During my wellness concentration, I was fortunate enough to spend time with an in-store retail dietitian at ShopRite. ShopRite is one of few supermarket chains in the U.S. that has invested in having registered dietitians present in the stores. These RDs have many responsibilities including free individualized nutrition counseling sessions, food demos and samplings, supermarket tours, community events and presentations for all ages, and of course being the health and wellness expert! Retail dietitians are a valuable resource to shoppers in the community because they are the ones who can disseminate valuable and credible nutrition information.
An amazing feature of the ShopRite dietitian program is that all of their nutrition services are free for shoppers. Nutrition counseling sessions, which in a private-practice can be upwards of $200 a session, are free for everyone. I was able to participate in a free cholesterol and blood glucose screening that attracted over 75 people. By collaborating with a registered nurse who took and read the screening, the dietitian and I were able to talk with shoppers who had questions about lowering their blood sugar. Additionally, food demos and samplings are a great way to introduce a specific product, like kombucha or zoodles, into shoppers’ diets. Clients are always looking for new cooking techniques, products, and recipes, and the in-store dietitian is a great resource for this.
Customers learn to trust and value the RD and it is very evident. While in between clients, multiple customers came into the dietitian’s office to let her know how pleased they are with their current health conditions, different products that they are trying, and simply just to say hi and check in. I believe that all supermarket chains should look to include dietitians in their stores because their knowledge is immense and fact-based and they can help to simplify the overwhelming feeling that some experience when going food shopping. Retail dietitians are an amazing asset for the store and the community!
An amazing feature of the ShopRite dietitian program is that all of their nutrition services are free for shoppers. Nutrition counseling sessions, which in a private-practice can be upwards of $200 a session, are free for everyone. I was able to participate in a free cholesterol and blood glucose screening that attracted over 75 people. By collaborating with a registered nurse who took and read the screening, the dietitian and I were able to talk with shoppers who had questions about lowering their blood sugar. Additionally, food demos and samplings are a great way to introduce a specific product, like kombucha or zoodles, into shoppers’ diets. Clients are always looking for new cooking techniques, products, and recipes, and the in-store dietitian is a great resource for this.
Customers learn to trust and value the RD and it is very evident. While in between clients, multiple customers came into the dietitian’s office to let her know how pleased they are with their current health conditions, different products that they are trying, and simply just to say hi and check in. I believe that all supermarket chains should look to include dietitians in their stores because their knowledge is immense and fact-based and they can help to simplify the overwhelming feeling that some experience when going food shopping. Retail dietitians are an amazing asset for the store and the community!
