Depending on the frequency with which you shop, grocery shopping can become monotonous. Typically most families stick to the same buying routine and the same staple items they are replenishing in their pantry or fridge. While some of those staple items can be handy, trying to insert additional nutritious choices can be a challenge.
The new Guiding Stars program from Loblaw not only makes grocery shopping fun for the whole family, it helps increase your chances of having a much healthier cart at the checkout line too!
I actually used to work for Loblaw and due to a potential conflict of interest I never had the chance to write about it on my blog, so I’m pretty ecstatic that I can write about it now!
How can the new Guiding Stars program make shopping fun for the whole family?
Well, it’s like a mini scavenger hunt every time you step into a new aisle. Star hunting!
Guiding Stars is an impartial, patented food rating system that rates food based on nutrient density using a scientific algorithm. Foods are rated based on a balance of credits and debits. Foods are credited for vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, whole grains, and Omega-3 fatty acids, and debited for saturated fats, trans fats, added sodium and added sugar. Rated foods are marked with easy-to-follow tags indicating 1, 2, or 3 stars.
We shop at the Real Canadian Superstore in our area every single week, and while I saw the signage, I never really looked into what the program did or could offer. Now I know to look for the stars on every product I already know I’ll buy and the new ones I’ve never tried before.
Even my fiance had a smile when I said we were embarking on a new grocery shopping journey!
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As we started to head down one of our first aisles, it wasn’t to difficult to spot the first Guiding Stars sign, they were literally everywhere!
I have to admit, I got a little excited each time I found products that I knew I was going to buy had the stars on their shelf tags!
I’m still bummed that many of the products we did buy did not have 3 stars. Insert sad face emoticon here. However, all is not lost! Why? The Guiding Stars program isn’t to tell you what to buy, and it isn’t to tell you that anything you didn’t buy with a star wasn’t healthy; the program is to help steer you towards more nutritious choices. Simple!
Many of the items we purchased didn’t have stars on the shelf tags but there are three reasons for that:
- The food item doesn’t meet the nutritional criteria to be included in the program. (It’s all about balance! Doesn’t mean we aren’t eating healthy foods)
- The food is not rated. (Items with less than 5 calories per serving aren’t included)
- The food hasn’t been rated yet. (Item might be new or just hasn’t gone through the full rating system yet)
Are you ready to try the Guiding Stars program?
You are in luck! The program is available at most Loblaw banner stores AND if you are a PC Plus member like me, you will have access to you very own personalized Guiding Stars profile! Just log in using your store banners website and head to the Guiding Stars section under Health & Wellness.
Your Guiding Stars™ level is based on your grocery purchases over the past 8 weeks. PC Plus™ members will have the contents of their grocery cart analyzed when they go through checkout. The greater number of starred products in your cart, the higher your level. It’s a quick way to understand how nutritious your current shopping habits are.
Sooooo, there are 5 levels and I’m at Level 2, how ’bout you? Hey, that rhymes! Squirrel! Ok, ok, back to the matter at hand.
I’m excited to be one of many Guiding Stars Program Ambassadors over the next few months, sharing more great tips on how to use the program to your healthy advantage!
Alrighty folks, get on out there and get star hunting! Come back and let me know what level you’re at, I’m super curious!
Will you use the Guiding Stars Program as a valuable tool for your grocery shopping trips?
Here’s hopin!
Natalie
I like the recipe , certainly worth trying
I love the program. I find it very helpful. I think Loblaws are always ahead of their time!!
I love this program and am now aware of those stars! My boys even look for them too! 🙂
I like the Star labelling.It is easy to spot.
I think this is a great program , and will make it easier for everyone to make healthy choices. I hope to get lots of 3 stars on my next trip.
It’s like a game for your health! Let’s get those stars!!!
It’s exactly like a scavenger hunt. I love hunting down as many three star products as possible!
I have been reading about the star system but have yet to check it out in the store. Will be on my to do list for this week 🙂
We have been following the Guiding Stars for the past week and love it. It’s a great program to encourage the whole family to get involved 🙂
Totally agree and now I’m excited for the weekend to try and get my level up!