Shopping for Healthy Groceries Made Simple
With all of the money that goes into advertising junk food today, it might feel impossible to be able to walk into your local grocery store and purchase healthy foods. However, stores are ripe with healthy choices if you know where to look and how to shop for them.
Grocery stores offer a lot of choices when it comes to food and that can be overwhelming. It doesn't necessarily have to be, however.
Before you go to the store, create a grocery list. You can't eat in a healthy way if you don't have all the ingredients you need for your meal. This can also save confusion, later, when you're in the store.
As you're making out your list and planning your menu, remember the food pyramid. Making sure that you have the correct amounts of vegetables, whole grains, dairy, fruits, lean meat, poultry, fish, nuts, and beans is important to your overall health.
Take a trip to your local farmer's market in order to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Do your best to steer clear of canned food. You don't necessarily have to eat organic; as it's just as important that you eat produce of the fresh variety.
Although the taste might take some time to get used to, try using whole grained rice and pasta when cooking. These foods contain a lot of fiber, which is good for you.
When choosing meats, try to purchase lean cuts, as well as skinless poultry. The skin usually holds the most fat. When it comes to fish, salmon is generally a good bet because it's healthy and doesn't have a "fishy" taste to it.
With meat, less is usually more. The USDA recommends that you fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, 1/4 of your plate with whole grains, and the other 1/4 with protein. Protein can also come in the form of eggs, tofu, nuts, and beans. Think of your meals in these terms and you won't have to worry about blowing your entire grocery budget on meat.
While you're shopping, stick to the edges of the store. The healthy foods like the meat, produce, and breads are usually located on the edges. The junk food aisles are generally in the middle of the store.
When you're purchasing canned food, try to look for cans that have low sodium. You should also try to look for fruits that are packaged in fruit juice.
Think about the season when you buy fruits and vegetables. Items that are in season generally taste better and are less expensive. However, some fruits, and especially berries, can be easily frozen. If you stock up on them when they are in season, you will have a tasty treat later down the road.
As long as you snack in moderation, snacking throughout the day isn't necessarily unhealthy. Make sure, however, that you balance out unhealthy snacks with healthy snacks. Along with the cookies and other "junk food" that you snack on, be sure to have on hand a supply of apples, bananas, and nuts.
Last, but not least, although pre-packaged food looks more convenient, it is usually filled with sodium and saturated fat. When shopping for healthy choices, it's always better to purchase the ingredients and prepare your food yourself. In the long run, you'll end up paying about the same amount of money, but your menu will be much healthier. - 17269
Grocery stores offer a lot of choices when it comes to food and that can be overwhelming. It doesn't necessarily have to be, however.
Before you go to the store, create a grocery list. You can't eat in a healthy way if you don't have all the ingredients you need for your meal. This can also save confusion, later, when you're in the store.
As you're making out your list and planning your menu, remember the food pyramid. Making sure that you have the correct amounts of vegetables, whole grains, dairy, fruits, lean meat, poultry, fish, nuts, and beans is important to your overall health.
Take a trip to your local farmer's market in order to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Do your best to steer clear of canned food. You don't necessarily have to eat organic; as it's just as important that you eat produce of the fresh variety.
Although the taste might take some time to get used to, try using whole grained rice and pasta when cooking. These foods contain a lot of fiber, which is good for you.
When choosing meats, try to purchase lean cuts, as well as skinless poultry. The skin usually holds the most fat. When it comes to fish, salmon is generally a good bet because it's healthy and doesn't have a "fishy" taste to it.
With meat, less is usually more. The USDA recommends that you fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, 1/4 of your plate with whole grains, and the other 1/4 with protein. Protein can also come in the form of eggs, tofu, nuts, and beans. Think of your meals in these terms and you won't have to worry about blowing your entire grocery budget on meat.
While you're shopping, stick to the edges of the store. The healthy foods like the meat, produce, and breads are usually located on the edges. The junk food aisles are generally in the middle of the store.
When you're purchasing canned food, try to look for cans that have low sodium. You should also try to look for fruits that are packaged in fruit juice.
Think about the season when you buy fruits and vegetables. Items that are in season generally taste better and are less expensive. However, some fruits, and especially berries, can be easily frozen. If you stock up on them when they are in season, you will have a tasty treat later down the road.
As long as you snack in moderation, snacking throughout the day isn't necessarily unhealthy. Make sure, however, that you balance out unhealthy snacks with healthy snacks. Along with the cookies and other "junk food" that you snack on, be sure to have on hand a supply of apples, bananas, and nuts.
Last, but not least, although pre-packaged food looks more convenient, it is usually filled with sodium and saturated fat. When shopping for healthy choices, it's always better to purchase the ingredients and prepare your food yourself. In the long run, you'll end up paying about the same amount of money, but your menu will be much healthier. - 17269
About the Author:
For even more advice on how to make up an effective healthy grocery list, go to 4GrocerySavings.com to learn how to shop successfully for healthy groceries.
posted by X - Men at
1:45 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home