The Secret Resource You’re Not Taking Advantage of at Kroger
Updated: Dec. 15, 2022
Your local Kroger might be able to connect you with a registered dietitian. Is there a Little Clinic in your store?
Want to make healthy choices—but aren’t sure where to start at the grocery store? I know I’m pressed for time during the week and can’t help but grab ready-made food some days. You might want to learn more about a specific style of eating like going gluten-free or the paleo diet.
There’s a service at some Kroger stores that can help us out!
What Is The Little Clinic?
The Little Clinic partners customers with registered dietitians and nutritionists. It’s located right within select Kroger grocery stores and has reasonable prices, too. You can have personalized help from The Little Clinic, whether you’re looking to shift to a plant-based lifestyle, focus on heart-healthy foods, explore the Mediterranean diet or eat a more well-rounded diet.
What Services Does It Offer?
There are a variety of services at The Little Clinic that I didn’t even know existed. Here are the ones I liked most:
- Walk & Talk: You literally walk down the aisles of your grocery store with a dietitian to find the right food choices for your diet.
- Personal Nutrition Coaching: You can get a nutrition consultation with a registered dietitian. Yes, please!
- Group Programs: If being one-on-one with a dietitian feels intimidating, you can walk through grocery store aisles and watch cooking demos with a group.
- 90-Day Weight Management Program: This is a 14-session program focused on managing weight loss through healthy eating. You get one pre-health assessment, 12 dietitian sessions to hold you accountable and one post-health assessment. Kind of reminds us of Weight Watchers.
Where Can I Find One?
Right now, The Little Clinic is available in select Kroger, Fry’s, JayC, Dillons and King Soopers stores in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. You can find the location closest to you with their helpful Clinic Locator.
You might start seeing more “ugly produce” in Kroger—here’s why.
How Much Does It Cost?
The services are affordably priced, and they will also run a benefit check to see if your insurance will cover your sessions. (In other words, you might be able to see a dietitian at Kroger for free!)
Here’s what the rates look like:
- Walk & Talk: 30 minutes, $20
- Personal Nutrition Coaching: 30 minutes, $40
- 90-Day Weight Management Program: 14 sessions, 30 minutes each, $280, additional 30 minute sessions are priced at $20
At low prices that are possibly covered by insurance, and no commitment (except for the 90-day program), The Little Clinic seems to be worth a shot. Even one personal nutrition session or Walk & Talk through your local grocery store could help clear up any questions. It might even be the hands-on approach that you need to achieve your goals!
How to Eat Healthy on a Budget
Modern Tuna CasseroleTuna casserole was my favorite as a kid, and I found myself craving it as an adult. I reconfigured the recipe to include more vegetables, and the result is perfection. —Rebecca Blanton, St. Helena, California
Want more? Get your guide to healthy eating on a budget.
Healthy Turkey ChiliI've taken my mother's healthy turkey chili recipe and made it thicker and more robust. It's a favorite, especially in fall and winter. —Celesta Zanger, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Apples 'n' Onion Topped ChopsNow that my husband and I are trying to lose weight, I find it a challenge to come up with cheap, healthy dinner ideas that are flavorful, quick and appealing to us and our young daughter. This one fits the bill on all counts. —Beverly McLain, Endicott, New York
Spinach 'n' Broccoli EnchiladasI like to top this wonderful meatless meal with lettuce and serve it with extra picante sauce. It's quick, easy, filled with fresh flavor and definitely satisfying! —Lesley Tragesser, Charleston, Missouri
Psst...Find ways to save money on groceries.
Contest-Winning Greek Pasta BakeI've taken this hot dish to potlucks and it's received rave reviews. There's never a morsel left. Best of all, it's a simple, healthy and hearty supper made with cheap, healthy foods that are easy to find. —Anne Taglienti, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
We're big fans of these healthy pasta sauce recipes, too.Â
Cobb Salad WrapsA homemade dressing lightens up these refreshing tortilla wraps. The avocado, bacon, blue cheese and tomato deliver the flavors I enjoy most while keeping me on my healthy eating plan.
-Lynne Van Wagenen of Salt Lake City, Utah
Seasoned Tilapia FilletsIf you need a healthy, keep-it-simple solution to dinner tonight, you just found it. This restaurant-quality tilapia fillet recipe relies on spices you're likely to have on hand to deliver big flavor. This is how to make tilapia. —Dana Alexander, Lebanon, Missouri
Veggie-Cashew Stir-FryGetting my meat-loving husband and two sons, ages 5 and 7, to eat more veggies had always been a struggle until I whipped up this stir-fry. I was shocked when they cleaned their plates and asked for seconds. —Abbey Hoffman, Ashland, Ohio
Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken with PotatoesThis is a meal I have my students make in our nutrition unit. It has a delicious lemon-herb flavor and is simple to make. —Mindy Rottmund, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Egg Roll Noodle BowlWe love Asian egg rolls, but they can be challenging to make. Simplify everything with this deconstructed egg roll made on the stovetop and served in a bowl. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Slow-Cooked Caribbean Pot RoastThis dish is definitely a year-round recipe. Sweet potatoes, orange zest and baking cocoa are my surprise ingredients. —Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
Italian Sausage-Stuffed ZucchiniI've always had to be creative when getting my family to eat vegetables, so I decided to make stuffed zucchini using the pizza flavors that everyone loves. It worked! We like to include sausage for a main dish but it could be a meatless side too. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts
Chicken Florentine MeatballsServed over squash and a chunky, mushroom-tomato sauce, these tender meatballs are tops when it comes to great flavor. —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
Chicken Thighs with Shallots & SpinachWhat could be better than an entree that comes with its own creamy vegetable side? This healthy supper goes together in no time flat and makes an eye-catching presentation. —Genna Johannes, Wrightstown, Wisconsin
Buttery Grilled ShrimpThis grilled shrimp recipe is easy and delicious! These shrimp are great with steak, but for a special occasion, brush the sauce on lobster tails and grill. —Sheryl Shenberger, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Slow-Cooked Lemon ChickenGarlic, oregano and lemon juice give spark to this memorable main dish. It's easy to fix—just brown the chicken in a skillet, then let the slow cooker do the work. I like to serve this dish to company. —Walter Powell, Wilmington, Delaware
Tortellini Caesar SaladThis salad was served at a dear friend's baby shower by a health-conscious friend, who suggested the dressing be prepared with low-fat or fat-free ingredients. Either way, the creamy dressing has plenty of garlic flavor and coats the pasta, romaine and croutons nicely. —Tammy Steenbock, Sembach Air Base, Germany
Zucchini & Sausage Stovetop CasseroleGather zucchini from your garden or farmers market and start cooking. My family goes wild for this wholesome casserole. You can grate the zucchini if you'd like. —LeAnn Gray, Taylorsville, Utah
Parmesan Chicken with Artichoke HeartsI've liked the chicken and artichoke combo for a long time. Here's my own lemony twist. With all the praise it gets, this dinner is so much fun to serve. —Carly Giles, Hoquiam, Washington
Originally Published: December 18, 2018
