Monthly Store Visits Aim to Help Participants Improve Food and Diet Choices
Carthage Area Hospital’s Clinical Nutrition is pleased to announce a partnership with Schenectady-based Price Chopper Supermarkets to lead grocery tours of stores in Carthage and Watertown while providing information on healthy foods.
“Aisles of Wellness Grocery Tours — Navigating Healthy Choices” is an initiative led by Carthage Area Hospital Nutrition Support Clinician Susie K. Ray. “Grocery shopping can be a daunting task, and it doesn’t need to be,” Ray said. “The grocery store makes a wonderful classroom.”
Tour participants will learn fun ways to navigate a store while discovering delicious healthy foods, what to look for when selecting food items, how to read nutrition labels, identify which foods pack the best nutritional punch, select healthy snacks, eat healthy on a budget, and plan for quick, healthy meals, among other things.
Ideal participants include those who are beginning a new diet plan or are engaged in weight loss, or those who may be at risk for diabetes. A grocery store tour is also a great way for those who have celiac disease, food allergies or other medical conditions to learn how to make smart food choices while addressing specific health needs.
Tour cost is $5, a great value, payable at the time of registration. Participation lasts between 90 minutes and two hours. Tours are presently monthly or by appointment and are available at Carthage Price Chopper, 60 High St., or Watertown Price Chopper, 1283 Arsenal St., and do not require a physician referral.
At the completion of the tour, participants get a special $5 Price Chopper gift card, making it easy to apply their new skills, and will be entered into an immediate raffle to win a special $50 Price Chopper gift card.
Those interested in a grocery tour should call 315-493-1000 and ask for the Nutrition Department, or sign up online at carthagehospital.com/grocerytours.
About Carthage Area Hospital’s Nutritional Services
Carthage Hospital’s team of Registered Dietitians guide patients in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They offer a personalized approach to meet individual nutrition needs and create eating plans that are easy to follow and monitor.
The hospital’s dietitians are food and nutrition experts who provide medical nutrition therapy and nutrition education for a wide range of medical conditions, including: diabetes, weight management, obesity, eating disorders, food allergies and nutritional support, among others.
Registered Dietitians are available to meet patients at the hospital’s main campus, 1001 West St., as well as in outpatient clinics by appointment. Call 315-493-1000, and ask for the Nutrition Department to schedule an appointment.
About the Tour Leader
Bio: Susan “Susie” K. Ray is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Board Certified Nutrition Support Clinician who joined the Carthage Area Hospital’s Clinical Nutrition team in January 2017. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She earned a Master of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Colorado State University. Susie is a Denver, Colo., native who moved to the North Country in 2016 with her husband, Dr. Damian Ray, a family medicine physician who practices in Watertown. She provides nutritional services in the hospital and the community. Outside of work, Susie enjoys gardening, animals, traveling, cooking and baking and has a knack for arts and crafts.
About Carthage Area Hospital
Carthage Area Hospital was established as a not-for-profit rural community hospital in 1965. It operates today as a fully accredited 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, serving approximately 83,000 residents in Jefferson, northern Lewis and southern St. Lawrence counties. The hospital announced a clinical affiliation with Crouse Health, Syracuse, in December 2017.
The hospital also operates a network of community-based clinics, including its Family Health Center, Pediatric Clinic and Women’s Way to Wellness and provides a range of specialty care, including general surgery, orthopedics, urology, neurosurgical services, physical therapy and behavioral health.