-Author Nicole Murphy CPT Grocery shopping can be difficult if you’re not sure what to get, especially if you're grumbling stomach leads to grabbing anything that sounds appetizing. Buying the right food starts the week on a good foot, and minimizes the temptation for diet mess ups. So start on the right track with some helpful grocery shopping tips!
- Stick to the edges
For the most part, all the raw and unprocessed foods like veggies, fruits, and meats, will be placed around the perimeter of the store. This typically is because processed foods need to be kept colder due to preservatives. This doesn’t mean to totally avoid all the middle isles. Healthy whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal can be found in those isles, along with deodorant, because we know you’ll need it with all the great workouts you’re doing! (;
- Know Food Label Claims
Food companies can be tricky about what they put on food packaging, it might sound great but is it really? For example, there is no set standard for foods to be considered “natural”. Products with this label can still have hormones, antibiotics, or even be factory farmed. On the other hand, there are labels such as “organic” that does have set standards. For a product to have this on the label it must be approved by a government certified inspector. Along those lines, organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bio engineering; or ionizing radiation.
- Go In With A Plan
Write a list with all the foods needed and plan on sticking to it. Don’t put anything on there that won’t fit in your meal plan! To be even more efficient, you can split up the list into categories such as fruit/ veggies, meats/proteins, and whole grains. These items will typically be close together and will help save time. Take these tips and put them to action during your next trip to the grocery store. Having a well balanced will help with health goals, so there’s no excuse! Happy shopping!
