Written by: Elizabeth Hall, PhD, RDN, LDN, Food City Registered Dietitian

Many of us are looking to make positive health changes and one way to do that is to take a closer look at the foods we eat! A healthful eating pattern is one that is balanced in all the nutrients your body needs and includes nourishing foods that you enjoy. But sometimes it is difficult to know which foods would best support your heath, especially with the abundance of nutrition information available about food. 

Well, now shopping for your health is easy with the new Dietitian’s Pick shelf-tag program in Food City stores. 

First of all, some of you may be wondering, what is a dietitian anyway? A dietitian is a health professional who is a food and nutrition expert. They have extended education and specialized training and can teach you how to promote your health, and prevent or treat disease through food. So, you can trust for a dietitian for expert nutrition advice.

Now that we know what a dietitian is, what does the Dietitian’s Pick shelf-tag mean? Foods that have the Dietitian’s Pick shelf-tag meet certain nutrient criteria, developed the Food City Registered Dietitian and Healthy Initiatives team.

These foods meet specific standards as regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which is a government organization that makes sure our food is not only safe, but that the health messages used to promote foods or those found on food packaging are standardized and remain transparent for customers. 

Items in Food City stores that receive the Dietitian’s Pick shelf-tag meet the FDA’s criteria for a “healthy” food, meaning the nutrients in these foods support health and help to prevent nutrition-related disease. Foods that have the Dietitian’s Pick shelf-tag contain less: Sodium,  Total fat, Saturated fat, Cholesterol, Added sugar 

Plus, these foods contain more:  Vitamins, Minerals, Nutrients (such as protein and fiber), Whole grains

So, take a walk through the Food City aisles and look for the Dietitian’s Pick shelf-tag on your favorite foods for nutritious options that can help you get one step closer to achieving your health goals.