One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. – Virginia Wolfe
Grocery shopping can be an overwhelming experience. Between aisle 1 and 20 you will find tens of thousands of food items vying for your attention. To combat the difficult task that is grocery shopping, we have compiled a list of tips that will help to ensure that your shopping experience will lead to a healthy lifestyle.
1. Eat before you shop
Grocery shopping while hungry is a dangerous habit. When we are hungry, we are more likely to give in to our cravings and buy foods that have been processed and filled with added sugar, salt, and fat. This is especially unfortunate if you are stocking up on food for the entire week. Eating a healthy meal before you shop will help to prevent impulse purchases. Instead of reaching for a bag of chips, you may find yourself reaching for a bag of carrots!
2. Plan ahead
Planning ahead is sure to keep your refrigerator and pantry stocked with healthy options for the week. Before you head to the store, consider the meals you will be making in the upcoming days. Then, focus on purchasing ingredients for those particular dishes. Many grocery stores have created apps or websites that feature coupons and discounted items for the week. If you download the app or take a look at the website beforehand, you will be able to plan your meals around discounted items.
3. Shop the perimeter
Avoiding the center of the grocery store is essential to leaving with a healthy haul in your cart. If you think about any grocery store layout, it is easy to picture fruit, veggies, dairy, eggs, and meat around the perimeter of the store. Head to these locations and stock up on the essentials first. Grab an array of fruit, a rainbow of veggies, and some good protein. By the time you reach the center of the store, you will only have room for oatmeal, nuts and other healthy options!
4. Read the packaging
When you head out to the grocery store, don’t forget your reading glasses! Reading the packaging at the grocery store can help you to purchase the best possible food options. Try looking for pastas with minimal processing that are 100% whole grain, cereals with fiber, and juices with 100% juice. Sometimes, spending a little extra money can benefit you in big ways; reading the packaging will help you to stay informed and choose the best option for you.
At times, grocery shopping is a difficult task and healthy grocery shopping is seemingly impossible. However, if you head to the grocery store prepared and ready to tackle the task, you will leave with a healthy haul of groceries in your cart!
After you get home from the store and put all of your findings in their place, take a look at our blog post about curbing your cravings to ensure that you remain healthy throughout the week! Leading a healthy life is not always easy, but with a little extra effort it is possible!
