GIANT FOOD JOINS USDA IN HEALTHY KIDS FOOD CAMPAIGN

BARBARA MURRAY

LANDOVER, Md. -- Giant Food here has become the first food retailer to partner with the United States Department of Agriculture on its "Healthy Eating, Healthy Kids" campaign, which began last month.

A focus of the campaign is the recently released USDA Food Guide Pyramid, adapted to meet the needs of children from ages 2 to 6. Giant Food published this pyramid in the May issue of its Kids' Corner newsletter, available on racks in all Giant and Super G stores.

The food guide pyramid for children is different from the traditional one for adults in its "kid-friendly" design, and also in that it suggests a definite number of servings from each group rather than the range offered for adults. The food groups also have shorter names.

Illustrations include canned peas, a juice box, and canned fruit as well as fresh items. In the meat or protein group, peanut butter, loose dried beans and canned tuna are shown as options. Foods are drawn in a realistic style, and are those commonly eaten by young children.

On the back of Giant's newsletter is a chart for parents to track the foods that their children eat throughout the week, to ensure that the kids are eating the right foods in the right quantity, said Barry F. Scher, vice president of public affairs for Giant. The chart can also be used in advance, as a menu planner.

A reward was promised to any child 2 to 6 years old who brought a completed chart to the manager's office of a Giant store by the end of the month.

The new USDA pyramid shows children running and playing, to emphasize the importance of physical activity, the agency says in its book on using the Food Guide Pyramid. In Giant's version of the pyramid, an explanation of the amount of food that counts as one serving has been added.

John Webster, director of public information and governmental affairs for the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, told SN that Giant is the first supermarket to join in the "Healthy Eating, Healthy Kids" campaign, although a number of food manufacturing companies, such as Kellogg's, General Mills and Best Foods, have done so.

A new Giant Kids' Corner flier will be available each month, offering tips for parents and activities for children, a recipe and a book list, according to a company press release. Giant has also announced the release of the Pyramid in the consumer column of its weekly food circular.