When you go to the grocery store you are challenged to make food choices that have serious and often life-threatening
implications. You are bombarded by attempts to control your eating habits in unhealthy directions. Here are 10 health awareness actions you can take while at the grocery store.
1. Place the emphasis on buying vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Choose dark green and yellow vegetables, rich in beta-carotene and other health benefits. Select vegetables in the cabbage family, such as cauliflower, broccoli, turnips, Brussel sprouts, kale.
2. Avoid unhealthy products that provide only empty calories, even if they say sugar-free and fat-free, this includes sodas, pop, and other drinks.
3. Find out when the produce and bread is delivered to the store and buy at that time.
4. When you buy oils, buy only in small quantities you can use soon and keep them in a cold, dark place.
5. Always check labels and the expiration dates.
6. Ask the store manager to display the origins of all produce, as well as any pesticides, fumigants, and waxes used. The waxes on fruits and vegetables often contain fungicides, insecticides, and pesticides.
7. Buy organic foods if possible and buy locally when available.
8. Tell your grocery manager that you will not buy genetically altered foods.
9. If buying coffee, check to see whether organic coffee is sold. By buying organic you won’t be drinking coffee with high levels of pesticides and you will be helping the organic coffee growers in the Third World.
10. Just because you shop in a health food store doesn’t mean all products sold are healthy. They possibly will also carry candies high in saturated fat (palm, palm kernel, coconut, and chocolate), and loaded with refined sweeteners such as corn syrup and fructose. Again, read labels.
When you go to the store, be prepared and resolved to buy foods that are healthy for your family. Your health depends on it.
To your good health and that of your family,
Lee Jackson
Nutrition Advocate
www.healthykidseatingtips.com
