AUSTIN, Texas.—Whole Foods Market launched its “Health Starts Here” initiative for shoppers and employees at all 289 locations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. The new program is based on healthy eating principles including: a focus on fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds; foods with high-nutrient content in comparison to total calories; and whole foods. The program says when possible, opt for food that is organic, local and seasonal.
“These commonsense criteria offer great health benefits, no matter what dietary path you follow,” said Margaret Wittenberg, global vice president of quality standards and leader of Health Starts Here at Whole Foods Market. “We are excited to promote wellness and encourage healthier lifestyles by emphasizing the value of eating nutrient-rich foods and showing people how simple it can be. I like to think of it as ‘Take charge, eat well, feel great,’ as eating for health can truly be delicious, nutritious and enjoyable.”
Whole Foods Market is partnering with two third-party healthy eating programs, Eat Right America and the Engine 2 Diet, to provide easy-to-follow guidance for shoppers and team members. Both offer 28-day “getting started” plans, while providing plenty of room for personal choices.
Eat Right America’s Chief Medical Officer, Joel Fuhrman, M.D., discovered through years of research on thousands of patients that a body rich in micronutrients will quickly seek its ideal weight and stay there, while reversing most diet-related chronic conditions. He has also equipped patients with eating plans to help improve overall health, conquer food cravings, reverse chronic conditions and have more energy.
The Engine 2 Diet is a plant-strong plan that can help with weight loss, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of disease. Rip Esselstyn, former pro athlete and firefighter, outlines the plan in his “Engine 2 Diet” book and has always taken great interest in achieving optimal health through food.
Whole Foods Market will feature free information, recipes, in-store lectures, events and support groups. A selection of supporting educational books and cookbooks will also be for sale alongside the “Engine 2 Diet” book and “Eat Right America” program materials.
To help shoppers identify healthy, nutrient-dense foods, stores will post signs with Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) scores. Created by Dr. Fuhrman, the ANDI scoring scale evaluates levels of micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants, per calorie in various foods. The higher the concentration of micronutrients in a food, the higher that food will score. For instance, a serving of kale, a dark leafy green, scores 1,000, placing it at the top of the index, while a serving of soda only scores 1. Individual ANDI scores will be placed on all fruits and vegetables because they are the most nutrient-dense foods. For departments like meat, seafood and cheese, the top 10 ANDI scores in each category will be displayed.
Whole Foods Market’s Health Starts Here initiative also includes two internal programs for team members. The Team Member Healthy Discount Incentive offers increased discounts for full- and part-time Team Members (enrolled in the company’s medical plan) who do not use nicotine products and satisfy certain healthy biometric criteria for blood pressure, total cholesterol (or LDL) levels and body mass index (BMI). Team members already receive a 20-percent discount on purchases at Whole Foods Market stores as an employment benefit, but now, those who voluntarily opt to participate in the incentive plan could receive up to an additional 10-percent discount. The Total Health Immersion Program offers team members intensive health and wellness education programs geared toward sustaining long-term, positive lifestyle changes, including healthy eating, fitness and empowerment.