Author: Paulina Tran

Cooking Matters ® at the Store (CMATS) grocery tours are one time, hands-on nutrition tours designed to help low-income adults make healthy, affordable choices at the supermarket. All materials, including facilitator guides, participant booklets and incentives are provided free of charge.

Who can participate in CMATS tours?
Anyone at risk of hunger or malnutrition due to inadequate income is eligible to attend one CMATS tour
How do CMATS tours work?
CMATS tours take place in local grocery stores and last 90 minutes
Tours are led by volunteers from the community including dietitians, community nutrition educators, and culinary professionals
There is no charge to attend a CMATS tour
What will we cover in a CMATS tour?
CMATS tours use a set curriculum that was developed by a nutritionist with extensive experience working with low-income communities
Tours cover key shopping skills such as reading food labels, comparing unit prices, and shopping for fruits and vegetables on a budget
At the end of the tour, participants practice what they’ve learned during the $10 Challenge
What do CMATS participants receive?
A booklet that covers nutrition, food budgeting, and healthy recipes
A reusable grocery bag
$10 gift card that will be used during the $10 Challenge

“I liked the comparisons between the bread. It was enlightening that everything is not true on the label.”

After participating in a CMATS tour:
89% of families report saving money on groceries
85% of families report buying less unhealthy food