Staying In Control While Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping can be overwhelming especially when trying to eat healthy when the stores are filled with treats. We already have enough shopping to do without having to stress out about our meal and snack preparations. Grocery shopping can be quick, easy and even enjoyable if you know what to look for.

1. Do not go to the store hungry – Grocery shopping while hungry is a bad combination. Grocery shopping hungry will hinder your decision making as cravings start to kick in and “will power” gets left in the car. If timing doesn’t allow you to shop when it is not meal time, pop some almonds in your mouth and drink some water to lessen the hunger and craving and halt you from ultimately impulse buying.
2. Shop the store parameters. If you shop the outside parameters of the store, you will likely be picking up staples I would recommend such as proteins, fruits, veggies and whole grains.
3. Read ingredients- If you do not know what something means on the label, it is likely very processed and you should consider putting it back. The closer to the natural state a food once was, the better it is for you. Think land, sea, ground and tree. 
4. Buy in bulk – If money and time is an issue for you, bulk purchases can save you money and time. Get to know stores like Sams and get to know the freezer and produce sections there! Stock your freezer with fish, chicken, veggie even frozen berries and then instantly you will have easier access to make meals.
5. Pick an ideal time-  If time is a hurdle for eating healthy, pick a day and time of the week that is slower for you and do your shopping then and then immediately prepare foods and store them in your fridge or freeze them. This way, you will have meals ready to grab and re-heat when it is time to eat.

If you are a shopping list kind of person, keep these basic ingredients in mind:

PROTEINS: Protein powder – ideal to add to smoothies, mix with water and drink in a pinch, Chicken breasts (boneless/skinless), frozen shrimp, frozen or fresh fish, tofu, canned tuna (in water), eggs or egg whites

VEGGIES and FRUITS: Fresh or frozen vegetables, Bok Choy, Fresh or frozen berries, apples, grapefruits, salad mix

STARCHY CARBS: Quinoa, Brown Rice, and oatmeal all can be easily cooked in a rice maker

DAIRY- Low fat cottage cheese, Greek yogurt-* must be eaten within five days of opening.

HEALTHY FATS- Almonds, walnuts, peanut butter, almond butter, coconut oil, olive oil.

ADDITIONAL- Unsweetened almond milk, Shirataki tofu noodles, garlic, ginger, cinnamon.