FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It is New Year’s resolution time and all of us are trying to develop new habits that will lead to a healthy weight and lifestyle. Families who join together to reach their lifestyle goals typically have more success getting there and they have fun, too.
Lowes Foods’ Be A Smart Shopper program has been helping families live healthier lives for 13 years. The program educates children ages 4 to 12 about good nutrition and leading a healthy lifestyle. Going through the departments of their local Lowes Foods store, children learn about making healthy food and beverage choices, while sampling some of them along the way.
Last year, 25,000 children participated in the Be A Smart Shopper program and in 2005, it was awarded the North Carolina 5-A-Day State Excellence Award. The Award recognizes organizations that promote a diet rich in fruits in vegetables, including five or more daily servings of produce to achieve or maintain good health.
During this year’s tour, students are focusing on the theme “Smart Shopping for a Healthy Heart,” which encourages them to choose a variety of natural foods that are lower in animal fat and higher in fiber. By doing so, they will get important nutrients for energy and growth, rather than too much salt, sugar, saturated fats, artificial colors and flavors that tend to be found in highly processed foods.
Children also learn the importance of eating colorful fruits and vegetables each day, starting the day with a healthy breakfast, estimating appropriate portion sizes, choosing whole grains and healthy fats, and planning meals using the Kids’ Food and Activity Pyramid from USDA. Healthy lifestyle behaviors such as drinking plenty of water and enjoying fun exercise every day are also taught during the tour. Many children who’ve participated have taken what they learned and shared it with their families.
“Our community program teaches nutrition and healthy lifestyle behaviors to children who are forming very important habits for their lives. We are proud to be part of the solution to the childhood obesity problem,” said Lowes Foods’ Nutritionist Cindy Silver, MS, RD, LDN.
Those interested in scheduling a class or group for a tour may do so online at www.lowesfoods.beasmartshopper.com or by calling 1-800-987-6409. The program is free to all children’s groups ranging in age from 4 to 12, including public, private and home-school classes, afterschool groups and clubs.
Program partners for Lowes Foods’ Be A Smart Shopper program include Kellogg’s, Yoplait, MilkCo, Snyder’s of Hanover, Berio, Nestle Water, Birds Eye Foods, Arnold Bread, the Chilean Avocado Association, Leafy Greens Council, National Watermelon Board, North Carolina Association of Educators, American Heart Association, and Produce for Better Health Foundation.
Founded in 1954, Lowes Foods employs 8500 people and operates 112 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The company is committed to offering fabulous fresh foods and delivering personal attention to each of its customers. They offer programs such as Lowes Foods To Go and Fresh Rewards that focus on saving people time and money in a family-oriented environment. Information about these programs and other services offered by the company may be found at:
http://www.lowesfoods.com/
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Contact:
Cindy Silver, MS, RD, LDN
Lowe’s Food Stores, Inc.
(336) 775-3097
Cindy.silver@lowesfoods.com
©2010 Lowe's Food Stores, Inc. All rights reserved.