I just read a Health.com report which rated the major grocery chains to find the “healthiest” ones.   The winners were Whole Foods (National, with the closest to us being in Pittsburgh), Safeway (National), Harris Teeter (Southeast US), Trader Joe’s (National, with the closest to us being near Dayton), Hannaford (Northeast US), Albertson’s (Western US), Food Lion (Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states), Publix (Southeast), Pathmark (Mid-Atlantic), and Super-Target (National).  Wegman’s would have made the list, but the researchers thought the chain was too small to make the cut.

What do you notice about all these stores?  None of them is available in our area!  Is it any wonder we have the problems with obesity and other food related illnesses here?  We have no really good choices for shopping healthy; we have to ferret out the good stuff in Kroger or IGA or Riesbeck’s.  (I think Riesbeck’s would have the best chance of making the list of any of our local grocery chains.)

The answer? Some suggestions I’ve made before.  Shop your area farmers market.  Buy from roadside stands.  Grow your own.  Cook at home. 

We can help with one of those.  We’ll have more choices for the grow-your-own contingent.  Watch the blog throughout the winter for news about those new varieties and choices.  We will be closed, but we’ll still be busy behind the scenes getting ready for a Spring with new challenges… and new opportunities.