Ingles Markets - Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pharmacies

Ask Leah!

Nutrition Talks by the Ingles Dietitian

Since taking the job of being the Corporate Dietitian for Ingles Supermarkets almost eight years ago, Leah McGrath's days have been filled with a variety of tasks. A tour for the diabetes support group in Gaffney, South Carolina at one of the Ingles Supermarkets may be on her schedule for a Monday. The next week she plans to drive to Knoxville, Tennessee to speak to Nutrition students at University of Tennessee. Later in the week she'll be on the road again to Conyers, Georgia to participate in a health fair at a Rockdale Hospital. She also writes articles that appear in local publications, on the Ingles website and in Ingles sales flyer.

Based at Ingles corporate headquarters in Black Mountain, North Carolina, McGrath is involved in many events in the Western North Carolina area. Asked if she minds all the travel McGrath replied, "No, I'm fortunate that our stores are in some beautiful areas so the driving doesn't bother me."

With a clinical and public health background and extensive experience in public speaking; McGrath spends a good portion of her time doing supermarket tours and talks for different community and support groups to educate the public about nutrition and food related issues. "There are a few talks that I give that are really popular. I would have to say that the "New Products at Ingles" is one because I bring samples and since we are always adding new items, it is always interesting and educational for me as well. The others that are frequently requested are: "Organic Foods" and "Carbohydrate Counting in the Supermarket". I am especially passionate about diabetes education since my father had Type 2 diabetes, so I often work with diabetes support groups and give talks and tours."

There is no charge for the talks or tours but there are some guidelines about sizes of groups and the time of day that tours can be done within an Ingles Supermarket. For more information about Leah's talks click here to find a list of topics.

Nutritional Info