Healthy Shopping and Weight Loss - Diet Tip #8
Weight Loss starts with healthy shopping in the grocery store. What we buy affects how well we eat. Despite this, consumer research shows that most of us go grocery shopping without a plan to help guide our choices. For example, less than one quarter of Canadians write out a list and stick with it. And we’re not having fun! In fact, 53% of us say that we don’t really enjoy shopping for food.
Planning can help you make grocery shopping a pleasant experience that doesn’t take a lot of time. Planning can also help you make the healthy choices you want to make. Try these simple tips when you head out on your next trip to the grocery store.
Healthy Shopping Tips
Know What You Want
Make a List, Check It Twice, and Stick to It
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Creating an organized list of the food you need will help you stay focused and on track.
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Consider the meals you’ve planned for the week as well as healthy snack choices.
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Arrange your list into categories, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, canned goods, milk products, and meats or meat alternatives.
Have a Snack, a Nap, or a Break before shopping
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Eat something before you head off to the grocery store to prevent impulse buying.
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Avoid shopping when you’re hungry, tired, or short of time.
Shop alone when possible
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If possible, leave young children or other “non-shoppers” at home.
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If you bring your children along, let them help you. Talk about healthy food choices, and show them examples. Discuss prices. Let them help you to take non-breakable items off shelves or to bag produce.
Understand the Lay of the Land
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Shop the outer edges of the store first. Healthier choices of food tend to be on the outer edges of stores.
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Avoid the high-fat and high-sugar foods on the shelves in the centre of the store.
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Shop during non-peak hours when the store is less busy. Avoid late afternoons and weekends.
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