Cooking Matters at the Store, created by Share our Strength, is a guided tour around client’s local H-E-B grocery store. During the tour, participants learn about MyPlate, ways to save money on fruits and vegetables, read a nutrition label, and how to use unit pricing to choose healthy items on a limited budget.
At the end of the tour, participants take part in a “$10 dollar challenge”, where they are given 30 minutes to shop for food from each of the five food groups to make a meal under $10. After completing the challenge, each class member receives a $10 gift card.
Nutrition Educators, Beatriz Bravo and Arely Torres, conducted a Cooking Matters at the Store tour this summer with a group from the Rosewood Zaragoza Center. The participants were mostly older adults, who wanted more tips on how to eat healthy on a budget. In collaboration with our local H-E-B, our Nutrition Education Program, CHOICES, was able to schedule a tour for our participants.
The tour began with an introduction of MyPlate and the five food groups. In the produce section, and with the help from H-E-B staff, participants enjoyed a sample of snap peas and apricots. For most participants, this was their first time tasting this food, and they liked it very much. The group made their way to each section of the store: dairy, meats, grains, proteins, canned and frozen goods. In each section participants were given information that would help them choose the healthiest and most inexpensive options. For example, in the bread aisle, clients learned to choose a whole wheat bread high in fiber by reading the nutrition label. They also learned when to choose fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables and how to choose items low in fat and sugar. 
Nutrition Educator, Beatriz, comments on the tour, “I enjoyed this tour because we get to lead conversations where participants are able to share their questions while holding the product in their hand. We get to actively show them how to read the labels and calculate unit price while answering any questions.”
Participants also learn easy techniques for saving money on food, for example, freezing half a loaf of whole wheat bread to use at a later time.
For Beatriz, having the clients interact with the content they learn makes this one of her favorite classes to teach.
“It is important for participants to get the opportunity to put into practice the information learned in the classroom setting,” she said. “Having opportunities like these really gives participants a chance to ask questions and clarify any doubts they might have when they are actually at the store.”
At the end of the tour, the class was happy to leave not only with a complete meal, but most importantly with knowledge that will be used in their future food selections to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Our nutrition education team continues to seek ways to empower our clients to make the right food choices.
For more information, or to schedule a class or tour, please contact Angela Henry, RDN, LD at 512-684-2502 or email at ahenry@centraltexasfoodbank.org
