The
grocery store can be a tricky place to shop... especially if you are
new to healthy living. With soooo many options of virtually the same
product, how do you know which to choose? Wouldn't it be great to have a
nutritionist go shopping with you to point out your best options?
Wouldn't it be even better to have a chef tell you how to create tastey
dishes with those ingredients? Well, I'm both, so although I won't be
in your cart, over the next few weeks, I will be giving you some great
pointers to help healthy up your life... starting with some super quick
and easy tips:
1- Make Your Weekly Menu Before You Go - This will help you think long term about what you will consume. It will also help you create a conscise shopping list.
2 -
Always go shopping with a list! -
Stick to it as much as possible. This will keep unecessary items out
of your cart. It will also help you stick within a budget and keep your
marketing excursion quick and painless.
3-
Go Alone (or with someone who has the same goals as you) - Don't take anyone who will get you to purchase items off your list.
4-
Don't Shop When You Are Hungry - If you are hungry
anything and everything looks tasty... so you'll put more in you the
cart, spend more, bring more home, and have much more temptation
waiting for you in your cupboards. Dangerous!
5-
Avoid - Chips, Soda, & Cookie Aisles...If it doesn'tgo home with you, you will have far less temptations lurking in your cabinets.
Now lets go with an aisle by aisle breakdown... starting with the
produce section. (This area is so important that it gets a section...
not just an aisle!)
Fruits and Veggies Oh My!
Get
at least 50% of your groceries from here. Everything here is healthy!
A great general rule is that the least inexpensive produce is almost
always seasonal, thus the tastiest.
Not only is the rainbow
pretty to look at, but the more variety in the color you eat, the more
nutrients you get... always a plus!
White and Light Green -
helps to prevent colon and stomach cancers and heart disease.
Found in: Artichokes, Asparagus, Celery, Chives, Endive, Garlic, Green Onions, Green Pears, and Mushrooms
Yellow and Orange -
helps to prevent cancers and heart disease.
Found
in: Apricots, Butternut Squash, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Mangoes, Peaches,
Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, Clementines, Grape Fruit, Lemons, Nectarines,
Papaya, Pineapple, Banana, Yellow Pepper
Purple and Blue and Deep Red -
helps to prevent blood clots and helps improve brain functions.
Found in: Blueberries, Cherries, Cranberries, Plums, Eggplants,
Raisins, Red Apples, Red Beans, Red Beets, Red Cabbage, Red and Purple
Grapes, Red Onions, Red Pears, Strawberries
Red -
helps to prevent cancers and heart disease. Also helps improve brain function.
Found in: Pink Grapefruit, Tomatoes, Watermelon
Green -
helps to reduce cataracts andmacular degeneration. Helps maintain strong bones and critical for wound healing. Also helps prevent cancer.
Found in:
Asparagus,
Beet Greens,Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Collard Greens, Dandelion
Greens, Green Beans, Honeydew, Kale, Kiwi, Mustard Greens,Okra, Parsley,
Peas, Peppers, Romaine, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Zucchini, Endive, Turnip
Greens, Arugala, Bok Choy, Cabbage, Watercress
Until next time, happy marketing!
The holidays are a time for breaking out those elegant, entertaining-ready recipes, but they can also be among the most busy and stressful days of the year.
