down the road from the very first McDonald’s location — the virtual birthplace of American fast food — sits a small California town where eating healthy, natural foods is the default for residents. And it’s cheap. 

The Loma Linda Market is an unassuming, dimly lit concrete building with no flashy signs or freeway billboards touting its wares, but regulars here still know it’s a beacon for simple, delicious, nutrient-rich food. 

It is in the heart of Loma Linda,  the only “Blue Zone” in the US. Here, most people are Seventh-day Adventists, who are by and large vegetarian and health-conscious. They are all dedicated to staying fit and sharp into their old age, so they adhere to simple daily and weekly protocols. 

Diet is a huge part of their lifestyle. Stepping into their market, I could see how their infrastructure makes longevity so much more attainable.