Do’s and Don'ts for Healthy Grocery Shopping

We have all heard the adage ‘Health is better than Wealth’.
Agreed, that although in today’s times you cannot live without money, the reverse is even more true when you consider that all the money in the world can’t buy you good health – if your health packs up on you!
The best starting point to healthy living is to have health on your mind. That done, focus on your Grocery Shopping – for the food that goes into your cart, is which goes into your body. Very simply, if you shop healthy, you will eat healthy and nothing can be more important than that. Here are 7 Do’s and Dont’s to healthy grocery shopping that will keep you in Health’s Way.

1. DO: Start off with a list

A health-conscious mind will greatly help you to list out your weekly food requirements covering the main three meals – and a few yummies in-between! Stick to your list in the Grocery Store and do not be tempted by the attractive display’s, packaging or price off’s from unnecessary food items.

2. DO: Commence from the periphery

The outer areas of supermarkets, house organic and fresh produce which ideally, should occupy a high priority on your shopping list. Don’t blindly pickup vegetables and fruits – look them over carefully as most are arranged nice-side-up! Pick out your cuts of lean meat and seafood as you will be the best judge of what you want to buy. It’s best to get your staples into the cart early so that your money is committed to what you need, rather than what you fancy. Choose fruits and vegetables which are in season as they will be more fresh, nutritious and cheaper. Avoid out-going off season produce as they would have over-stayed their visit in the freezers!

3. DO: Buy in Bulk

Bulk purchases are cheaper and will avoid return trips to the Grocery Store. Necessary dry goods like whole grains, pulses, nuts, peas and other legumes are higher in nutritional value containing essential proteins and fiber and have a long shelf-life at home.

4. DON’T: Fall for Sparkle, choose Natural

Produce straight from the ground covered with soil are most times fresher than the cleanly washed and arranged carrots, leaks, and tomatoes etc. while the suspiciously flawless and smooth looking fruits and veggies are best avoided as they have been grown to aid better packaging and transport and not necessarily for your health. Nature is knobbly and has its own shapes and sizes. Designer -produce is not designed to deliver on your nutritional needs!

5. DO: Remember that Natural is better than processed

Processed foods, however tasty they may be, are generally laced with preservatives, sugar, harmful fats and sodium so go a bit slow on those sausages, cold meats and potato chips or, preferably steer clear from them. Abstaining will never harm you – but careless consumption can!

6. DO: Look out for something new

To avoid routine meals and recipes, keep your eyes open for something new. It can be any product… a fruit, vegetable, sauce or pickle that you never tried before or a new dairy product. Whatever you choose, do a quick check on their nutritional content and if they contain less sugar, less artificial trans fats and sodium, you may treat yourself without guilt!

7. DO: Reward yourself with a Goodie!

Life is not worth living if you can’t indulge in a bit of sin now and then! So pick-up a yummy goodie (there are many low-glycemic, nutritionally superior and tasty products in the market) and go ahead and enjoy.

Now shopping all done, you are on your way home and heading to a week of healthy eating. You have stacked your cart with a load of healthy food and ended up spending less too! Remember, Healthy Shopping and Healthy Eating must be enhanced with a Healthy Attitude to life. So, DO add a positive outlook to your life-style – it serves you well… and costs you nothing!