Chelsea Eats Better with Polly’s Country Market

Authored by Courtney Stinson and the Chelsea Wellness Coalition. 

The Chelsea Wellness Coalition and Polly’s Country Market in Chelsea are proud to announce year two of a Healthy Grocery Store partnership, intended to give Polly’s customers a heads up about healthy eating. 

To kick off the 2nd year of the intervention, Registered Dietitian Courtney Stinson will lead “Label Reading 101” on Monday, October 28th.  Stinson, Polly’s staff and several Eastern Michigan University Dietetics students will lead interested patrons around the store, providing customers with the educational tools they need to decipher deceptive advertising and confusing package labels so they can be knowledgeable, informed consumers.

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Those interested in participating can meet near the Polly’s entrance where the blue 5 Healthy Towns banner is located.  Teaching tours are FREE and start at 3, 4, 5 and 6 p.m.   There’ll be free samples from Polly’s deli and tour participants will be entered into a raffle to win one of several Polly’s gift cards. 

“Label Reading 101 is valuable for customers because everyone goes to shop,” Stinson said, “but few take the time to read labels and learn about what they are consuming.  Understanding labels and food marketing can empower customers to make informed shopping choices.”

During the first year, Stinson worked with Polly’s staff to post 5H labels around the store to indicate healthier options and healthy lifestyle tips.  She also worked closely with deli staff to improve their cooking and food prep skills to include fresh, house made items like the popular Southwestern Black Bean Salad.  Stinson’s also been advising Polly’s staff on new and tasty food options.  If customers have a special request, patrons can ask Polly’s staff, who will do their best to locate and stock the item.

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“We’ll expand our labels, and continue distributing a quarterly Eat Better Newsletter to keep customers informed.  The newsletters talk about Chelsea Wellness Coalition updates, what’s to come, and what’s happening around Polly’s,” Stinson added. 

For more information about Label Reading 101 and the Healthy Grocery initiative, community members can contact Courtney at [email protected]. 

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