Getting a good round of grocery shopping done can make or break your dieting efforts for the week. Be sure to pick out healthy foods that are easy to pair with other healthy, nutritious foods that will let you stretch a buck while promoting proper eating choices. It is very easy to succumb to purchasing a box of cookies or ice cream when you see the SALE sign so be sure to arm yourself with a well thought out shopping list to focus and keep your attention on the task at hand.
Aim to stick to the outside perimeter of the grocery store for the majority of your purchases. The outer “square” of the store is where you will generally find the fresh produce, meat, and bakery sections. Limit your purchases from the inner aisles which usually contain the boxed and pre-made goods. For the purposes of a healthy grocery list, most of these items will be off limits. The best thing to do is avoid the fresh bakery where you will see some of your favorite foods as well as any aisles that you know have compromising foods there. Another tip, don’t go grocery shopping when you are hungry, it just leads to temptation and bad purchases.
Produce
- Fresh fruits (such as apples, clementines, mangos, papayas, bananas, kiwis, grapes)
- Fresh vegetables (sweet potatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, parsnips, leeks, onions, garlic)
- Possible frozen fruits or vegetables depending on current sales (Note: frozen fruits and vegetables make excellent additions to smoothies and stir-frys respectively, and can be an inexpensive way to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet)
Grains
- Whole wheat breads, tortillas, English muffins, bagels, crackers
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
- Whole wheat pasta
Meat/Protein
- Lean cuts of beef such as beef roasts
- Lean cuts of pork such as pork tenderloin
- Skinless pieces of chicken, such as breasts and thighs
- Beans
- Tofu
- Eggs or egg substitutes
- Fish, aim for cold water fish which are high in healthy fats
Diary
- Skim milk
- Low fat yogurt
- Low fat cheese
Condiments
- Salsa
- Mustard
- Olive oil
- Vinegars
- Honey
- Wide variety of herbs and spices
Be sure to incorporate a little bit of each food group into all of your meals and snacks for the best eating habits possible.
By: Jeff Sandor Article Directory: Articledashboard
