Capt. Cara Beavert, clinical dietitian for U.S. Army Health Clinic-Vicenza shares tips for healthy grocery shopping options with Maria Knight (left) and grocery manager Maria Sims (right) Sept. 13 during the first dietitian-led Healthy Eating Seminar...

With the holidays approaching, now is a great time to start making some informed changes to your usual grocery shopping list. In collaboration with the Defense Commissary Agency, the U.S. Army Health Clinic-Vicenza is offering dietitian-led Healthy Eating Seminars at the Caserma Ederle Commissary.

This free, interactive walking seminar will help you gain better awareness about food choices and the effects of those choices. A clinical dietitian will lead the seminar, offering guidance, answering questions and demonstrating how to shop more efficiently with a health-focused mindset.

"A healthy eating pattern is more than just picking fruits and vegetables. This seminar is tailored to your needs and your family's preferences for foods. Think "eat this more often, that less often" rather than "don't ever eat this again,'" said Capt. Cara Beavert, clinical dietitian for U.S. Army Health Clinic-Vicenza.

"Just knowing how to shop and which option is a better, healthier choice can be empowering. It enables you to stay on budget, accommodate your family's picky eating habits and provide healthy options," said Beavert.

"The tour informed me how to shop smart and healthy. Recipes, cooking tips and product samples inspired me to eat cleaner," said Maria Knight a participant at the first Healthy Eating Seminar at the Caserma Ederle Commissary Sept. 13.

"This is a great opportunity for the U.S. Army Health Clinic-Vicenza to partner with the community and support healthy lifestyles in an approachable way. In this seminar you will learn how to read labels instead of just the large lettering on the packaging. After attending the seminar myself, I feel motivated to make healthier choices while grocery shopping for my family," said Lt. Col. Kelley Togiola, Deputy Commander for Nursing Services, U.S. Army Health Clinic--Vicenza.

The free seminar is offered the 2nd Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. and registration is recommended. Call 0444-61-9000 and select option 2 then option 1 to request a spot in the next dietitian-led Healthy Eating Seminar at the commissary.

Additional resources on the Defense Commissary Agency website at www.commissaries.com can enhance your shopping experience with their healthy living "Thinking Outside the Box" recipes and toolkits.