Going to the grocery store with a plan will save time and impact the health of your family. In order to eat healthier, spend less
veggies (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
time in the store, and possibly save more money, you need to have a market plan.
A good place to start your list is with vegetables and fruits. The emphasis here should be on green and yellow vegetables and citrus fruits. Five or more servings per day are the recommended amounts.
These are often the very foods we choose to skip while adding the snacks, soda pop, and sweets to our shopping carts. Not good. If we are to live healthier lives, the emphasis should be on real food.
Here are tips for shopping healthier when going to the grocery store:
1. Do most of your shopping along the outer perimeter of the store. This is where you’ll find the fresh produce and other fresh foods.
2. First, stock up on plant-based foods such as yams, squash, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, onions and garlic.
3. Choose a good variety of salad vegetables, such as raw spinach, romaine lettuce, radishes, peppers, green onions.
4. Select fruits that are in season. These will be the choicest and generally the least expensive. If you can preserve seasonal fruits through canning or freezing, this may be a good way to incorporate fruits into your family meals later in the year.
5. Add rice and beans unless they are already in your pantry or food storage area. You may want to even pick up prepackaged (not canned) bean soups. Choose brown rice over white. (Yes, here you may have to use an “inside aisle”).
6. If possible, buy local and organic. This is not always possible, but if this is available in your area, more power to you.
Before you go to the store you have checked your cupboard for needed items and have checked the ads to see if any of the specials are what you need. Armed with your list of healthy foods and suggestions, doing your grocery shopping should be a breeze.
Here’s to your health,
Lee Jackson
Nutrition Advocate
http://healthykidseatingtips.com
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