It happens every week. I stand in the bread aisle of the grocery store and debate whether I should spend $4 on nutrient-rich, healthy whole-wheat hot dog buns or just plop down 99 cents for the refined flour and high-fructose corn syrup-laden ones. The thrifty shopper in me argues with the guilt-ridden mom, who already feels bad enough about letting her kids eat hot dogs. Whole wheat wins out. I throw the buns into the cart, steamed that the healthier choice makes such a dent in my grocery budget.
Last January, mega-retailer Walmart pledged to make this challenge easier. On a Washington, D.C., stage lined with polished produce, Walmart executives and First Lady Michelle Obama announced a nutritional charter to make the food the company sells healthier, more accessible and more affordable.
Kirsten Harrington 