Eating healthy starts at the grocery store. Maybe you have always shopped for food in bulk this way but personally speaking, I used to dine a lot and buy food only when I was hungry. This was a recipe for disaster.
Three Tips for Healthy Grocery Shopping
1. Shop after a solid meal. You have probably already heard that you should not shop for food when you are hungry. I mention this one because although it’s a common tip, it’s an important one! I usually shop after lunch. This way I’m not hungry and it’s not time yet for my evening sweet cravings so I don’t have to worry about finding myself in to the chocolate aisle. Finding a time to shop that works for you, is important.
2. Make a list and stick to it. Having a list of things you need to buy is a crucial step toward keeping junk food out of the house. As soon as we start seeing sales like 2 bags of chips for only $ 2 and who knows what else, the cart is suddenly filled with unhealthy food we didn’t want in the first place. Be strict with yourself and don’t get pulled in by good deals.
3. Make a running list and always refer to it. This takes a little bit of time to set up but it’s very helpful in the long run. Start by listing staples whether you have them at the moment or not, like whole wheat bread, olive oil, spices, brown rice and milk. Next add your favourite healthy foods from every food group that you already use to make healthy meals. Keep this list on your fridge, or on a gadget for editing and always take it with you when you shop. You can take this one a step farther by creating about 10 dinners using these ingredients. This way, you can have something different every day and don’t have to worry about what to make for dinner every night.
Buying food at the grocery store is a much healthy alternative to picking up dinner on the way home from work or eating out when you are pressed for time.
Once you get a good supply of staples and get used to your healthy grocery list, shopping becomes easy and affordable.
Good Luck!