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Food and nutrition for kids is a hot topic, that is crucial for our kids to learn about, so they can develop good, life-long, eating habits. I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn when I say that most parents want their children to eat a variety of food that includes fruits, vegetables and protein sources, while limiting sugary snacks and carbohydrates like breads, crackers and traditional “junk food.”

I will admit, I do not buy foods that are exclusively organic, and as much as I would prefer to be a health food store fanatic, I can’t afford to buy groceries for my family there exclusively. So instead, I shop at my local supermarket, where I try my best to make informed decisions and good choices. But how do you know that the foods you are buying really are good choices in the long run?

I was recently invited to an event held by SUPERVALU, one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, to highlight their Nutrition IQ program. This event was held at a local Shaw’s/Star Market supermarket in the Boston Area and a few other mom blogger’s were invited, along with their children to learn about the program, have some healthy snacks and get some great tips from SUPERVALU dietician, Jen Shea.

While at this event, Jen provided the adults and kids with many taste-testing opportunities for different foods like spaghetti squash,pomegranate, cauliflower, jicama, etc. Being a feeding therapist who is quite familiar with working with picky eaters who hate vegetables, I LOVED the visual chart they had prepared for the kids. Using pictures, parents can encourage their kids to rate the foods they try based on “yum, okay, and yuck!” Though I would suggest possibly reducing the list to only a handful of choices, especially if it’s being used at a meal time, this is a great strategy to involve kids and give them a way to feel a sense of control over trying some of these new and different foods. Many of the kids I work with wouldn’t actually consume a lot of volume of new foods, some might even gag and vomit at the sight of them, so consider what your families definition of “trying” is? If you have a challenging picky eater, “trying it” might be just looking at it, licking it, kissing it, biting it, or chewing and spitting it into the trash. Parents, bookmark this resource, it’s fabulous idea.

The Nutrition IQ program is now available in over 800 SUPERVALU stores nationwide.  In conjunction with the Joslin Clinic in Boston, dietitians from SUPERVALU  have worked together to screen foods for lower levels of saturated fat, sodium and in some categories, sugar. Color coded signs are posted along with the individual foods that qualify for the Nutrition IQ program, so consumers can more quickly identify “good-for-you” foods that might include characteristics such as whole grains, fiber, protein, lower sodium, B vitamins, folate, vitamin A, vitamin K, calcium, iron, potassium, selenium, zinc, low calorie, 100% juice, omega-3 fats and low saturated fat. These tags can be found on shelves, as well as in the meat, produce and fish sections of the store. More than 80,000 products have been evaluated. Consumers may see on average 2,400 to 2,600 tags at the shelves. There is also a nutrition iQ app.

To me, the Nutrition IQ program is a way to narrow down some of the choices in store, these selections really need to fit in with your individual health plan and the types of foods that are priorities for you and your family. Food is a very personal thing and food values are very different for each family. This list is large and can be overwhelming when you are actually in the store as you try to search for the information tags. I’d suggest if you are looking to incorporate this program into your market trip, leave the kids at home the first few times, so you can get acquainted with it.

I attended a luncheon where I was provided with healthy snacks, yummy recipes and a tour of the store. I received a store gift card and some products for attending. The opinions are my own.