What is the difference between a protein and a carbohydrate? Is checking the serving size important when reading a food label? Why is fiber a key part of a healthy, balanced diet? With the help of Inserra Supermarkets’ “Future Shoppers” program, 400+ elementary school students, including 120 third graders at the Wallace School in Hoboken, can more fully answer these nutrition-related questions as well as many others. Throughout the school year, Elisabeth Holtzer, R.D., ShopRite of Hoboken’s registered dietitian, visited Wallace’s third-grade classrooms to teach the students about nutritious eating, meal planning, healthy food shopping on a budget and more. In May, the “Future Shoppers” program culminated with a celebratory trip to ShopRite of Hoboken, where students had the opportunity to put their knowledge to work and have fun in the process.
During their store visit, groups of four to five students were allotted “$50” to spend on a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner for a family of four. The group worked together – with the help of teachers, parent volunteers and Inserra Supermarkets’ registered dietitians - to plan out the meals, navigate the food store, practice label reading and pick out healthy food items. At check out, the students discussed their menus with registered dietitians.
“I am always impressed by the students as they walk through the aisles having enthusiastic discussions about their menus and nutritious food choices,” said Jenna Werner, R.D., manager of corporate retail health and wellness at Inserra Supermarkets.
While at ShopRite of Hoboken, the Wallace School students also visited five tables manned by Inserra dietitians throughout the store, including ones in produce, dairy, meat and near the cereal aisle. At each table, the students played nutrition games with the dietitians. In addition, students enjoyed a make-your-own yogurt parfait table with blueberries, strawberries and whole grain Cheerios to top it off.
“Each student completing the program gets a ‘membership card,’ entitling the child to one free healthy item in the store every month,” added Lindsey Inserra, vice president of marketing and corporate retail health and wellness of Inserra Supermarkets. “Our goal is to keep inspiring the children to focus on healthy eating.”
Inserra Supermarkets Expands “Future Shoppers” Program
Last year, the family-owned ShopRite chain began its new “Future Shoppers” program, which focuses on nutrition, at elementary schools in Hoboken, Jersey City and Lodi. For the 2016-2017 school year, Inserra Supermarkets expanded the effort to include elementary schools in Lyndhurst and Wallington as well.
“This is a fabulous program by Inserra Supermarkets for our third grade students,” said Frank Mazzone, who has taught at the Wallace School for decades. “Because of ‘Future Shoppers,’ our students have gained an increased awareness of the importance of eating nutritious foods that they will carry with them throughout their lives.”
A number of Inserra Supermarkets’ vendors supported the “Future Shoppers” program, donating a variety of healthy food and additional items for the store visit and celebration. Vendors included Black Bear, which donated Forest Fresh deli meats for the nutritious student lunches and bags; Vermont Bread; General Mills, which donated Whole-Grain Cheerios; Stemilt Apples; Lesser Evil Popcorn; and Way Better Snacks Sweet Potato Chips.
Along with Hoboken’s Wallace School, schools participating in the “Future Shoppers” program included the Washington School in Lodi, P.S. 23 in Jersey City, the Roosevelt School in Lyndhurst and Gavlak and Jefferson Elementary Schools in Wallington. Inserra Supermarkets is widely acknowledged as a good corporate citizen committed to improving the lives of local residents and those in need. In addition to the ShopRites of Hoboken, Jersey City, Lodi, Lyndhurst and Wallington, Inserra ShopRite locations in New Jersey include Bayonne, Columbia Park, Emerson, Fair Lawn, Hackensack, Hillsdale, New Milford, Northvale, Ramsey, Palisades Park, Wayne and West Milford. In New York, locations include Garnerville, New City, Stony Point, Tallman, and West Nyack.