Hannaford Supermarkets Registered Dietitian Minna Scholten (left) speaks with “daisy” scouts from Northborough Girl Scout Troop 64393 about the importance of a healthy lifestyle during a nutrition class at the Hannaford store at 193 Boston Post Road West in Marlborough, MA.
Marlborough, MA – Members of a local girl scout troop recently learned about the significance of a well-balanced diet and lifestyle by participating in the Hannaford Healthy Shopper Patch program at the Hannaford store in Marlborough, MA.
Members of the Northborough Girl Scout Troop 64393, which is comprised of “daisy” scouts in kindergarten and first grade, received the special Hannaford Healthy Shopper Patch after taking part in an interactive and fun behind-the-scenes tour led by a Hannaford registered dietitian.
In addition to learning about the importance of a healthy diet, the program teaches children about where food comes from and why Hannaford works with local farms; how to achieve a well-balanced meal by eating a variety of foods; and tips on making healthy choices while grocery shopping, including using the Hannaford Guiding Stars navigation system.
“At Hannaford, we believe in making it as convenient as possible for families to access fresh and affordable food. The Hannaford Healthy Shopper Patch program provides children with the skills necessary to adopt healthy lifestyles in a fun and engaging setting,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Healthy Living Manager Sue Till. “The program has awarded more than 1,000 badges since its inception and we look forward to educating thousands of more children in the years to come.”
During the program, Hannaford Supermarkets Registered Dietitian Minna Scholten led the girl scouts in a variety of engaging activities, including how to make a nutritious snack using fresh and accessible ingredients.
“Exploring the world of food with children – giving them opportunities to taste, ask questions, and share their experiences – sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating. The Hannaford Healthy Shopper Patch program is a fun and exciting supermarket adventure,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Registered Dietitian Minna Scholten. “It’s wonderful that so many children have learned about the variety of nourishing and fun foods available in our stores. I hope the Northborough girl scouts enjoyed the program, which is designed to help them become confident eaters and see how food is an important part of building and sustaining communities.”
The Hannaford Healthy Shopper Patch program was first introduced in stores with dietitians in fall 2018 and is organized in partnership with Cabot Creamery Co-operative. The program awarded its milestone 1000th badge during a similar event with a girl scout troop in Albany, NY in January 2020.
“We are so excited to celebrate the 1000th Healthy Shopper Patch milestone with our partners at Hannaford. We collaborated with Hannaford on this program to teach youth about the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle and how their local Hannaford dietitians can help them. We know that the more young people who complete this program, the healthier our local communities will be. We love supporting the work that the Hannaford team does, since many of those local communities are where our farm families live and make our Cabot cheese and dairy products,” said Cabot Creamery Co-operative Director of Community and Wellness and Registered Dietitian Sara Wing.
To set up a Hannaford Healthy Shopper Patch tour or for more information about the registered dietician program and other free classes and seminars available at Hannaford Supermarkets, visit Hannaford.com/health-wellness/dietitians.
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About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 182 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 26,000 associates. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.