Study: Jefferson County convenience stores providing healthier choices

Between June 2010 and June 2011, Jefferson County?s eight convenience stores have had a 63 percent increase in healthier food options.

?I am encouraged by this trend toward the availability of healthier food options in Jefferson County convenience stores,? said Carol Voss, nutrition coordinator, Iowans Fit for Life, Iowa Department of Public Health. ?Hopefully similar improvements will be found throughout the state.?

Only one store had a lower score than the year before.

Researchers Ken Daley and Raul Calderon of Maharishi University of Management, under a grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health, conducted the research. The purpose of the study was to investigate changes in healthy food options as measured by the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey Convenience Store Assessment Tool. This is a nationally recognized tool and is used throughout the country. A trained evaluator visited all stores and collected data on availability, price and quality of milk, frozen dinners, hot dogs, baked chips, fruits, baked goods, bread, cereal, vegetables, ground beef and beverages.

A store gains or looses points on the survey depending on what they offer the public.

When Dee Sandquist, dietitian for Hy-Vee was told of the results, she stated, ?Baked potato chips with a NuVal Score of 24 is a healthier option than regular chips with a NuVal Score of 7.?

NuVal is a nutritional scoring system from 1 to 100; the higher the number, the healthier the food.

Daley, who also is executive director of the Jefferson County Wellness Coalition, said, ?This is the right direction and indicates great progress, however, there is still a lot of head room for better and healthier food options in our convenience stores. There is no reason why Jefferson County cannot be the healthiest rural county in Iowa.?

The full study was published by the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at www.iowaahperd.org/journal/j11s_convenience_stores.html.