Northern Sask stores support healthy eating initiative

Registered dietician and Healthy Eating Coordinator at
the North West Company(NWC) main office in Winnipeg, Suzanne Hajto, said an idea of providing a healthy eating program is a way NWC actively supports health and nutrition within northern communities to promote a healthier environment.

By establishing initiatives in the store, the customers are at a benefit, she added.

“Myself, as a dietician, coming on and creating the healthy eating program is to... motivate our customers to make healthier choices,” Hajto said.

The company consulted with North Saskatchewan’s NWC store managers about which program initiatives their stores can carry out.

With the ongoing health issues that Aboriginal people continue to face, the hardest hit are the areas in Canada’s north. Diabetes, obesity, and other nutrition related diseases can be prevented by choosing a healthier lifestyle, Hajto said.

The NWC began its launch of providing health resources, such as information on diabetes and general healthy eating, in the stores over ten years ago. These handouts are culturally acceptable and easy to understand in relation to language barriers, said Hajto.

The Healthy Bites initiative has been ongoing for over a year now.

“Basically, (it’s) a monthly healthy meal or snack idea that ties together the foods that you can find on the shelf to build healthier meals,” she said.

In September, the ‘Paint Your Plate With Color’ idea was launched, which exposes shoppers to signs displaying healthier choices and hopefully motivate them to change eating behaviors, said Hajto.

She pointed to the example that in the dry foods sections of stores there will be pictures of the healthier baking or dried fruit products that are available with 20 signs in the key sections.

“’Painting Your Plate With Colour’ means to pick foods from all different food groups in order to build a healthy mind and body,” she said. Because it is important to gain community feedback, NWC takes the time to visit communities.

After travelling to Rankin Inlet, the NWC representatives participated in a community forum to better understand what it is the members needed from their store and what would help them make healthier choices, which is where the ‘Paint Your Plate With Colour’ idea stemmed from.
NWC welcomes local nutritionists and dieticians to use their local stores as a positive place to do health promotions.

“We are inviting them in and if they want to do grocery store tours or if they want to come through the aisles with clients then they are more welcome to do that,” Hajto said.

“Our goal is to assist our customers in selecting food for and preparing healthy meals,” said Michael McMullen, Executive Vice President of the Northern Canada Retail division.”The Healthy Eating Program is intended to make healthier eating a little easier,” he added.
Those wanting more information can visit www.northwest.ca