Editors’ Note: The OptUP app is no longer supported and is not available to download. However, you can access similar features within the Kroger app.
Lately, it seems like the word “healthy” is on everyone’s mind. Whether it’s choosing to go low-carb (or keto), low-sodium, meatless or Mediterranean, people are choosing to redefine the way they eat.
But when you head to the supermarket, where there are literally thousands of ingredients within reach, it’s not always easy to determine what’s going to be good for your body and what’s not. Common sense says a bundle of kale is better for you than a tub of ice cream—but how do you know which pasta sauce is the healthiest? Or if your protein bar is actually a candy bar in disguise?
“Eight out of 10 customers are confused about nutrition and regularly doubt what they’re putting in their mouths,” said Allison Kuhn (M.S., R.D., L.N.), Director of Retail Nutrition at Kroger. “Less than half of them can connect a food or nutrient to a health benefit that they care about.” That’s why Kroger created a feature within its smartphone app called OptUP.
What Is OptUP?
Developed by a dedicated team of registered dietitians, analysts and experts, OptUP is a small but powerful feature within the Kroger mobile app that shares access to comprehensive nutrition information for thousands of products in a super user-friendly way. Kroger’s goal? Make healthy eating simple.
Each food item is given a 1-100 rating. Less healthy items, like a Hershey’s bar, fall to the bottom of the scale, while all fresh produce is ranked at the top of the list. You can see simplified nutritional information on your smartphone by scanning the barcode of an item while shopping.
“This is not about telling people what’s good and bad, what you should and shouldn’t eat, instituting food guilt or anything like that,” Kuhns explains, “this is that guidance around balance and intuitive eating.”
Here’s how you can save money at Kroger.
How It Works
Compare Ingredients
To use the OptUP feature on your Kroger app, you can either search for ingredients or scan items at the store to find its OptUp nutrition rating. To test the feature, I looked up the ingredients I needed for my favorite peanut butter oatmeal recipe. I found the old-fashioned oats, honey and flaxseed were all healthy choices, scoring in the “green zone” of 71 points or more. When I got to the peanut butter section, I was shocked to see the results. Some of the usual brands I reached for were actually pretty unhealthy.
I compared my favorite peanut butter to the other peanut butter brands on the list and was surprised to find that it was one of the least healthy options I could buy. The app then introduced me to a new brand that had a much higher nutritional rating.
Track Your Shopping Habits
Another special feature Kroger has available—and one I find most appealing—is the ability to track your shopping tendencies over time. By using your grocery store savings card linked to your Kroger account, you are able to access a breakdown of just how healthy your recent shopping trips have been.
After you shop, head to More > My Nutrition Insights on the app or log into your account on Kroger’s website to see your personalized nutritional insights powered by OptUp. Based on recent purchases, you’ll be given a score that averages the nutritional value of your groceries on a scale of 0-1,000. It even tracks your weekly progress on a nifty pie chart.
This system makes grocery shopping game-like, as you’re urged to raise your score each time you shop. If my score fell a few points, I made sure that my next visit was even better by stocking up on these simple healthy ingredients dietitians always have on hand. If you’d like even more grocery guidance, Kroger’s Little Clinic can help.
Should You Try It?
After testing out this feature for a few months, I’d say that it helped me be more mindful at the store—especially when it came to shopping in the packaged goods aisles. However, if you’re one to keep a food diary, know that this isn’t a replacement. Since you’re not technically logging what you eat and to what extent, you might end up overindulging in even the healthiest foods in your shopping cart. Learn about healthy foods you should only eat in moderation.
Another possible downside is that when you’re purchasing groceries for your friends or family, their eating habits might affect your own OptUP score.
That all being said, I’d suggest giving the app a go. You might find yourself making healthier choices—or even find a new favorite brand of peanut butter. Download the Kroger app for Apple or Android.
Quick and Healthy Dinner Ideas
Flavorful Chicken Fajitas
These chicken fajitas will definitely become a staple in your home. The marinated chicken in these popular wraps is mouthwatering. You'll be shocked at how quickly these come together!
Go to Recipe
Spaghetti & Meatball Skillet SupperThis weeknight dinner has all the works. The beans and artichokes are a great way to sneak in veggies, especially if you have little ones.
Shrimp Orzo with FetaA good orzo recipe sticks with you forever, and this one will easily claim a spot in your heart—but mostly your stomach! The feta cheese really brings this dish together. Check out these
heart-healthy suppers that will have both your heart and your taste buds thanking you!
Herbed Balsamic ChickenThis healthy dinner recipe is for those with cramped kitchens and a grill outside. The chicken tastes refreshing and is best served with a big salad.
Mediterranean Pork and OrzoThis quick Mediterranean meal is mostly flavored with tomatoes and feta cheese. You can season the pork to your taste, or even substitute the pork for chicken thighs.
Healthy Chicken with Mushroom SauceThis healthy dinner recipe is on par with what you'd get at a restaurant. It's simple and accessible to everyone. Don't be afraid to season the chicken before cooking!
Creamy Pasta PrimaveraThis springtime dish looks beautiful on any dinner table. The parmesan cream sauce pleasantly seasons the vegetables. Adding a protein is optional, but we recommend shrimp or chicken sausage.
Pasta lovers, listen up! You'll love these
healthy pasta sauce recipes, too.Â
Chicken Thighs with Shallots & SpinachIf you have a bigger family, or just a penchant for leftovers, this speedy dinner is the one for you. The side dish and main course cook together, leaving you more time to go about your day!
Fresh Corn and Tomato FettuccineThis dinner is fresh, light and perfect for days when you have a late lunch. It can be served hot or cold, and is great either way!
Cheeseburger Macaroni SkilletWho said cheeseburgers and mac and cheese couldn't be healthy? This one-skillet dinner is a hit with kids and adults. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry!
Asian Chicken Rice BowlThis super flavorful, nutrient-packed dish makes use of supermarket conveniences like coleslaw mix and rotisserie chicken. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled for large families.
Skillet Sea ScallopsThe breadcrumbs make the scallops crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They're simple, addictive and don't require eggs to coat! Zoodles and mixed greens nicely complement the tender and citrusy scallops.
Sausage & Vegetable Skillet DinnerYou can't go wrong with sausage and potatoes. This dish relies on simple but strong flavors like garlic, onion and red pepper flakes.
Weeknight Chicken Chop SueyThis chop suey-inspired meal uses fruit instead of vegetables. The colorful outcome is sweetened with apples and pineapples. You can serve this with chow mein noddles for an extra crunch.
California Burger WrapsLettuce wraps are the holy grail for those who like extra crunch in their meals. You can substitute the ground beef for ground turkey for an even healthier spin.
Pesto Corn Salad with ShrimpRunning out of ways to make shrimp? This healthy dinner recipe is great for a sunny day. Corn, tomatoes and basil shine in this pesto salad.
Lemon-Parsley Baked CodFish recipes, especially
healthy cod recipes, seem difficult with kids or picky eaters. But rest easy, because this lemon cod is simple, easy and enjoyed by all. We recommend fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.
Grilled Pineapple Chimichurri ChickenThis classic chimichurri is given a Hawaiian twist thanks to pineapple and macadamia nuts. For a spicier version, substitute red serrano pepper for the bell pepper.
Hawaiian Pork ChopsThink deconstructed Hawaiian pizza. The pork chops are served on a bed of pineapple and green pepper. It's sweet, savory and a soon to be family favorite.
Pesto Vegetable PizzaThis pizza is so fresh, you won't even think about takeout. With mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes, every bite packs a punch!
Baked Lemon HaddockThis baked haddock is crunchy and buttery—everything you'd want from fish. The lemon and garlic work together as the best flavor combination. It'd go great with any of these
healthy side dishes!
Chicken and Broccoli with Dill SauceThis dish is made complete with a side of brown rice or couscous. Make use of the dill from your garden and try out this tasty recipe! You'll turn the most stubborn broccoli haters on their heads.
Spinach QuesadillasQuesadilla night is always the best night. Dipped in sour cream, these cheesy spinach and tomato quesadillas are a dream. Remove the spinach from the heat as soon as it wilts.
Healthy Peanut Chicken Stir-FryThis healthy dish is not only pretty to look at, but it also has the perfect flavor profile. It's a bit sweet from the peanut butter and brown sugar, and then packs a bit of heat through the red pepper flakes. You can double the sauce depending on your preference.
Ginger Salmon with Green BeansThis lemon, garlic and honey salmon is served with green beans. This pairing is great for a quick and light dinner. You'll come back to the lemon dressing again and again!
Pressure-Cooker Spicy Beef Vegetable StewThis healthy dinner recipe is contingent on what jarred meatless pasta sauce you use, so be sure to use your favorite! What makes this dish spicy is a can of green chiles. If that's not your preference, adjust accordingly. Serve this meal with warm cornbread, sourdough or French bread.
Pork Chops with Nectarine SalsaThe sweet, fruity salsa balances the spicy pork rub in this delightful dinner. You can choose either sliced peaches or nectarines for the base.
Red Pepper & Parmesan TilapiaThis tilapia is a go to recipe. The old reliable of dinners, if you will. A little spicy, a little cheesy, it really has it all.
Healthier-than-Egg RollsThe best part of takeout is the egg rolls. But when you're feeling like a home cooked meal, egg rolls can prove rather tricky to make. This recipe takes the hard part of frying out of the equation, but leaves all of the taste. If you prefer a traditional egg roll made with wrappers, you can use this as the filling!
Black Bean & Corn QuinoaThis is quinoa done right! This black bean and corn dinner can be topped with avocado or cheese. To avoid mushy quinoa, measure your ingredients accurately and avoid excess liquid.
Beef & Spinach Lo MeinThis stir fry will satisfy all your needs. If you like it saucy, double or even triple the amount of sauce. You can add more vegetables too, like broccoli or mushrooms.
Curry ShrimpCurry powder and greek yogurt are the stars of this Indian-inspired curry shrimp. This is a nice change of pace from classic shrimp recipes that hopefully acts as the catalyst to trying more
Indian dinners.
Bean BurritosCheesy bean burritos are the ultimate comfort food. The six-ingredient dinner is great for a busy weekday, or when you want to take a load off.
Bruschetta SteakHave you ever thought of bruschetta without bread? This steak is innovative, tasty and pretty great served with bread. Give it a try with flat iron or tenderloin.
Spinach and Mushroom Smothered ChickenWhen a recipe has "smothered" in the title, you know that it's going to be a good one. The chicken sits under a layer of melted cheese in a dish that comes together quickly for a nice family dinner.
Pork Chops with Honey-Garlic SauceYou're going to want to make extra honey-garlic sauce for dipping! This five ingredient dish can be served with green beans or rice pilaf.
Black Bean Chicken with RiceYou'll wonder why you haven't made this healthy dinner already. This spicy dish can be served with tortilla chips or a guacamole salad. It can even be stored up to four days in the refrigerator.
Grilled Garden Veggie PizzaThe great thing about pizza is that anything goes. The topping can range from fruits and veggies to meat to dessert. This healthy dinner recipe relies on your garden's bounty, so pile on anything you've got!
Pizza in a BowlThe title really says it all! This meal is put together in a flash and if you double the recipe, you can impress your friends at any potluck.
Naked Fish TacosThese naked fish tacos bring forth the joys of eating fish tacos without any of the mess. This tortilla-less meal can be served with rice or corn if you want it to be a little more filling.
Avocado Crab BoatsThese boats are wonderful with tortilla chips, beans or rice. They'd make an excellent addition to any picnic or potluck too. You can even try these with shrimp instead of crab!
Shrimp with Warm German-Style ColeslawWith fennel and tarragon, this is a savory and tangy dish. Normally, shrimp and coleslaw isn't the first combination you'd think of, but the pairing resembles that of a deconstructed shrimp taco. You can even use chicken in place of shrimp!
Skillet Beef TamalesYour kids will love this easy and cheesy dinner. You can even freeze the cooked meat to save yourself a little time in the future.
Tilapia FlorentineYou've heard of chicken florentine, but get ready for tilapia florentine! This simple and healthy dish uses spinach and ricotta cheese. You can use any whitefish for this recipe and really make it your own.
Chicken Tacos with Avocado SalsaYou'll love this avocado and tomato salsa. The chicken is seasoned generously, with a bit of heat coming from the chili powder and paprika. This helps the salsa shine even more.
White Wine Garlic ChickenThis garlic chicken is fantastic over cooked brown rice and with a roasted veggie.
Curried Shrimp PastaThe sugar snap peas add a different crunch than you'd normally see in a pasta dish. But that's what makes it so fun! These leftovers make a great lunch the next day.
Easy Crab CakesReady-to-go crabmeat makes these delicate patties easier than other crab cake recipes. You can use a little extra mayo to make them more moist, but these delicious crab cakes really hold their own.
Southwestern Pineapple Pork ChopsThese saucy and citrusy pork chops will elevate your dinner rotation. And the best part? They're only five ingredients!
Lemon-Parsley TilapiaA lemony fish is always a recipe for success. The parsley gives it a pop of color!
Tortilla PieThis southwestern take on lasagna is not as heavy as traditional lasagna due to the lack of noodles. You can use ground turkey or a leaner ground beef if you're looking to customize it a little more.
Grilled Chicken and Mango SkewersKids love anything on a stick. And honestly, so do adults! These skewers will make the rounds at any get together you're hosting. They're simple, tangy and sweet!
Up Next: Filled to the brim with flavorful ingredients, these
easy healthy soup recipes are irresistible.
Updated: Nov. 17, 2023
