health food

American  

noun

1. any natural food popularly believed to promote or sustain good health, as by containing vital nutrients, being grown without the use of pesticides, or having a low sodium or fat content.

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health food British  

noun

1. 1. vegetarian food organically grown and with no additives, eaten for its dietary value and benefit to health

   2. ( as modifier )

      a health-food shop

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Etymology

Origin of health food

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Cleaning houses, working in a candle shop, babysitting, unloading trucks in a food terminal and finally the kitchen of local health food grocery the Turnip Truck, music was always in the background.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Their activism faced a commercial test as the brand moved from health food aisles into the mainstream.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Beth Krietsch is a writer specializing in health, food, and wellness.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

For years they've been a familiar sight in the aisles of health food stores, but more recently they've been cropping up in high street coffee shops too.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

Bobby asked him to bring bottles of fresh-squeezed carrot juice from Yggdrasil; if the health food store didn’t have it available, Olafsson was to buy juice imported from Germany.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady