How to Maximize Healthy Shopping at the Grocery Store

The key to a healthy life is healthy eating. Creating meals using whole grains, healthful proteins and fruits and vegetables is the optimal way to ensure you are getting the nutrition you need to keep your body up and running the way it should. 

However, a supermarket can be an overwhelming place. It is sometimes hard to navigate it in such a way that optimizes good, healthy food choices. With that in mind, here is a guide to shopping smarter and healthier.

Be Prepared
The first thing you should do is make a plan, according to Healthline. Think about one or two meals or recipes that you would like to try during the week and write down any ingredients used in those recipes that you do not have in the house. In addition, you should take an inventory of your cabinets and refrigerator to see what foods you do have in the house so you know exactly what you need and don’t need. Then, you should make a shopping list. 

Begin your shopping list with fresh fruits and vegetables, with a focus on produce that is in season, recommends Good Housekeeping. Then, you should move on to healthy proteins such as tofu, fish, or chicken. After proteins comes eggs and dairy products, and then breads and whole grains. When buying foods like cereals and granola bars it is important to make sure they are made with 100 percent whole grain and to check the amount of added sugar. 

Finally, it is time to stock up on basics such as canned foods like beans and fish, frozen fruits and vegetables, and condiments. Again, especially when buying condiments, it is important to check the ingredient list for added sugar and other additives. 

In Store Choices
Once in the grocery store it is important to try and stick to your list. Canada’s Food Guide points out that you take some time to assess your shopping habits. What aisles are you spending the most time in? What ends up in your cart and what doesn’t? 

In addition, be aware of the ways that marketing can affect the way you shop. Stores will often provide free samples of various products or use colorful packaging or promotions to try and influence your shopping habits. Some of these products can be less than healthy. Once you are aware of these tactics you can more easily avoid these impulse purchases. 

While it may seem that getting into the habit of buying healthy is a lot of work, once it becomes routine it is not much work at all. Stocking up on healthy options in the grocery store makes eating healthy at home a lot easier and that is something everyone can be happy about.