Natural Grocers Launches Virtual Wellness Program

Natural Grocers is taking its free nutrition education program online. Customarily available in-person, the program has gone virtual to provide customers with its health and wellness programs, while adhering to companywide COVID-19 health and safety precautions. The expansion includes a specially curated guest presenter series focused on essential building blocks for improved health and wellness, as well as personalized coaching sessions with Natural Grocers’ nutritional health coaches.

“Nutrition education and outreach to our communities is a huge part of what makes Natural Grocers a unique grocery experience,” Natural Grocers Pam Lipshitz told WGB in an email. “Prior to COVID, we regularly hosted in-person guest presenter classes/cooking demos and offered personalized health and wellness coaching sessions with our Nutritional Health Coaches (NHCs). Of course, we had to put those programs on hold, but we are excited to announce that we are expanding the program by going virtual.”

The program includes a series of free, virtual nutrition education classes designed to “empower customers to take charge of their own health and gain a better understanding of how supporting their immune system, improving their diet and nutrient intake, and caring for the environment can all have a positive impact on their health,” says the company. Starting Oct. 7, new classes will be available every Wednesday at 6 p.m. MDT on the Natural Grocers website.

Classes are slated to cover a range of topics, from “Nourishing Traditional Diets” to “Extraordinary Immunity” and “The Importance of Nutrition Density.” In addition to classes, Natural Grocers is offering one-on-one sessions with its nutrition health coach experts who “provide personalized care tailored to an individual’s needs, and a collaborative plan for success. All of this is available free of charge,” added Lipshitz.

“We are so proud of our Nutrition Education department and the role our NHCs play in helping our customers achieve their health goals,” said Heather Isely, Natural Grocers EVP in a statement. “Although we knew it was absolutely the right things to do, we were disappointed that we had to pause our in-person classes and coaching sessions at the beginning of the pandemic. While we look forward to offering these services in person when it’s deemed safe to do so, our new virtual program allows us to offer the same level of nutrition expertise to help our community members navigate their personal health journeys.”

Customers can schedule their free, one-hour phone or video coaching sessions with a Natural Grocers nutrition expert by filling out a form on the company website.