Mastering the Art of Food Shopping – USNews.com
“Plan ahead.” That’s one of the most common suggestions you hear in regard to following a healthy diet. I know I say that to my patients all the time, advising them to equip their homes and offices with healthy foods. I put it this way—you wouldn’t go into battle without ammunition, so how can you expect to eat well if you’re not surrounding yourself with healthy fare?
But healthy eating hinges on healthy food shopping. With these tips, I’ll help you master the art of effective food shopping.
1. Make a List
Never set foot in a supermarket without knowing ahead of time what you need. Keep a running tab on a kitchen notepad. Before heading out the door, make sure you’ve planned out your mealsand snacks for the week. One trick: Rather than simply putting “fish” on the list, think about the veggie and grain you’ll have with it. Make meals big enough to supply you with leftovers for lunch the next day. And keep in mind, a list is only as useful as your remembering to bring it to the store. If you’re like me, and that’s a challenge, consider keeping your list on your smartphone, which you’re less likely to leave home without.
To the store, that is. The hungrier you are, the more tempting allfoods will appear. When I find myself hungry in the store, I usually pick up a bag of carrots, which are already on my shopping list, and start munching. (And I pay for the bag, of course.)
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