BS, Dietetics and Nutrition
Whether your goal is to get rid of excess fat or you simply want to enhance your overall health, keeping healthy foods in your house is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
After all, if you have convenience meals and unhealthy snacks in your kitchen cabinets, there’s an excellent chance you are going to eat them.
To resist the temptation of unhealthy, fat-filled foods, you need smart grocery shopping strategies.
If you are committed to succeeding with your diet, learning how to shop for healthy foods in the grocery store is a crucial first step. Instead of heading to the cookies and chips, use the following tips to help you hit the grocery store with a healthy plan in mind.
- Stick to the store’s perimeter. In most grocery stores, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and fresh produce are located around the edges. There’s just one exception. The bakery is usually along the perimeter, but you want to detour around this area, which is filled with empty calories from all the butter, oils, sugar, and white flour.
- Read the labels. Before putting foods you are uncertain about in your cart, check out the label. If you see high amounts of trans fat and sugar or some unpronounceable artificial sweeteners and chemical-based ingredients, put it back on the shelf.
- Eat before you head to the grocery store. If your stomach is growling, the chances of you putting your guilty-pleasure foods in your cart significantly increase.
- Stay away from processed foods. Processed foods are usually located in the inner section of the store. This includes the aisles stocked with sodas, prepackaged convenience foods (think ramen noodles), canned foods that are high in sodium, and unhealthy snacks. These are all foods you want to stay far, far away from.
- Buy healthy foods. Buy healthy foods, such as dry beans, oats, nuts, rice, spices, and seeds, in bulk. Not only will you save money, but you’ll be more likely to have these foods on hand when you get hungry.
- Be leery of frozen foods. Be leery of frozen foods, such as pastries, frozen meals high in calories, fat, and sodium, ice cream, cakes, pies, and pizza, but don’t avoid the frozen food section altogether.
- Pick up frozen whole foods. Pick up frozen whole foods, such as chicken, fish, fruits, and vegetables, for quick and easy meal preparation. Just be sure to look at the ingredients to make sure you aren’t picking up foods filled with preservatives.
- When you find a good sale, stock up. This will help you save money and make certain you always have healthy foods in your home. You can stock up on pantry items, as well as fresh produce that can be frozen.
Final Thoughts
When you are at the grocery store, it is critical that you stop and think about every food you put in your cart. If it isn’t a part of a healthy diet, leave it on the shelf. If you take it home, the chances are good that you will eat it.
Don’t lie to yourself and say you are buying those cookies and chips for someone else in your household if you know you are sure to sneak a few (or more) bites. Make things easy on yourself and leave all temptations at the grocery store where they belong.
