With a mega-grocery store on every corner, you may get bombarded with every item of food that you could possibly put in your mouth. With cookies staring at you from the shelves, ice cream calling out your name and potato chips taking leaps into your shopping cart, it is difficult to stick to purchasing only the healthy foods. There are, however, some extremely simple steps you can follow to stick to your healthy eating plan when shopping for groceries.
Step 1
Eat a healthy snack before even considering which foods you will be shopping for at the grocery store. By satisfying your hunger, you will much more likely to stay on track, focusing only on the healthy foods you should purchase.
Step 2
Create a list of food items that you plan to purchase. A list will keep you on target when you're in the grocery store, and will cut down on impulsive buying. Take stock of what is in your refrigerator and pantry as you make your list, so that you do not forget anything important. Make sure to include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy.
Step 3
Go directly to the grocery after you have made your list and while your appetite is still appeased. You might as well park at the very end of the parking lot to get a bit of extra physical activity while you are at it.
Step 4
Walk around the perimeter of the grocery store first. This is where most of the foods on your list will be found, such as produce, fresh poultry and fish, low-fat dairy and whole grain bread.
Step 5
Using your list as a guide, start cruising down the aisles in the middle of the store, where you will find your remaining items. Do not go down an aisle if you do not need to, especially if the aisle contains sweets, snacks or highly processed foods. This will only serve to tempt you to impulsively purchase junk food that is not on your list.
Step 6
Pay for your groceries and go directly home. Fresh items that need to be refrigerated can spoil very quickly, especially meats, poultry and seafood. Put everything away immediately, focusing on the items that need refrigeration first.
Tips and Warnings
- On packaged foods, read the nutrition labels to make sure that they are not high in fat and loaded with salt. Look for all-natural or organic options.
Things You'll Need
- Healthy snack
- Pen and paper
- Transportation
- Shopping cart
- Wallet
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