OptUP® and FoodHealth Scores: Eating Well, Simplified

At Kroger, we believe that eating healthy should be simple—that’s why we created the OptUP^® Program. It’s a user-friendly tool designed to simplify the process of choosing nutritious options and to help you make informed grocery decisions with ease. Unlike other tools that track nutrition, there’s no tedious manual logging of food or meals required.

OptUP^® can help you find better choices through these features: the FoodHealth Score, Better for You options, and My Nutrition Insights.

FoodHealth Score

Central to the OptUP^® program is the FoodHealth Score, developed in collaboration with FoodHealth Company. Foods are scored on a scale from 1 to 100, offering a snapshot of their nutritional value—the higher the score, the more nutritious the food. The FoodHealth Score is on the Kroger app or online on each product page of individual items by the nutrition facts panel. You can even use your app in-store to scan items to check its FoodHealth Score.

The FoodHealth Score analyzes a food's ingredients and nutrition facts to calculate a score. The score is based on two primary factors:

• Ingredient Quality: the type and quality of ingredients used.
• Nutrient Density: the amount of beneficial nutrients, like fiber and protein, relative to the calories.

Foods get a higher score when they have high ingredient quality (whole grains, healthy fats) and high nutrient density (protein, fiber, potassium)

Foods get a lower score when they have low ingredient quality (refined grains, artificial additives) and low nutrient density (saturated fats, added sugar)

Products are classified as:

• Green (Items Scored Between 80-100): Load up! These are nutritious, Better for You options. Our dietitians recommend filling your cart with green foods and eating them at every meal.
• Light Green (Items Scored Between 50-79): These foods offer a balance of nutrients like fiber, protein, and whole grains while being moderate in saturated fat, sodium, and sugar. Our dietitians recommend a significant portion of your cart should be light green foods and to eat these foods daily.
• Yellow (Items Scored Between 20-49): These foods fall somewhere in the middle because they have less nutritional value compared to green foods but still offer some nutritional benefit. Our dietitians recommend that yellow items make up a moderate portion of your cart and to enjoy these a few times per week.
• Red (Items Scored Between 1-19): Enjoy these foods mindfully and in smaller portions. Our dietitians recommend that red items make up a smaller portion of your cart since they tend to have the lowest nutritional value.

Since mindful eating is all about balance and all foods can fit into a nourishing diet, strive to shop mostly green and light green category items while reserving a smaller portion of your cart for red category items to enjoy in moderation.

OptUP^® Scores: Personalized for Your Household’s Purchases

The FoodHealth Scores from your purchases are used to calculate your OptUP^® score from each grocery trip. By regularly reviewing this score, you can gain valuable insights into the nutritional quality of the products you purchase, compare results from month-to-month, and track your progress over time. Our team of

Registered Dietitians recommends aiming for an OptUP^® Score above 600 to guide balanced eating, to help you eat the nutrients you need while still enjoying your favorite foods.

Better for You Options

Want to boost your OptUP^® score? With simplified ways to choose better-for-you options, you can easily compare options at a glance to improve your cart’s overall nutrition.

Tap on a product to check below the Nutrition Information and discover Better for You options on each product page. These recommendations show similar products that have higher-rated FoodHealth Scores than the original item you were viewing. Healthy eating is all about balance—when you're open to a change, choose a more nourishing option that still fits your tastes!

My Nutrition Insights: Personalized Guidance

By using your Shopper’s Card when buying groceries at one of the Kroger Family of Companies, you can access My Nutrition Insights—a personalized dashboard that analyzes your purchases, tracks your OptUP^® Score, and offers personalized recommendations to encourage healthy shopping and to support your health goals. You can find My Nutrition Insights in your app.

Looking to create a personalized healthy eating plan? Loyalty members get a FREE 30-minute virtual chat to tailor these digital shopping tools to your preferences for simple and delicious solutions that work for you! Schedule your FREE virtual chat now.

Putting It Into Action

These are some of our dietitians’ top product picks to enjoy with high FoodHealth Scores (all in the green and light green categories) to get you started. For even more recipes, browse our Kroger Health Dietitians’ better-for-you recipes section and discover plenty of new ideas to satisfy your tastes and nutrient needs.

Get Started Today

Research has shown that a diet focused on a variety of nutrient-dense foods can help to improve your health. OptUP^® and the FoodHealth Score equips you with information to help you make choices that can support a healthy lifestyle, while allowing you to find flexibility where you can in your diet.

OptUP^® aims to make it easier to live a healthier life through a "Food as Medicine" approach. To find nutritious options and set health goals, you can also meet with a registered dietitian for more expert and personalized nutrition guidance.

^{Disclaimer: This information is educational only and is not meant to provide healthcare recommendations. Please see a healthcare provider.}