For many of us, just about every nutritious meal we make begins at the same place: the grocery store. After all, you need to have the right ingredients on hand if you want to eat healthy. And while growing your own food and buying from local farmers’ markets are excellent options, it’s tough to beat the variety and convenience offered by a grocery store.
That being said, there’s often such a wide range of options that it can be almost overwhelming for the average consumer. If you’ve been having trouble finding the right healthy foods for your household, you’ve come to the right place. Check out the 5 steps to a healthy grocery shop below.
Step 1: Make a Plan Before You Shop
The key to a healthy grocery shop is to start thinking about it before you even set foot in the store. Meal planning has become something of a trend lately, and it’s easy to see why. By taking the time to figure out your nutritious meals for the week and plugging the ingredients into a shopping list, it’s easier to focus on only buying the foods you need at the store.
If you’re not sure what a healthy meal is supposed to look like, then consider consulting Canada’s Food Guide before making your plan. They have all kinds of tips, recipes, and other resources that can help give you some ideas.
Step 2: Eat Before You Go
Have you ever tried grocery shopping while hungry? It can lead to all sorts of bad decisions! This is because we tend to go for those foods that’ll satiate our hunger and cravings in the moment, which often causes us to make some delicious but unhealthy choices. So, next time you find yourself heading to the store, make sure you fuel up first.
Step 3: Check Out the Outer Aisles First…
After you’ve made your plan and filled your stomach, you’ll be ready to take on the grocery store. When you arrive, it’s a good idea to kick things off by shopping the perimeter of the store first. This is where you’ll usually find fresh and healthy foods like fruits, veggies, dairy, fish and lean meats, and whole grains. The bulk of your meals should come from these sections, so you’ll probably do most of your shopping there.
Step 4: …Then Head to the Center Aisles
This is where you need to be careful, as you’ll find a lot of unhealthy foods here. Make sure you’re paying close attention to the nutrition labels, and try to stick to the ones that are easy to understand. If you can’t pronounce or recognize certain ingredients, you should at least look into them before putting them into your body.
Step 5: Take One Last Look at Your Cart
Before you hit the checkout, look over the items in your cart. Did you stick with your list? Are there any unhealthy items you could do without? Be honest! It’s easy to be tempted by things as you’re walking around, so putting a little extra thought into everything at the end of your trip can make all the difference.
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