Healthy living and good nutrition starts with the shopping list. You can’t cook a healthy meal if the ingredients are anything but. It all starts with smart decisions in the store and foregoing some of your favorite snacks.
How exactly are you supposed to shop smart for a healthier life? Shopping in itself is a daunting task and making smart decisions about the right food to buy for you and your family is even more challenging. With a little care and guidance though, you can learn to make better decisions pertaining healthy foods and start shopping for healthy living.
Here at Bellaire emergency room, we understand that shopping for food is a critical part of anyone’s health and have put together a list of tips which you can use to make smarter choices when shopping for a healthier life. Here are the tips;
10 Smart Ways to Shop for Better Health
Always make a shopping list
One of the most important ways to ensure that you are shopping for better health, is to make a comprehensive list of all the foods that you are looking to buy. By making a list, you will be able to gauge how balanced the resultant diet will be.
If there are any nutrients which you feel are not sufficient in the diet, you can then add the source foods to the list. Making a list also means that you won’t impulsively buy and will therefore be saving lots of money while at it.
Understand the supermarket or store where you are going to shop upfront
The other smart way of ensuring that you shop healthy for better life, is understanding the store at which you intend to shop. Understanding the store will not only make it easy for you to pick up the supplies but will help you reduce interaction with the sections that have the tempting junk food which you are trying to avoid.
Shop for low fat everything
Most animal products have a low fat option. Be it cheese, yoghurt, salad dressings, milk and even gravies, there is always a low fat option and this is what you should always look to buy. Incredibly, low-fat products are cheaper than their counterparts. You’ll therefore be eating healthy for less.
Buy leaner cuts of meat and skin off chicken
Another smart tip which very many people are not aware of, is leaner meat and skin-off chicken are healthier than their counterparts. To know if the meat you are purchasing is lean or not, look out for the Heart Foundation tick of approval.
As for chicken, the skin off option is healthier because the skin contains a lot of calories and raw saturated fat. Skinless chicken is therefore healthier and saves you time when chopping up the pieces.
Buy groceries and other perishables last
This is a tip which most people are aware of but almost always forget when they are out shopping. Shopping for groceries and other perishables last, means that you will spend as little time as possible with the shopping before refrigerating it.
Check expiry dates
Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? Well, expiry dates might seem obvious but incredibly millions of Americans end up stocking expired foods. Always check the expiry date on every foodstuff that you are buying and make sure that its sell by date is still months or even years away. This applies especially if you are planning to shop for a month’s long supplies or even longer.
Avoid the center aisles of stores
The architecture of all stores is almost the same. The perimeter of the grocery store is stocked with fresh foods like fruits, dairy products, vegetables and similar products. The center aisles are laden with junk foods and the snacks which any person that cares about their health should avoid.
Junk food and snacks are packaged to attract you and the best way to avoid temptations, is by not interacting with them. Avoid the center aisles-be smart.
Avoid multi-ingredient foods
Foods that have more than 3 ingredients should be avoided at all costs. Natural foods with their nutrients still intact are way better than processed foods which are laden with different ingredients some of which are artificial.
Avoid shopping branded foods
Don’t let the branding and packaging fool you. Your health shouldn’t be dictated by the TV commercials. Take time to understand the ingredients in all the foods you intend to buy before actually picking them up. This way, you will be shopping for a better life.
Let Bellaire advise you on diet
If you are in Bellaire and are looking for experts to advise you on the best shopping techniques for a healthier lifestyle, talk to our experts here at Bellaire Emergency Room. Give us a call or come down to our emergency room and we will gladly be of service to you.