Healthy Tips

January 16, 2012

Shop smart by planning ahead

Shop smart by planning ahead. A last-minute run to the grocery store can easily turn into a cart full of snacks instead of well-balanced meals. Planning ahead for the supermarket will help you prepare healthier meals, and shop more economically. Follow these tips for a better overall shopping experience.

• Plan your meals for the week. For the time between supermarket trips, plan a meal for each day. Try to think of meals throughout the week and it is a much less daunting task than to creatively think of seven meals in ten minutes. Also, for each meal estimate a tentative budget and try to fall under that number while shopping.  
• Stick to your list and budget. Sticking to a well thought-out list is the most important element of a successful shopping experience. By holding firm on your plan, and budget, you will be less tempted to pick up that bag of Doritos and dip. Although, if you must soothe the craving of impulse buying, set a dollar limit without busting the budget.  
• Eat first. There is nothing worse than to be hungry and surrounded by food. Even the most hardened shopper, if hungry, will grab everything in the aisle that looks good. The ability to be more selective in your food choices will come naturally if you are well fed.
• Read the labels. Reading the Nutrition Facts label is the best way to find out more than what is advertised. The ingredients on the label are listed in order of quantity to help you make healthier choices. For example, when looking for avocado dip the ingredient avocado should be first and not last. The more practice you get reading labels, the better you can become in using them to plan a well-balanced diet.
• Keep an up-to-date list of the items you need. It has happened more than once when you forgot a key component of tonight’s dish at the store. By keeping an ongoing list of the small items you run out of—like salt, oil and bread—you avoid the last ditch effort at the store. In addition, avoiding spontaneous shopping trips is one of the best deterrents to impulse buying.

Always speak with your doctor before beginning any exercise program or changing your regular diet. Click here for help making an appointment.  Visit our calendar for our next grocery store tour where you can learn to read food labels.

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