Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest grocery chain, recently announced it’s commitment to healthy food at affordable prices.

In a speech by Leslie Dock, Wal-Mart’s Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs, credit is given to First Lady Michelle Obama, and her “Let’s Move!” campaign for being “the catalyst” of Wal-Mart’s initiative.

The First Lady later takes the stage, praising Wal-Mart’s move as “a great victory” for families. (According to a YouTube news report, this is the first time that Mrs. Obama has ever publicly endorsed a private retailer.)

According to Sustainable Life Media, the “nutrition charter” is rooted in five components* aimed at making it easier for moms to afford healthy foods for their families:

1. Reformulating thousands of everyday packaged food items by 2015 by reducing sodium 25 percent and added sugars 10 percent, and by removing all remaining industrially produced trans- fats. The company will work with suppliers to improve the nutritional quality of national food brands and its Great Value private brand in key product categories to complete the reformulations;
2. Making healthier choices more affordable, saving customers approximately $1 billion per year on fresh fruits and vegetables through a variety of sourcing, pricing, and transportation and logistics initiatives that will drive unnecessary costs out of the supply chain. Wal-Mart will also dramatically reduce or eliminate the price premium on key “better-for-you” items, such as reduced sodium, sugar or fat products;
3. Developing strong criteria for a simple front-of-package seal that will help consumers instantly identify truly healthier food options such as whole grain cereal, whole wheat pasta or unsweetened canned fruit;
4. Providing solutions to address food deserts by building stores in underserved communities that are in need of fresh and affordable groceries; and
5. Increasing charitable support for nutrition programs that help educate consumers about healthier food solutions and choices.

*Elements listed are directly quoted from Sustainable Life Media

What do YOU think of Wal-Mart’s move?

p.s. We love Rodale’s ideas for how to “Be your own Wal-Mart.”

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Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.