It’s one thing to tell someone to make healthy choices while at the doctor’s office, but it can be much more powerful to actually show them how to do it when the food options are directly in front of them. This is why El Camino Hospital has partnered with Safeway to bring their Answers in the Aisles™ program to the downtown Los Altos Safeway store. This program is in support of community health that educates shoppers and promotes smart food choices where the actual decisions are made.
“We are looking beyond the hospital and clinical offices to help people stay well. Answers in the Aisles is a great way to bring preventive health directly to the community,” says Cecile Currier, Vice President of Corporate and Community Health Services for El Camino Hospital. Cecile views the pilot program as an example of the hospital’s forward-thinking attitude toward community health, noting that El Camino Hospital is the first local healthcare provider to partner with Safeway for a program of this type.
The Answers in the Aisles program educates people about smart food choices to avoid or reduce the risks and effects of hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. On Mondays and Thursdays, you can find Sheri Berger, El Camino Hospital’s registered dietitian and the face of the program, leading a store tour, conducting a workshop, or striking up a conversation about what to look for on nutrition labels. Sheri is passionate about helping people make better food choices, and this program allows her to share her knowledge in an impactful way.
The partnership with Safeway is the latest chapter in El Camino Hospital’s well established history of partnering with organizations in Silicon Valley in order to develop innovative ways to deliver care and education. As Cecile explains, “It’s more than treating people when they’re sick—we care about preventing health issues and promoting smart choices. We want to encourage healthy habits in the community.”
The downtown Los Altos Safeway is located at 160 1st Street, Los Altos. The Answers in the Aisles program will be offered throughout 2017.
Learn more about El Camino Hospital’s wellness programs, community wellness through our Chinese Health Initiative and South Asian Heart Center, and complementary wellness services available for patients.