Walmart and Nutrition

So I'm sure you've read all the blogs bashing Walmart but what about their nutrition?  What does Walmart bring to our table as far as Nutrition goes?  I'd like to shed some light on the subject for you.  Even if you're anti Walmart we all need to keep an open mind and learn about every aspect before forming our ever so "set in our way" opinions.

Let's face it, in this day and age when it comes to nutrition we could all use an economical way to feed our families heathy food.  Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced $9.5 million in grants to organizations with a shared mission of promoting healthy eating habits. The funding will support nutrition education programs, provide classes focused on learning to cook and shop for healthier foods on a budget and provide live cooking demonstrations in communities nationwide. Still anti Walmart?    

Demonstrating how simple heart-healthy cooking can be is a great way to inspire Americans to prepare nutritious, budget-friendly meals at home.  In October, Walmart participated in National Food Day by promoting healthy recipes recommended by the American Heart Association.  Cooking at home can be a daunting task, but a rewarding one for your diet and lifestyle (and your wallet). Making small changes in your diet is important to your heart health. If you’re ready to start cooking at home, Walmart has dozens of recipes and pointers to ease you into the kitchen. Their recipes are simple, nutritious and each has a preparation video so you won’t miss a step.  Still Anti Walmart?

Walmart announced in July 2011 that it will open between 275-300 stores serving the Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated food desert areas by 2016. These stores, in both urban and rural areas, will provide access to groceries for more than 800,000 people living in food deserts.   What is a "food desert"?  A food desert is any area in the industrialized world where healthy, affordable food is difficult to obtain. Food deserts are prevalent in rural as well as urban areas and are most prevalent in low-socioeconomic minority communities. They are associated with a variety of diet-related health problems. Food deserts are also linked with supermarket shortage.  Sound familiar?  It does to me.  Still anti Walmart?

By opening stores where customers need them most, Walmart will help build healthier families and stronger communities. "We believe every single person should have access to an abundant selection of fresh fruits and vegetables at an affordable price,” said Leslie Dach, executive vice president of corporate affairs at Walmart.

Many areas classified as food deserts are also job deserts. More than 40,000 associates will work in these stores once they are open. These full- and part-time jobs will provide competitive wages and the opportunity to build a career with the company.

We protest so much about "corporate" Walmart coming into our town but we never look at what this company CAN do for our community, especially regarding healthy and nutritious foods.  If you build it, they will come, in droves.