Dietary Stress to Diets that Impress?

Ever felt confused or overwhelmed in the supermarket? Ever been indecisive when trying to choose the healthiest option? Ever been tempted by delicious-looking cookies or chips? What would happen if you had someone to guide you, to set you on the right path? Would grocery shopping be easier? Would you save money? Would you eat healthier foods?

Multiple supermarkets, including ShopRites and Giants, in the Philadelphia area are beginning to staff on-the-floor dietitians. This is a unique measure, but many health professionals think that this is a great step forward on the preventive side of dieting. Mary Ann Moylan, who works as a dietitian in the Willow Grove Giant, believes that the most important choices are made in the grocery store, so for any dietitian, this is a very exciting opportunity. These dietitians get referrals from hospitals, rehab units, from gyms, physical therapists, etc. However, they also help regular customers on a walk-in basis.

Supermarket dietitians are there to help people with labels and diet plans, while also holding one-on-one consultations. These private sessions cost the customer twenty dollars, but in return they receive a twenty-dollar gift card to the supermarket. The dietitians then perform nutrition assessments, individualize meal plans (for one or for a family), and then go out into the store to shop. The dietitians try to integrate healthy and affordable foods into the customer’s diet, while also giving advice on daily activity and exercise.

There are also programs by dietitians that come at no cost to the customer (because let’s face it, people have to spend enough money at the grocery store). Dietitians feature healthy recipes in the store’s paper, have healthy snack samplings throughout the store, engage customers with incentive weight-loss challenges, and have question and answer sessions. For example, the ShopRite in Olney with on-staff dietitian, Amber Badeau, is known for actively answering on-site questions from customers.

Many consider supermarket dietitians a preventive health measure, but is it a sustainable practice if the food system does not change? Will this trend spread to more supermarkets in more urban areas of Philadelphia (where it is statistically more needed)? What do you think about employing more dietitians at supermarkets? Would you utilize them? Would it help you or alter your purchasing practices?

http://articles.philly.com/2013-07-19/news/40659311_1_food-allergies-cheese-smart-food-choices

http://www.foodfitphilly.org/get-healthy-philly/

http://www.philly.com/philly/gallery/20130718_Ask_the_grocery_dietitian.html?viewGallery=y

Written by Stacey Terlik