Erewhon might be the ultimate wellness playground—but even as a dietitian, I can admit it’s both inspiring and impossible.
I just got back from a weekend in LA, and naturally, I made a pilgrimage to Erewhon. You know, the Whole Foods of Whole Foods. I walked in planning to grab one smoothie and left with $60 worth of adaptogens, “glow” shots, and a bag of grain-free granola I (or my wallet) definitely didn’t need.
As a dietitian, I find Erewhon fascinating. It’s basically wellness culture distilled into a grocery store. Its produce that looks like it was displayed by a Hollywood food stylist, theres plenty of ingredients you can’t pronounce, and the smoothie bar is akin to a luxury spa. But beneath the perfect lighting and collagen-infused everything, there’s a real mix of good science and good marketing. So let’s talk about what Erewhon gets right—and what it gets a little too right.
What Erewhon Gets Right
There’s no denying that Erewhon sets the bar high when it comes to ingredient quality. I mean, if its good enough for Hailey Bieber, its good enough for me, baybeee. But really, many of their signature items—like the famous Coconut Cloud Blue Smoothie—are built around nutrient-dense staples that genuinely do support health:
- Fiber-rich bases: Smoothies that start with greens, chia, or flax provide a solid foundation for blood-sugar balance and digestion.
- Antioxidant-packed add-ins: Ingredients like spirulina, blueberries, and matcha can support cell health and reduce oxidative stress.
- Healthy fats: Nut butters, coconut milk, and MCT oil provide satiating fats that help with hormone regulation and energy stability.
In a world where convenience foods often lack nutrition, Erewhon celebrates nutrient density and creativity. It reminds people that healthy eating can feel convenient and tasty—and that’s something I can absolutely get behind.
What It Gets Too Right
We all know where this is going…when wellness becomes a luxury experience, it stops being wellness for most people. That $30 smoothie, those adaptogenic elixirs, the superfood-infused lattes…these things can and do unintentionally (or maybe intentionally) send the message that health is only for those who can afford it.
There’s also some a psychological at play here. The “clean” aesthetic and flawless branding can #trigger what I call “wellness perfectionism.” That anxious feeling that you’re never doing enough for your health unless your groceries come with a side of influencer approval.
Nutrition doesn’t have to look like that. You don’t need a celebrity smoothie to nourish your body. You need consistency, variety, and a realistic approach that fits your actual life, not just an aesthetic ~vibe~.
What to Steal from Erewhon (Without Going Broke)
You can take the idea of Erewhon home with you, minus the $60 price tag. Here’s how:
- Start with color. Build your meals around vibrant + colorful fruits, veggies, and grains. Go for the “Erewhon look” by using natural vibrancy from ingredients that are accessible, not exotic.
- Add functional foods, but keep it simple. Chia seeds, berries, Greek yogurt, nuts, and spices like turmeric or cinnamon offer the same anti-inflammatory and gut-supporting benefits as the pricy powders (and tbh they’re basically the same thing).
- Prioritize how food makes you feel, not how it looks. True wellness isn’t aesthetic. True wellness is feeling energized, having regular bowel movements, feeling like you can live in the moment, and actually enjoy the life you’re living.
Wellness Playground Final Thoughts
Erewhon is both an inspiration and a mirror (deep, I know). But really, it reflects the extremes of wellness culture, from hopping to see Kaia Gerber in Alo leggings to buying a $15 bottle of water because its “ionized“. As a dietitian, I love that it gets people excited about food. But I also want you to remember: health doesn’t need to be curated, branded, or aesthetic to count.
You don’t need a $30 smoothie to be well-fed. You just need the basics done consistently, and maybe a little reminder that wellness can be both beautiful and attainable.
Join 22K+ women learning how to eat well without overthinking it.
On Instagram, I share daily women’s-health tips, grocery breakdowns, and realistic wellness advice.
→ Follow @clairerifkinnutrition
