OFS to host Cooking Matters at the Store Tour

ST. LOUIS – Local, St. Louis-based nonprofit hunger relief organization, Operation Food Search (OFS), announced it will be hosting a Cooking Matters at the Store® Tour Event Day.

“Much more than a food bank, Operation Food Search has the mission to nourish and educate our neighbors in need to heal the hurt of hunger,” Carmen Berry, MPH, RD, LD, manager of nutrition education at OFS, said. “To accomplish this mission, we have expanded our function beyond just food distribution to include education programs specifically created to empower families with the skills they need to produce low-cost and nutritious food for their families.”

The tour will be held on Saturday, May 11th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Schnucks St. John (9070 St. Charles Rock Road).

The 20-minute self-guided interactive grocery store tour, funded through Newman’s Own Foundation, is free and open to the public. The tours through the supermarket’s produce, bakery, meat, and dairy departments, will show local families and individuals how to make healthy and affordable shopping choices.

Berry shared that OFS takes part in Cooking Matters at the Store “event days’ because families who are on a tight budget have reported that the cost of healthy groceries is their biggest barrier in making healthy meals at home.

“We can reach up to 200 participants in a single day, empowering all with simple, smart, and useful shopping tips,” she said.

Upon completing the tour and a brief survey, participants will receive a $10 Schnucks’ gift card. The post-survey allows OFS to assess the impact of the event day.

“We have seen great results that as a result of the tour, majority of participants are intending to read the ingredient list to find whole grains, compare unit prices to find the best deal, compare food labels to make healthy choices, and they comment that they have gained the confidence in making smart, healful choices,” Berry said.