Stop & Shop expands Passport to Nutrition program

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop is expanding a program to educate children about nutrition, the Ahold USA-owned supermarket chain said.

The chain announced that it would update and expand the Passport to Nutrition program to organizations that educate and work with children, such as schools, summer camps and scouting groups. The announcement follows a similar announcement last week by Landover, Md.-based sister chain Giant Food.

"The Passport to Nutrition program will provide students and their parents with essential information about healthy eating at a time when many schools are facing classroom and programming budget cuts," Stop & Shop New York Metro Division public and community relations manager Arlene Putterman said. "Stop & Shop is proud that this program will help fill the void by providing essential information to children at no charge to their families or to their school districts."

The program kit, aimed at children ages 8 to 12 years, includes workbooks and a teacher guide designed to influence kids to make small changes for better health, such as building a balanced plate using the Department of Agriculture's MyPlate guidelines, as well as a DVD featuring challenges, kid-friendly songs and games that can be adapted for classroom use.