Local Vegetarian Store Gives Residents a Healthier Alternative

Link to Sunshine Foods Website: http://www.sunshineckls.com/

Sunshine Foods, a small store located in Third Ward Houston, Texas really sticks out amongst the neighboring fast food restaurants. It's a vegetarian store and eatery that provides a wide variety of vegan dishes, herbs, and other all natural products. The store is co-owned by a woman named Arga V. Bourgois, and she explained one day that it was her grandfather's vision to open a health food store in the community. "My grandmother asked me before she passed why people suffer before they die," say Bourgeis. She went on to say that her grandfather did research to find the answer to that question and found out that it had to do with the types of food people consumed. She said that poor dieting is common in the Black community and as a result can cause a chemical imbalance, leading to health problems. The constant consumtion of fried foods, red meat, and many soul food dishes all have a factor in why there are many issues in the African American community. She also said that many Black babies are given cows milk instead of their mother's milk, and the body does not process cows milk the same way as it would human milk; which can cause a chemical imbalance. She said that her grandfather changed his diet and started eating more fruits and vegetables, natural foods, and began takng herbal supplements which can cleanse the body of toxins. He lost weight and also noticed a difference in the way he felt, and as a result decided to open a store that sold nothing but all natural foods and products, and herbal supplements. The store's eatery sells a variety of vegetarian foods such as, meatless burgers, salads, fruit smoothies, bean pies, and much more. Some of the products the store has are, neutralizer gel, shea butter, natural soaps, natural deorant, and many herbal supplements sucha as CKLS (colon, kidney, liver, spleen). The residents of Third Ward; whether vegetarian, into natural foods, or simply just want to switch to a healthier diet, have a store and eatery where they go.