Goodbye chocolate bars, Martin’s announces healthier items near checkout lanes

Have a hard time saying no to those sweet treats while you wait in the checkout lane of grocery stores? Martin’s will now make it easier to avoid them (and have a healthier diet too).

August 16, 2012; 1:21 PM • by RVANews staff

You know the typical grocery store checkout lane, walled with sugary, chocolatey impulse purchases? It’s something we’ve grown accustomed to, but that may soon change.

Martin’s has announced that eight of its local stores will offer Healthy Ideas checkout lanes to customers to encourage healthier impulse eating. These lanes will have items such as fruit, nuts, and 100% fruit juice.

“MARTIN’S is excited to be the pioneer grocery store in the Richmond area to offer healthy food and beverage items in select check-out lanes,” said Valerie Waters, in-store nutritionist, MARTIN’S Food Markets. “We think our moms and dads, in particular, will appreciate a checkout lane with items that are not full of added sugar and unhealthy fats, which tempt all of us on our way out of the store.”

The new lanes came from a partnership the grocery store has with Richmond City Health District and Greater Richmond Fit4Kids.

“We’re excited to work with members of the community such as MARTIN’S Food Markets and Fit4Kids to bring about dramatic change to the norm by making it easier for our residents to make healthier choices,” said Dr. Danny Avula, Richmond City Health District Deputy Director. “Everything we can do to influence behaviors leading to a healthier lifestyle is a step toward healthier families and a healthier community.”

The following Martin’s stores have the new checkout lanes: