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Healthy Eating Help for Your 2016 Resolutions

Healthy Eating Help for Your 2016 Resolutions | Rochester MN Moms Blog

{We’ve partnered with Hy-Vee to provide you with a review of their services. Rochester MN Moms Blog partners with brands and organization we know our readers will enjoy, so we are thrilled to let you know about this great service.}

I’m a frequent flier at Hy-Vee and often notice the signs touting their dietitian-led services. I’m usually in a hurry while shopping (or I’m distracted by my kids,) so I’ve never availed myself of those services until last week.  For the first time, I used their free grocery shopping service that allows you to get personalized guidance from a registered dietitian. And now I wonder, why did I wait so long? And, can I do it again? And, did I mention it was free? Here’s the skinny on the service and some thoughts on why you might want to consider signing up.

I visited the Hy-Vee on 37th Street to meet and shop with Amanda Moder, RD, LD, the store’s dietitian and a veritable treasure trove of knowledge on all things food. Think: fast and easy ways to serve kiwi, a healthy alfredo recipe, thoughts on sustainable agriculture and insider tips on food companies that are doing their part to make the world a better place. Yes, we covered that and more during the hour or so we spent together.

Amanda Moder, Hy-Vee dietitian

Now, on the surface, shopping with a dietitian may seem intimidating to some. And, frankly, it probably sounds boring to others. But rest assured, it was neither of those things. Amanda was engaging, interesting, non-judgmental and, as I mentioned, filled with helpful and interesting tidbits in every section of the store. The gist behind the service is quite simple: Make an appointment and Amanda (or the store dietitian at one of the other Hy-Vees, either here in Rochester, Minn. or elsewhere) will shop with you, answering your questions, sharing nutritional insights and helping fill your cart with food choices that meet your personal needs. According to Amanda, the service is particularly beneficial for people that are:

  • Looking to improve their eating habits (or their family’s eating habits).
  • Interested in the latest food trends and product choices.
  • Working to lose weight.
  • Working to cope with food allergies or intolerances.
  • Dealing with a new diagnosis for which healthy eating can make a difference, like diabetes or high cholesterol.

I went alone (blissful!), but think it could be valuable to have a spouse or older children along to get their questions answered as well. I only had a short-list of necessities I really needed for this trip (and I forgot the dish soap); in addition to grabbing those items I was hoping to snag a few new items to try and get the answers to a few questions:

  • Best produce to buy in the winter. (Citrus, kiwi, fresh cranberries, greens)
  • Her take on a product I recently found (which my kids really like): Birds Eye Steamfresh Protein Blends. (Decent enough for a quick addition to a meal, but a little high in sodium.)
  • What is Kefir? (A fermented milk product that’s rich in probiotics.)

Look for the _My Pick_ signs -- they're basically a seal of approval from the store dietitian!While we shopped, Amanda pointed out the in-store signage that highlights her healthy picks (she personally tries each item she recommends before giving it a “My Pick” label), showed me several end-caps with different themes (including one featuring products made by companies with humanitarian initiatives), noted the “Responsible Choice” signs on the fresh seafood (indicating which items were gathered with minimal environmental impact) and highlighted the items that were sourced locally (a key focus area for Hy-Vee).

I ultimately left with most of the items on my short list, a handful of new products to try, and a bunch of great ideas based on my conversations with Amanda. Unfortunately I did forget the dish soap, but that misstep pales in comparison to the good that I gained during my store tour. It gave me a fresh look at grocery shopping and introduced me to some new products I likely wouldn’t have otherwise noticed. And, it whet my appetite (food pun intended) — I hope to do a repeat tour when I have a more robust grocery list in early January; it’ll be a nice way to kick off the new year!

Other Dietitian Services Available at Hy-Vee

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