Clients of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program at HealthFirst Family Care Center were invited to tour the Rodman Street Stop & Shop Supermarket on June 25, 2013 to learn ways to buy on a budget in order to purchase healthy foods inexpensively. Led by Registered Dietitian Katie Bridgestock and Nutrition Assistant Laurie Andrade, the group also covered using unit pricing to compare foods to get a better deal, food label reading and finding whole grains during the one-hour tour. Similar tours are offered to groups of women from time to time depending on interest. "This is just one of the ways that the WIC program helps pregnant and breastfeeding women and mothers of children under age five healthy along with their children," noted Community Outreach Coordinator Lisa Alves. WIC provides nutrition and health education, healthy food and other services free of charge to Massachusetts families who meet income guidelines. Click here for a four-minute video of the beginning of the tour. For more information about the WIC Program, contact Lisa Alves at 508-679-9349.

(Top row) As Charlene Durand and Lynda Russel look on, WIC Community Coordinator Lisa Alves talks with Nutrition Assistant Laurie Andrade and dietitian Katie Bridgestock before they start their tour of the store. (Middle row) Laurie talks about the price differential among prepared, raw, frozen and canned produce as well as savings in preparation time as Charlene and Rebecca Mellor listen. (Bottom row) Laurie and Katie continue the tour into the canned food isle while comparing prices and answering questions from the group.