Weis Markets HealthyBites ®
Consumer Nutrition and Wellness Program

Paula Shipman and Cheryl Gamber, Weis Markets

Also at this year's Strengthening the Food Resource Safety Net Conference, Paula Shipman, R.D., L.D.N., and Cheryl Gamber, R.D., L.D.N., Weis nutritionists, led a workshop entitled "Eating Smart Starts in Your Cart: Using Grocery Store Tours as a Nutrition Education Tool." To continue this discussion, they have provided information on what they, as nutritionists, are doing at in grocery stores to educate consumers on nutrition.

Weis Markets HealthyBites ® Consumer Nutrition and Wellness Program educates consumers of all ages on how to make sensible food choices. Launched in 2003 and staffed by a team of three registered dietitians, the program operates in 155 stores in a five-state region. Consumers look to HealthyBites ® for accurate nutrition information, practical shopping tips and easy, healthful recipes through a variety of services:

Wellness News You Can Use: Published six times a year, HealthyBites ® Newsletter highlights research-based wellness news and provides simple meal solutions and recipes for busy families. The WeisKid’s Korner page teaches children about food and nutrition through fun activities, puzzles and games. The newsletter is available in stores and online.

Online Nutrition Info: Accurate nutrition information is just a click away in the HealthyBites ® section of the Weis website at www.weismarkets.com. Visitors to the site can submit their food and nutrition questions through our Ask Karen service. Other key components of the site include newsletter archives, Weis Kid’s Korner activities, reliable nutrition links, and more!

Eating Well for Less: HealthyBites ® promotes eating well for less by featuring selected foods on sale at specially-marked grocery displays in stores. Nutrition education messages highlight sale items in the Weis circular ad every other week.

Tips While Shopping: Weis Markets’ Corporate Dietitian, Karen Buch, RD, LDN, gives timely tips to consumers as they shop. These overhead nutrition messages aim to help shoppers make savvy choices for their family.

Store Tours: Groups participate in educational grocery store tours led by HealthyBites® dietitians exclusively or in tandem with local community dietitians. The tours feature a wide array of topics and offer a hands-on, multi-sensory approach to teaching participants how to shop wisely for nutritious foods.

Community Outreach: The HealthyBites ® dietitians participate in a variety of health fairs and community events to answer consumer nutrition questions and provide information about the HealthyBites ® program.

Projects Underway

The HealthyBites ® program continues to expand as rapidly as the consumers’ quest for reliable nutrition information.

For more information about HealthyBites ®, e-mail us at healthybites@weismarkets.com or go to www.weismarkets.com and click on the HealthyBites ® button.