The North Georgia Health District has brought a nationwide program to help families make decisions to purchase affordable, nutritious food to Cherokee County.

Shopping Matters will teach registered shoppers how they can purchase healthy food on a budge. Sponsored by the North Georgia Women, Infants and Children (WIC) initiative, the program takes participants on a free grocery store tour by a train facilitator and "will empower them with knowledge about how to shop for and prepare healthy meals," according to a press release.

Participatns will then be given a book that includes information provided during the tour and tasty, easy recipes for meals to make for their families.

Two dates have been scheduled in Cherokee:

• 9 a.m. Thursday at Kroger at 4045 Marietta Highway, Canton
• 1 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 30 at Kroger at 5339 Old Highway 5, Woodstock

Shopping Matters is a nationwide initiative of Cooking Matters, which provides families with information and knowledge on how to cook affordable, healthy meals. For more information and to register for a tour date, call the local WIC office at 1 (866) 942-9675.