Pre-Orientation Assignment:

SUPERMARKET DETECTIVE
As a dietitian, its important to be aware of whats on the grocery shelves to
recommend as specific or alternative foods. This is important for normal nutrition as
well as prescribed eating plans.
Print this sheet and take it with you to one or more large supermarket(s) where
your future clients might be food-shopping. Fill in all the information in the blank
spaces below. Consider your target community and the variety of ages, ethnicities,
financial situations and cultures. Use Brand Names or Store Brands in your description.
Suggestion from a 2011 intern: When you arrive in the store, let the manager know that
you are doing a homework assignment.

Your Name: Name and location (city and state) of food stores visited:
ANGELA MISKO SHOPRITE, PARAMUS, NJ

Type your results into this form. Do not scan in your handwritten list. Complete and
send this assignment to Phyll (PBJs) at phyll.ribakoff@sodexo.com or Sharon
(Shastas) at Sharon.Schwartz@sodexo.com by Friday, 17 August 2012.


Reduced Fat and Sodium: provide brand names and items for the categories below:
Food Item Serving Size Kcals Total Fat (g) Sodium (mg)
Frozen
Dinners (one
vegetarian,
one meat or
poultry)

1. Healthy
Choice
Pumpkin
Squash Ravioli
1 Meal 280 4 550
2. Healthy
Choice Honey
Balsamic
Chicken
1 Meal 220 3.5 460
Cold Cuts
1.Healthy Ones
Honey Ham
6 Slices (54g) 70 1.5 340
2. Hillshire
Farms Oven
Roasted
Turkey Breast
2 oz. (56g) 60 0.5 420
Snack Chips
1. Terra Exotic 1 oz. (28g/16 140 6 40
Harvest Sweet
Onion
Chips)
2. PopCorners
Kettle Popped
Corn Chips
1 oz. (28g) 120 3.5 105
Dairy Items
Cheese: 1.
Kraft Fat Free
Shredded
Mozzarella
Cup 45 0 280
Cheese: 2.
Sargento
Reduced Fat
Swiss Slices
1 Slice 60 4 30
Margarine: 1.
Smart Balance
Light Omega 3
1 Tbsp. (14g) 50 5 80
Margarine:2.
Fleischmanns
Unsalted
1 Tbsp. (11g) 60 7 0
Ice Cream: 1.
Skinny Cow
Fudge Bar
1 Bar (69g) 110 1 40
Ice Cream: 2.
Edys Slow
Churned Fat
Free Vanilla
Yogurt
Cup (67g) 90 0 45

Whole Grains: provide brand names of items for categories below. Remember,
when listing whole wheat, if it doesnt say 100% whole wheat, its white flour.
Food Item Serving
Size
Kcals/serving CHO (g) Fiber (g) First
Ingredient
Bread
1. Arnold
Natures
Harvest
Light 100%
Whole
Wheat
2 Slices
(43g)
80 16 6 Whole
Wheat
Flour
2. Weight
Watchers
100%
Whole
Wheat
2 Slices
(41g)
80 16 6 Whole
Wheat
Flour
Cereal
1. Fiber One
Honey
Clusters
1 Cup (52g) 170 44 10 Whole
Grain
Wheat
2. Post
Shredded
Wheat:
Wheatn
Bran
1 Cup 200 48 9 Whole
Grain
Wheat &
Wheat Bran
Crackers
1. Wheat
Thins Fiber
Select
Garden
Vegetable
15 Pieces
(30g)
120 22 5 Whole
Grain
Wheat
Flour
2. Triscuit
Fire
Roasted
Tomato and
Olive Oil
6 Crackers
(28g)
120 20 3 Whole
Grain Soft
White
Wheat


Easy Fresh Snacks
Kcal Fat (g) Sodium (g)
1. Amport Foods
Dried Cranberries
130 0 10
2. Heavenly Sweet
Bites Carrot &
Celery Sticks
17 0 33
3. Crunch Pak
Dipperz Tart
Apples with Low
Fat Caramel Dip
80 0 15


Gluten-Free Grain Substitute Products
First Ingredient Price Per Box/Package
1. UDIS Whole Grain
Bread
Water $5.39
2. Glutino Cinnamon
Raisin Bread
Water $5.49
3. Katz Whole Grain Bread Gluten Free Flour (Brown
Rice, Tapioca, Sorghum)
$5.79


Reduced Sugar: indicate what is substituted for sugar, if so.
Serving Size Kcals Sugar (g) Sugar Alcohol
or Sugar
Substitute
Non-Frozen
Dessert

1. Snack Pack
SF Caramel
Pudding
1 Pudding
(92g)
60 0 Maltitol
2. Hill & Valley
SF Blueberry
Mini Muffins
1 Muffin (28g) 90 1g Splenda
Spreads (Jam,
Jellies)

1. Welchs
Reduced Sugar
Concord Grape
Jelly
1 Tbsp. (17g) 20 5 --
2. Smuckers
SF Strawberry
Jam
1 Tbsp. (17g) 10 0 Splenda
Cookies or
Snack Cakes

1. Voortman
Shortbread
Swirl Cookies
1 Cookie (20g) 100 0 Maltitol
2. Murray
Shortbread
Bites
1 Pouch (21g) 80 0 Splenda


Low Lactose/Lactose Free Alternative: Name one low lactose or lactose free
alternative to the listed lactose containing foods
Price/Package & Svg/Package
Cheese: Go Veggie! Cheese Slices $3.79/Package 12 Servings/Package
Ice Cream: Arctic Zero Chocolate PB $4.49/Package 4 Servings/Package
Cream: Silk Soy Creamer $1.99/Package 32 Servings/Package
Spread: Mothers Soft Margarine Sweet
Unsalted
$3.99/Package 32 Servings/Package





Meat or Dairy Alternative: Name 3 soy, nut, or other alternative products.
Food Item Serving Size Kcal Protein (g) Fat (g) Price
1. Nasoya
Tofu Plus
3 oz. (85g) 70 7 3 $2.99
2. LightLife
Smart
Ground
Original
Veggie
Protein
Crumbles
1/3 Cup
(55g)
70 11 0 $4.49
3. Tofurky
Hickory
Smoked
Deli Slices
5 Slices
(52g)
100 13 3 $3.49


Interesting new food item: Did you see something new at the grocery youd like
to have your client try?
What about it do you like?
(lo-cal, high, cal, fiber,
sugar, etc)
Price, and is it worth the
money?
1. NEW Shop Rite Black
Bean Hummus
Gluten free, low calorie
(50kcal), low sodium
(90mg), low sugar (1g).
$2.50/Package. Worth it!
The price of this package
is similar or less
expensive than its
competitors, and it is
lower in calories and
sodium compared to other
brands. Hummus has so
much versatility. Its
perfect as a dip for snacks
like pretzels or fresh
vegetables, or can be used
as a sandwich spread. No
more need for ranch
dressing or mayonnaise!
2. NEW Health Valley
Gluten Free Caf Beef
Noodle Soup with Green
Beans & Lentils
Gluten free, low fat (0.5g),
low calorie (80), low
sodium (480mg).
$2.79/Package. Worth it!
Its very difficult to find
soups that are low in
calories, sodium, and fat.
This product is low in all
three and is gluten free!
This product is also
similar or less expensive
than its competitors. If
you are a soup lover, this
may be a product worth
trying out.





NOTES:

Food items labeled Natural would have packages that were designed to
look like health foods, but in reality were no healthier than the original
option. Marketing can deceive consumers, and therefore education on
reading labels is essential.
When sodium decreases, fat usually increases and vice versa.
Nutritional values were similar when comparing the labels on American
foods and labels on different cultural foods.
Items marked low sodium or low fat were higher in calories, or lower in
serving size.
When looking at ice cream, two women shopping were most concerned with
price first, then taste. Did not consider nutritional quality at all.
Healthier options or special dietary needs items tended to be more
expensive.
Very difficult to shop for sugar free. Both serving size and taste were not
ideal among these food choices.
Supermarket staff was unaware of location of vegetarian products.
Supermarket staff uneducated about sugar free and gluten free items. The
role of the RD in the supermarket is valuable to both consumers and staff.