At-a glance nutrition scoring system helps shoppers make healthy food choices with confidence.

By Brenda Patzlaff, RD, LN, Hy-Vee/Avera Sacred Heart Dietitian and Wellness Coach

As a dietitian, I am pleased that people are more and more interested in their health and how to eat a nutritious diet. Still, as more and more Americans look to take charge of their diets and overall health, they often are left confused and frustrated by an overwhelming array of food information and advertising claims.

As the dietitian for Hy-Vee, I often get asked which foods are the healthiest. People want to know if what they are buying is really the best choice. Earlier this year, Hy-Vee became one of the first supermarket chains to feature the NuVal™ Nutrition Scoring System, an independent program that distills complicated nutrition information into a single number.

You can find NuVal scores in a double-hexagon emblem on the shelf tag right next to the price; look for a number from 1 to 100; the higher the score, the more nutritious the food.  NuVal is a very simple and speedy way to choose the best foods for you and your family. Even though you may not usually choose the highest-scoring food in any one category, perhaps you can try to "trade up for health" the next time you shop.

NuVal was developed by an independent group of nutrition and health experts, led by Dr. David Katz, chairman of Griffin Hospital's Yale Prevention Research Center. NuVal was developed in response to the alarmingly increasing rates of obesity and health-related diseases in both children and adults. NuVal scores are obtained through a procedure known as the Overall Nutrition Quality Index (ONQI), which analyzes 30 nutrients and other factors including fiber, vitamins, sugar, sodium, cholesterol and fat.

One of the benefits of NuVal is it is completely objective. NuVal was developed by experts who have no ties to food manufacturers or retailers.

Find more information about NuVal at Hy-Vee.com. There is a wealth of information about NuVal there or you can click on the link to the NuVal website directly. There you can sign up for the NuVal newsletter. It will be e-mailed to you directly and it will keep you up-to-date on new categories, sample scores and explanations for how the scoring system works.

If you would like a free NuVal store tour or would like more information contact Brenda at 665-3412 or 668-8672.