RANKIN INLET - Put the pop and chips back on the shelf - it's time to think about healthy eating. This is the message of a new program put in place in Northern and NorthMart stores across Canada.

"It's basically to try to educate customers when they're going around shopping," said Terry Kent, Rankin Inlet's Northern Store manager.

"You're looking for more nutritious, healthy food. The whole idea is colour."

The idea behind the program is 'Paint Your Plate,' using colour-coded signs in all sections of the grocery store, to encourage people to have all four food groups on their plate at mealtimes.

"It means choosing different colour foods from all the different food groups - if your cart is filled with blue, green, red and yellow foods then you're eating a balanced diet," said Suzanne Hajto, creator of the program. Hajto is a registered dietitian with the North West Company, which owns the stores.

The program, Hajto said, is meant to make eating healthily easier and more accessible for people who have relied on more processed junk foods in the past. The program was created specifically for Northerners.

"The signs show healthier options that are more applicable to Northern populations where the transportation of fresh goods can sometimes be an issue depending on the time of year or depending on the weather," said Hajto. There are, for example, signs in the frozen aisle reminding people that frozen fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as fresh - and often cheaper, a concern in places where fresh produce can cost a bundle. The signs encourage healthy, affordable eating.

"It is absolutely true that if you cook a meal for a family of four from scratch, or at least adding a couple of things to a pot or putting together a noodle casserole, is much more affordable than feeding a family on ready-to-eat foods," she said.

Grocery stores have to cater to their customers and so the stores will still have shelves filled with cookies, candies and sugary drinks, but it's about educating the customer, Hajto said.

"It's all about choice and it's all about making small steps toward healthy eating and picking healthier foods," she said.

"Really it's not a simple process and so our overall goal of at least highlighting these healthier choices is to increase awareness around what these foods are and how people can use them in their homes."

Kent said he thinks the program will work, but it's going to take time and the signs have only been up for a couple of weeks.

"We still sell a lot of pop and chips," Coombs added.

"Because we offer all aspects of food it's nice for people to have that complete option of eating healthier," said Kent.

"The more we can promote it, the better off we'll all be."

Hajto said eating healthy can improve almost any health problem as so many are related to obesity.

"By eating proper portions and eating fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat and alternatives and whole wheat grain products you can alleviate or prevent a lot of issues like cardio vascular disease, diabetes and high cholesterol ... even certain types of cancer," she said.

The signs are going to be permanent in the stores, according to Kent. Other parts of the program include monthly recipe and snack ideas and resource materials for health professionals looking to promote nutrition in their communities.

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