WESTFIELD-Stop & Shop recently launched a unique program, Nutrition Partners, to give customers a direct line to discuss food and nutrition questions with registered dietitians.
“We know that people are spending much more time at home right now,” said Allison Delaney, MS, RD, adding, “which means they are likely cooking or preparing more meals on their own.”
Allison Delaney, MS, RD, developed and is overseeing Stop & Shop’s new Nutrition Partners program. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Delaney, who developed Nutrition Partners and oversees the program, noted that cooking and preparing meals can be “very intimidating” and people might not know where to start.
“We are currently offering many complementary services to Stop & Shop customers and the communities we serve,” said Delaney.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stop & Shop Nutrition Partners program is fully virtual, and all information including images, recipes and videos can be found at stopandshop.com/nutrition.
Free services range from online educational webinars, one-on-one consultations, and healthy cooking videos, to educational resources on food allergies, healthy shopping lists, living gluten-free, and an “Ask the Expert” address to email food and nutrition questions and concerns, according to Delaney.
“Through our program and services, customers can learn basics to maintaining a healthy diet and learn about navigating the grocery aisles to shop for better products that are affordable and easy to use,” said Delaney.
Two online webinars already posted are titled “Meal Planning 101” and “Healthy Eating on a Budget.”
“Both of the webinars review easy tips and tricks to implement at home that make meal planning, cooking and healthy eating manageable for everyone,” said Delaney. “Our dietitians will provide many suggestions for staying organized, review basic cooking skills, and provide suggestions for meals and snacks to keep you on track.”
Another free service is a one-on-one consultation to discuss food and nutrition goals with a dietitian. Topics can include weight loss, healthy meal planning, and preparing meals on a budget.
Brittany Moriarty, RD, is also an integral part of Nutrition Partners, with cooking demonstrations titled “Wellness Wednesdays” using five ingredients. Currently, there are three videos posted for “Energy Bites,” “Turkey Burgers,” and “Nice Cream,” a twist on ice cream made with fruit.
For area residents who have a question for the Nutrition Partners team, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.stopandshop.com/nutrition.
“It could be as simple as asking for some quick recipes with pantry staples like oats or canned beans, or ways to incorporate vegetables into your picky kid’s diet,” said Delaney. “We are here to help and our goal is to make healthy eating easy for everyone.”
Gordon Reid, president, Stop & Shop, echoed those sentiments.
“Supporting health and wellness in our communities is incredibly important to us, and we’re so proud to be able to offer this valuable service to our customers at no cost,” said Reid in a statement. “We’re excited to launch Nutrition Partners online at a time when so many of our customers are spending more time at home and cooking more of their own meals. We look forward to launching the program in stores as well, once it is safe to do so.”
