Smart choices in the grocery are the foundation for our good
nutrition. However, preparing a portion of healthy food is a challenge to most
people. This is a result of lacking the right ingredients to use.
Grocery shopping can be a discouraging task since a wide
variety of foods are available in the store. However, with a little guidance,
you are good to go.
Making a grocery list and having a budget to stick to is one
of the best practices for healthier grocery shopping.
The process of healthy grocery shopping starts even before
you head to the grocery store.
What is a Healthy Grocery Shopping List and How to Make One
Coming up with healthy foods and listing them down is what
we call a healthy grocery shopping list. Navigating a grocery store becomes
easy when you have a well-thought grocery list. This helps you stick to your
healthy eating plan.
A grocery list also keeps you on track and minimizes impulse
buying thus saving money and time.
Even for most organized people, grocery shopping is a hard
task. This is because most grocery stores have tempting but unhealthy foods.
Try to avoid unhealthy foods at any cost by sticking to the plan.
The following tips help you come up with a healthy grocery
shopping list.
1. Plan Ahead
Having all ingredients necessary available all week long is
a great way to maintain a healthy diet. When you plan your meals ahead of time,
cooking becomes easy. This practice links you to better diet quality and lowers
the level of unwanted body fats.
An empty fridge, pantry, or freezer might lead you to rely
on fast food or take-out. This is common when you have a tight schedule. For
this reason, always stock your shelves with nutritious foods.
Furthermore, planning meals influences positively your
health resulting in lower body weight and an overall healthier diet.
The best way to start planning your meals is to create a
recipe board detailing all the meals would like to eat for the week. Include
breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks.
2. Focus on Healthy Items
When preparing a grocery list, focus on healthy foods. This
can be challenging for those who have just started a healthier eating plan.
A healthy grocery shopping list reduces the chances of
purchasing unhealthy foods, which in turn causes weight thus sabotaging your
goals.
When shopping, avoid the bakery or candle aisle. These
sections are tempting.
3. Organize Your List
After you have planned and identified your healthy items to
purchase, separate your shopping list by category. This makes shopping easy and
saves time.
Organizing your list in sections also minimizes impulse
buying. It keeps you on track, as you focus on planned items alone. A good
grocery list saves you from temptations caused by good-looking unhealthy foods
on grocery shelves.
Firstly, divide your list into categories. These include:
· Carbohydrates
· Non
–starchy vegetables
· Proteins
· Dairy or
non-dairy products
· Beverages
· Fruits
· Healthy
fats
· Condiments
However, if you are familiar with the store’s layout,
categorize your list based on sections where foods are located.
A well-organized list streamlines your shopping trip. It
minimizes coming back to a particular section.
4. Be Realistic
When developing a grocery list, it is important to be
realistic. Buy foods that you consume. Although you might want to try other new
types, try to select healthy foods only.
Shopping without a grocery list can lead to choosing foods
that are available rather than what you like. This is sometimes wasteful.
Choose new different foods in every shopping. This helps you
discover which healthy foods you enjoy. This idea enables you to create a fresh
grocery list.
5. Stick on Plan
Whether the foods in the grocery store are healthy or
unhealthy, they are to get shoppers to spend money on. Always arm yourself with
a grocery shopping plan. Buy foodstuffs that you have listed in your grocery
shopping list.
Besides, sticking to your plan minimizes impulse purchases
or purchasing items you would not use.
If you are attracted by eye-catching discounts, ask yourself
if the item fits your health plan. Always remind yourself of the healthy grocery
list and stick to it.
6. Try Perimeter Shopping
Perimeter shopping minimizes your exposure to packaged and
processed foods. Most foods in perimeters are fresh. These include fruits,
vegetables, healthy proteins, and dairy products.
Although interior grocery aisles also have healthy food
options, highly processed foods are stored here too. Candies, chips, and sodas
are stored here. They are unhealthy.
To reduce exposure to unhealthy foods, always minimize the
time you spend in the interior of the grocery store. As a result, it reduces
the chances of being tempted.
Verdict
Healthy grocery shopping is the start of our healthy diet.
Preparing a grocery list saves you time. When shopping, stick to the following
simple rules:
· Choose real
foods. Real foods have little processing and additives.
· Shop the
perimeter of the grocery store. Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and other fresh
food are located in the perimeter.
· Avoid foods
that contain many ingredients.
· Avoid junk and highly processed foods. They are unhealthy.