Harris Teeter launches wellness program

MATTHEWS, N.C. Supermarket retailer Harris Teeter kicked off the new year by rolling out a free wellness guide for customers in its eight-state market area in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic region.

Called “yourwellness for families,” the program includes a free health and prevention guidebook available at all 176 Harris Teeter stores, and a program under which customers can sign up to receive e-mail information about wellness issues and opportunities. Members will receive a bi-monthly e-mail newsletter from Russell Greenfield, M.D., a physician and consultant on health for the supermarket chain, and Beth Avery, a certified nutritionist. The yourwellness e-letters will contain the latest health information shoppers can use to optimize health and well-being, along with cooking demonstrations, an informational video from Greenfield and members-only discounts.

The yourwellness booklet takes participants through a 15-week program, offering nutrition information, stress management techniques, menu planning, recipes, a walking program and more. Shoppers can also go online to download a 15-week point tracker, seven-day meal plan and the free yourwellness for families brochure at harristeeter.com.

Officials at Harris Teeter said the yourwellness for families program complements an in-store program already in place. That program promotes a broad mix of healthier foods and better nutrition through shelf tags and other means.

“With the increase in the childhood obesity rate we realized how important it was to develop a program that parents and children can do together,” said Greenfield. “Our new program is a life enhancement program, not simply a weight management program, though aspects of it can be used to help any member of the family achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.”