These are a few of my favorite things…

By Lori Kaley

November 27th, 2009 No Comments

Lori Kaley

Scientific Advisor, MS, MSB, RD, LD

Lori has been keeping Maine residents healthy and active for years. She is the Manager of the Public Health Programs at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service. Plus, she worked with Healthy Maine Partnerships to create the Maine Physical Activity and Nutrition Program. Lori’s passion for nutritional community outreach has been a cornerstone of the Guiding Stars Scientific Advisory Panel. Lori regularly contributes to the Guiding Stars blog.

Other posts by Lori Kaley

One of my favorite aspects of Guiding Stars is when I am standing in the grocery store aisle deciding what to buy; I can look at all the crackers, for example, and compare them all by star value, regardless of brand, manufacturer or price. The other day I wanted to choose more nutritious crackers to have in the pantry at home. I know that some crackers can be made from refined white flour with little whole grain or fiber and can be high in fat and salt. I have teenage daughters who are physically active and even though I know that nature’s best snacks are fruits and vegetables (2 & 3 star foods!), sometimes we choose to have crackers and other snack foods on hand as well. So, I am looking at the array of crackers and checking the shelf tags for the presence and number of Guiding Stars. At the same time, I am also comparing prices. Most importantly, I must admit, I am checking to see if any of our favorite yummy crackers get any stars. Lo and behold, the reduced-fat version of one of our family’s favorite whole grain crackers gets 2 stars! With confidence, I snatch up a box and place it in my shopping cart.

As a Registered Dietitian, I know how to read the Nutrition Facts panel, and I do spend time doing this while shopping, especially when choosing new or different items. I can use what I learn both for my profession and to make choices for my family. Reading the Nutrition Facts panel at the supermarket does take time, and I believe it also takes some skill and training. As part of keeping up with nutrition information for my profession, I will go to the grocery store with a pad and pen when I am not shopping for groceries, just to learn about new products. With Guiding Stars, I know that much of the work of deciphering the Nutrition Facts panel and the ingredients list has been done for me. I can now use Guiding Stars to quickly and easily choose the most nutritious foods for my family, those with one star–good, two stars–better, or three stars–best nutritional value. I am proud to serve on the Scientific Advisory Panel for Guiding Stars, knowing that I have been part of creating a useful tool to help consumers choose more nutritious foods and beverages.