Nutritionists, B.C. retailers launch virtual grocery shopping tool

Nutritionists and major B.C. grocery retailers have come up with a new virtual grocery shopping tool to help consumers make the best food choices.

The Shopping Sense tool provides a multimedia experience for shoppers and is supported by grocery chains Safeway, Thrifty Foods, Real Canadian Superstore, Save-On-Foods and MarketPlace IGA.

The five retailers, recognizing the need to help families plan and prepare healthy, affordable meals before they step foot in the grocery store, have promoted the tool through in-store flyers, digital newsletters, social media and on their websites.

"We are providing families with the tools to plan healthy meals," said Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid in a release. "Planning ahead before grocery shopping is one way that we are helping to make the healthy choice the easy choice. And it's great that we have our grocery retailers' support."

Save-On-Foods said in a release that this new tool allows customers the ability to do the majority of their grocery planning at home, helping to encourage healthy, budget-friendly choices.

The Shopping Sense tool is a new addition to the Healthy Families BC website. The site provides an experience that mirrors an in-store, dietitian-led tour, helping families plan meals, prepare budgets and develop safe food-handling practices.

Melodie Yong, registered dietitian and the Shopping Sense online host said in the release, "Choosing wisely in the grocery store is easy with a little preparation and this tool offers that up in a fun and convenient way."

Check out one of the videos on Shopping Sense showing how to shop the dairy category: