EATINGWELL DIET 101
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EATINGWELL DIET 101
Food Shopping 101
Your goal is to stock up on healthy foods and only buy what you truly need. But stop and remember that your supermarket’s goal, of course, is to get you to buy as much as possible. Between the enticing free samples (why are they always serving pizza?) and the display of potato chips at the end of the aisle where you’re bound to see them, it might seem as if the place is booby-trapped. Here are a few tips to keep you on course.
- Have a plan. Spend 15 minutes at the beginning of the week to plan out healthy meals for the rest of the week, and make a list of the ingredients you’ll need. Keep a running list and post it on the fridge so you can write down what you need as you remember it.
- Never shop without a list in hand. You’ll be less likely to be tempted by impulse buys.
- Never shop hungry. Go to the store after you’ve had a meal, so an empty stomach won’t tempt you to buy more. If you can’t, have an apple or other healthy snack before you go in.
- Shop the periphery. Generally, you’ll find whole foods (fresh produce, dairy) along the sides and back of the store. Packaged goods, including tempting snacks, are usually concentrated in the center aisles.
- Read labels. Take the time to compare packaged foods to find a brand you like with a nutritional profile that works with your health goals. Focus on just one or two food categories on each shopping trip, so you won’t be overwhelmed with information. Try comparing whole-grain crackers on one trip, jars of pasta sauce on another, for example.
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