Grocery chains lend shoppers a hand in keeping New Year’s resolutions

With the new year under way, grocery retailers are kicking off programs to help customers meet and keep their resolutions centering on diet, health and wellness.

Midwestern chain Hy-Vee has launched a new virtual dietitian services platform called Healthie, while Northeastern grocer Stop & Shop plans a monthlong series of free workshops — offered via its Nutrition Partners online dietitian program — to help customers improve their health.

And later this month, specialty retailer Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is slated to launch its Keto and Resolution Reset initiatives to assist shoppers in reaching their dietary and wellness goals.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee said Tuesday that Healthie gives the company another way to connect with customers “during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.” Free services include virtual store tours, dietitian discovery sessions and monthly virtual classes led by a Hy-Vee registered dietitian to help customers promote their well-being.

Other services are available for a fee, Hy-Vee added. They include the Healthy Habits menu program, which for $99 provides meal plans and product recommendations to support nutrition goals and health needs, and personalized nutrition counseling packages, which range from $125 to $250 depending on a customer’s needs.

Related:SPINS: Consumers increasingly turning to health & wellness products during COVID

Free services through Hy-Vee's Healthie platform include virtual store tours, dietitian discovery sessions and virtual classes led by a registered dietitian.

The first live January virtual class, “21 Tips for a Healthy 2021,” will be led by a Hy-Vee dietitian and provide advice on nutrition, healthy habits and nutritious products. Hy-Vee said the free class will be offered several times throughout the month, and more than 100 participants will win a goody bag filled with healthy products and coupons, and 35 winners will receive a $100 Hy-Vee gift card. The calendar of classes can be found on the Healthie platform, where customers can create an account, schedule an appointment, chat with their designated dietitian, set goals, track their progress, and browse other offerings and classes.

Hy-Vee operates more than 275 stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

“While our helpful smiles are still in the aisles at our stores, Healthie offers our customers a way to virtually connect with a Hy-Vee registered dietitian for nutrition services using a computer, tablet or smartphone,” Aaron Wiese, executive vice president of business innovation and chief health officer at Hy-Vee, said in a statement. “Through online services like individual nutrition counseling, meal planning, nutrition store tours and classes, our dietitians can continue to provide practical tips for making lasting change.”

Related:Ahold Delhaize USA to report healthy food sales

Stop & Shop introduced Nutrition Partners over the summer. In “New Year, New Goals” workshops throughout January, the online dietitian service will coach participants to establish “realistic and achievable” health and wellness goals that they can keep during the course of the year, the Quincy, Mass.-based grocer said.

Designed as interactive sessions, the workshops will foster open discussion to help customers address common weight loss challenges, ranging from managing a sweet tooth to finding a supportive community or partner to dealing with late-night cravings, according to Stop & Shop. Key points of discussion will include “mindfulness” and “smart goals,” the retailer said.

Stop & Shop's 'New Year, New Goals' workshops are offered by Nutrition Partners, an online dietitian service launched last year.

Mindful eating practices at mealtime, such as eating slowly and noticing fullness cues, can go a long way in weight loss or management goals, Stop & Shop noted. Similarly, smart goals — objectives that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound — can help people set clear targets and effectively monitor their progress, according to the company.

The “New Year, New Goals” workshops start on Jan. 7, and those interested in attending, finding out more about Nutrition Partners, and accessing nutritious recipes and health and wellness advice can go online to stopandshop.com/nutrition/.

Stop & Shop cited a recent Finder survey showing that 188.9 million U.S. adults, or about 74% of the population, aim to learn something new, make a lifestyle change or set a personal goal to better themselves in 2021. 

“As we enter a new year, many find themselves setting new health and wellness goals, which may include eating an overall healthier diet or exercising more,” explained Emily Hayes, a Nutrition Partners registered dietitian at Stop & Shop, which has over 400 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. “We hope the new workshops will be beneficial, as our mission is for customers to walk away with the skills to self-motivate and tackle their goals with a solid approach and strong support from the Nutrition Partners registered dietitians.”

Lakewood, Colo.-based Natural Grocers noted that New Year’s resolutions often fall through quickly, with studies showing that about 80% fail by mid-February. To counter that trend, the grocer’s Keto and Resolution Reset initiatives beginning this month will offer free virtual classes, discounts, gifts and giveaways to help customers stay on track throughout the year.

Presented by Natural Grocers nutritional health coaches (NHCs), the four-week Keto Reset series of classes is based on Mark Sisson’s best-selling book, “The Keto Reset Diet.” The sessions will teach participants best practices for kick-starting their metabolism and realizing other benefits from the ketogenic diet, such as healthy weight maintenance, enhanced mental clarity and focus, and healthy energy levels, the retailer said.

Starting this month, Natural Grocers' Keto and Resolution Reset initiatives include free virtual classes, discounts, gifts and giveaways.

In its third year, the Keto Reset two-part online program will run from Jan. 20 to Feb. 16, with classes including “Introducing the Metabolism Reset & Keto Diet” (Jan. 20), “Adapting to a Keto-Friendly Lifestyle” (Jan. 27), “Launching Into Keto” (Feb. 3) and “Hacking Your Keto Journey” (Feb. 10). Participants also will have access to an interactive Keto Community Support Group, hosted by local NHCs, to help them in their keto journeys and turn their newfound keto diet knowledge into a personalized action plan. Customers can sign up at naturalgrocers.com/keto-reset.

This year, Natural Grocers has expanded its annual Resolution Reset event to five days, running Jan. 19 to 23. The program is designed to “inspire, equip and help customers stay the course” toward their 2021 wellness goals.

Resolution Reset includes “5 Days of Epic Savings,” in which customers can save up to 40% on resolution-keeping essentials, such as reusable water bottles, organic kombucha, collagen protein powder, supplements, bath bombs, and wellness shots. Also, through Jan. 31, shoppers can enter to win a $500 Natural Grocers gift card at any store location. Another program in January, the “Rooted in Community Gratitude Giveaway,” enables community members to nominate friends, family or neighbors for the chance to win a specially curated gift bag of items to help them with their health and wellness resolutions.

Members of Natural Grocers’ {N}power loyalty program also will have access to a free reusable shopping bag; a free 8-oz. bag of Natural Grocers-brand non-GMO almonds (with a purchase); automatic entry for every $50 spent on supplements in January for a chance to win a year’s supply of Natural Grocers Foundational Five Supplements; and weekly discounts on 100% organic produce, supplements and groceries throughout the month.

Specializing in natural and organic groceries, body care products and dietary supplements, Natural Grocers operates 160 stores in 20 states.