Healthy Kids Are Happy Kids!

USA - English

• USA - English

PURCHASE, N.Y., Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the New Year brings a renewed commitment to making healthier choices. The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is committed to providing customers with a variety of choices and programs to live a healthier lifestyle, including many with a focus on healthy kids.

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"With increasing rates of childhood obesity in this country, Stop & Shop provides kids with fun and interactive ways to learn about proper nutrition and health," said Arlene Putterman, Manager of Public and Community Relations for Stop & Shop's New York Metro Division. "There is no better place to start making healthy choices than at the supermarket!" Stop & Shop is hosting a Child Obesity Forum on Tuesday, January 24th at their Whalley Avenue store in New Haven, CT with a panel of experts who will address the issues that affect the health and wellness of America's youth.

Stop & Shop partners with Field Trip Factory for Kid Healthy Ideas™, a hands-on field trip experience that reinforces the nutrition and healthy living curriculum taught in local schools. Kid Healthy Ideas is free and helps children in grades pre-K through six develop and enhance skills in healthy living and nutrition, good oral care and exercise. Tour leaders are located in each participating store and are trained to modify field trips to be grade appropriate. For a listing of participating stores, visit www.fieldtripfactory.com. Tours may also be scheduled by calling 1-800-987-6409. Tours run approximately 60-90 minutes in length and are limited to 30 participants per tour.

On the web, Stop & Shop offers its Passport to Nutrition program to give kids and their parents and teachers the information and motivation to make healthier choices by improving one's lifestyle and eating habits. The program consists of four lessons which cover the food pyramid/MyPlate program and physical activity, understanding food labels and portion control, how to eat enough fruits, vegetables and grains and healthy snacks and beverages. Accompanying each of the four lessons are downloadable worksheets, kid-friendly songs and interactive games to reinforce the healthy eating messages. To access Passport to Nutrition, visit www.stopandshop.com.

Now through March 28, 2012, parents can also help earn triple A+ School Rewards for their child's school by purchasing Healthy Ideas® labeled products. Stop & Shop's exclusive Healthy Ideas blue and green product labeling and shelf tag system help customers find healthy options as they shop the aisles. In order to receive the Healthy Ideas distinction, a product must meet certain criteria related to total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar amounts developed by a team of registered dietitians.

For more healthy recipes for kids and a variety of other health information, visit www.stopandshop.com and click on the Healthy Ideas tab at the top of the homepage.

For information about the Child Obesity Forum on Tuesday, January 24th at the Stop & Shop store on Whalley Avenue, New Haven, contact [email protected].

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC employs approximately 62,000 associates and operates more than 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey. The company helps support local communities fight hunger, combat childhood cancer and promote general health and wellness – with emphasis on children's educational and support programs. In its commitment to be a sustainable company, Stop & Shop is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and EPA's Smart Way program; has been awarded LEED (EB) certifications for 50 of its existing stores; and has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores. Stop & Shop is an Ahold company. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com.

SOURCE The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC