Super Supermarket Tours

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Supermarkets, or grocery stores, are where the bulk of food is purchased by consumers in the United States. When it comes to supermarkets dietitians should view them not as an impossible place to find healthy foods, but as a learning opportunity for teaching consumers about healthy food options.

In response to the growing trend of healthy eating, many grocery stores are realizing there is a market to serve and are making a concerted effort to provide dietary-based education throughout supermarkets. This action speaks to a greater trend of increased interest in public health and healthy eating throughout the US. I believe that supermarket tours are a great way for dietitians to connect with a variety of consumers that may otherwise not be reached at all by nutrition information.

One of the most important aspects to remember is to keep the information accessible and understandable to a variety of audiences with a variety of educational levels. Dietitians in this situations may be dealing with college graduates who can afford anything in the grocery store or people who didn’t graduate high school and may be on food stamps. Finding the perfect medium between those two extremes is the key to successfully reaching an audience.

Considering your audience should also factor into the kind of presentation that you give. However, the overall importance of nutrition education should not be diminished with the overall goals remaining the same; inform consumers of nutritious options that are available in their local super markets. 

PB

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