Even before the pandemic made grocery shopping something to look forward to, I already loved doing  it. While others find it a chore, I’ve always found stocking up on pantry supplies and toiletries, buying  ingredients to cook new dishes with, and discovering novel products exciting ways to spend my  time. 

But because I enjoy seeing and touching products on the shelves too much – especially those that remind you of good times – I tend to grab things I shouldn’t and put them in my cart. These are  usually my childhood sweets and snacks. Every bite just floods you with memories of after-school TV  time and summer vacations. 

Unfortunately, I don’t have the robust health of a grade schooler anymore. I know that I need to be more careful of my body. That’s why grocery shopping has become more challenging for  me. I need to muster the courage to resist my comfort foods. When I found out about Real Food  though, I knew that it was a game changer. 

I was introduced to Real Food when I started looking for vegan options. Most vegan products weren’t easily accessible at the time. They were only available in specialty grocery stores that were located  far from where I lived and worked so I could only have them delivered via a courier. When I looked  up some of my favorite vegan brands, I learned that they were available in this health grocer called  Real Food which had branches in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and Molito Lifestyle Center in  Muntinlupa. They’re also opening a third branch soon at Rockwell. 

So whenever I found myself in BGC or Molito, I would go to Real Food to buy my supplies like nut  butters, superfoods like chia seeds, veggie meat, and vegan snacks and sweets. It really is a health  buff’s heaven here on earth. Everywhere you look, you would only find organic and natural products  made with pure and healthy ingredients. You don’t have to worry about what you – or if you’re a  parent, your kid – would pick up. 

That’s exactly how Real Food’s founders, mothers Bea Lhuillier, Honey Almendral, Nicole Fandino,  Katrina Mañosa envisioned their grocery to be – a haven for the health conscious.

All photos courtesy of Real Food Grocery

A worry-free grocery 

“Real Food is definitely a passion project. We wanted to shop at a place where we didn’t have to play detective, examining products for hidden, harmful ingredients, a place where we could bring our kids  and allow them to get anything they wanted,” said Fandino. 

What makes Real Food different from existing health grocers is that they strive to carry local products by small businesses that are usually known only to a few and gather them all in one place. This is not  just to make it easier for customers to shop for healthy items but to help local entrepreneurs and  farmers, too. 

And indeed, this small grocery is packed with everything you could think of: organic fruits and  vegetables, grass-fed beef, natural pork, organic-pastured chickens and eggs, wild-caught seafood, a  large selection of frozen vegan food, frozen berries and smoothie packs, healthy ice cream, green  juices, kombucha, clean sparkling drinks, milk, yogurt, nut milks, coconut yogurt, baked breads and  desserts made without refined sugar, gluten-free and keto-friendly choices, pantry staples, grains,  cereals, baking needs, superfood powders, nuts, seeds, chocolate, pasta, healthy snacks, books on  healthy eating and growing your own food, potted herbs and grow your own micro herb kits. 

Real Food is serious about conscious living on all fronts – and that includes the environment. They  have bulk bins so customers can purchase items without single-use packaging. Customers can also  return glass bottles in exchange for deposits, and they’re rewarded for bringing their own reusable  bags. Even with home cleaning materials, they only carry environment-friendly, toxic-free ones. 

Surviving a pandemic as a small grocery 

Just like any other business, Real Food was also affected by the pandemic. But it didn’t take long for  them to evolve their business. They set up a website so people could still shop for healthy grocery  items from the safety of their homes. Real Food’s market even grew bigger. They’ve acquired and  kept customers that only got to know them during the pandemic. Now they’re delivering nationwide,  too. 

“It was a true test to stay open during the pandemic. We really wanted to keep our team employed  and keep serving the community,” said Almendral. “We were able to overcome the many obstacles  (How to keep our staff safe? How to get them to work when there was no public transportation? How  to help our suppliers get our products to the stores, etc.) because our entire team really came  together with a can-do attitude.”

Real Food owners are aware that the pandemic is not the only a challenge that local businesses face,  that’s why they value all the support that they get – pandemic or not. 

“Small, local businesses are the backbone of a healthy community. We keep people employed, we  serve our neighborhood’s needs, and on a larger scale we support many, many micro enterprises,”  said Fandino. 

“I love that saying that when you buy something from a local business, someone does a happy dance. That’s me! When you support companies like Real Food, you indirectly support the farmers, social  enterprises, and local suppliers as well, so in essence, a much bigger network of people stay afloat  because of the purchases you’ve made.” 

So, if you’ve been trying to live a healthier lifestyle but are finding it hard to let go of your snacks and sweets, check out what Real Food has to offer. With their range of products, you would definitely find  your new favorites without worrying about what you’re putting in your body. You’ll be able to help  keep people’s livelihoods intact, too. 

Now, with your BDO-issued American Express Cards, you can help local, homegrown businesses such  as Real Food bounce back. Shop at participating American Express Shop Small merchants and earn  5X Rewards until August 31, 2021. 

With over 1,000 merchant locations, ranging from retail shops, restaurants, and specialty stores.  Reward points earned can be used to redeem a reward of choice from a selection of gift certificates,  gadgets, appliance, air miles and more. 

When you shop small, you help not only businesses, but entire communities. Help sustain livelihoods  and support local. 

For more details, visit americanexpress.com.ph/shopsmall. – Rappler.com 

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article stated that the promo is until June 31, 2021. It has been edited to reflect the promo extension.