Tips for a Healthier Grocery Store Trip

One of the main parts of healthy living is having a healthy diet which starts with surrounding yourself with healthy foods and eliminating the junk. This all starts with grocery shopping and the foods you purchase to have available in your home. So, if you are buying junk and not enough produce and non-processed foods, that is what you will be putting in your body. By following the tips below, you will be more prepared when you go to the grocery store to make better, more nutritious decisions.

• Shop from a list
• Make a list of foods you will need for the week before you go, and stick to it. You will be better prepared to eat healthy if you are prepared when you shop.
• Don't shop when you are hungry
• Being hungry in the grocery store will sometimes cause you to buy items on impulse because they look good at the time and most likely won't be a healthy option. Eat a healthy, filling snack before going shopping so you aren't tempted by the freshly cooked donuts in the bakery.
• Shop the perimeter of the store
• The perimeter of the store has everything you need- meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables, dairy and eggs. When you start wandering into the middle isles of the store is when the chips, cookies, ice cream and cereal start making their way into your cart. 
• Choose the rainbow
• Challenge yourself to see how many different colors of produce you can put in your cart. You should always include a variety of fruits and vegetables of all different colors in your diet, so look for different colors when grocery shopping that you can include in your meals throughout the week. 
• Choose foods with a short ingredient list
• When buying packaged foods like sauces, dressings and yogurts, be sure to always read the label. You want to avoid a laundry list of ingredients and any type of added sugar. 
• Don't buy in bulk 
• Buying food in bulk tends to make us eat more. We have excess food in the house, so we eat it. Not to mention, the food we normally buy in bulk is items like crackers, chips, nuts and cereals.
• Try new foods
• Don't be afraid to try new healthy foods you see in the store. There are a ton of produce options that you may not have had before and would be surprised to see that you like and actually enjoy.