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GBFB Chooses Healthy Options

Published on March 14, 2016

Pantries want to offer the best possible foods for their clients, but not everyone is a nutrition expert. That’s why we use CHOP, a simple nutrition ranking system.

GBFB understands the importance of a healthy diet and has made a commitment to support healthy lives and healthy communities through the food we distribute. A key component of that commitment, the Choosing Healthy Options Program (CHOP) helps pantries quickly identify the nutritional value of the food we offer them.

Pantries want to order a variety of food for their clients, and there is an increased desire for healthy options. CHOP helps them identify the right items to order.
Pantries want to order a variety of food for their clients, and there is an increased desire for healthy options. CHOP helps them identify the right items to order.

Hundreds of food pantries in Eastern Massachusetts regularly “shop” online to pick out items from the GBFB warehouse to stock their shelves. CHOP makes it easy for them to recognize the nutritional value of each product.

A Simple System

Developed by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, CHOP simplifies the information found on product nutrition facts labels into a 3-point scale, with two additional designations for other items:

1-Choose Frequently: nutrient-dense foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.

2-Choose Occasionally: food items that provide good nutrition, but should only be enjoyed once in a while.

3-Choose Rarely: foods that should be considered a special treat instead of eaten regularly.

MC-Minimum Content: items that do not have much nutritive value. Condiments are an example of items found in this category.

NR-Not Ranked: items that cannot be ranked because they are non-food or because they are part of an assortment.

Healthy foods are especially important for kids to support growing minds and bodies. That's why our Healthy Futures Campaign is so important.
Healthy foods are especially important to support growing minds and bodies. That’s why our Healthy Futures Campaign is so important.

GBFB ensures at least 80% of the foods we distribute rank a 1 or 2 on the CHOP scale. Nutrition-ranking information for every product in our warehouse is available on ShopGBFB, the online inventory system used by our member agencies to order food from GBFB. Having this information available to our member agencies ensures that they’re able to choose healthy options when ordering food for their clients.

We hope that you’ll consider joining us to support our commitment to providing nutritious food to our neighbors in need and to ending hunger in Eastern Massachusetts.

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