Do you struggle with healthy grocery shopping?
Does the ingredients label make your head spin?
Healthy grocery shopping is important to a healthy diet.
In this article we will discuss the following:
Making a grocery list.
How to read food ingredients?
Effective healthy grocery shopping tips.
Keep a Healthy Grocery Shopping List
Effective healthy grocery shopping is important to a balanced diet. To get the most out of your healthy grocery shopping experience, know exactly what you want. This can be done by making a healthy grocery shopping list. Making a list helps you stay aware of what you are shopping for.
When grocery shopping, remember to be plentiful in the purchase of raw foods. Raw foods are considered the following:
· fruits
· vegetables
· nuts
· seeds
· grains
Raw foods are important for bodily functions and assists in mental health upkeep. The CDC reports that “1 in 10 adults consume the recommended produce amount per day.”
How To Read Food Ingredients?
Ingredients are important to a balanced diet. Knowing what your ingredients are helps you understand what you are eating. Each ingredient is listed by its common name. If you are not familiar with an ingredient, look them up. This creates awareness in food consumption. Also, ingredients are listed left to right from greatest amount to least amount.
Effective Healthy Grocery Shopping Tips
Being aware of the foods you consume creates healthy habits. There is no “perfect” diet. But, remember to eat more plants than animals. Plants do not require an ingredients list and are great no matter how you consume them. Below, there is a list of different recommendations to create effective healthy grocery shopping habits.
Which of these grocery stores are known for their sustainability? (answer at end of article)
- Whole Foods
- Aldi
- Kroger
- Meijer
1. Make a List
Making a list keeps you aware of what you need. This can keep you from wandering to aisles that you are trying to avoid. Also, keeping a list can assist in familiarity with different items.
2. Buy Raw Foods
Raw foods are required for proper vitamin and mineral intake. Fruits and vegetables vary in nutritional benefits. Make sure to incorporate leafy greens as much as possible. Incorporating produce in each meal helps reduce risk of sickness and disease.
3. Read the Ingredients
Each ingredient is listed by its common name. If you are unfamiliar with an ingredient, look it up, if possible. Try to avoid products with too many scientific names. These are typically called additives. Unless you grow your own food, additives will most likely be in your food. Reduction is the key. Ingredients are listed left to right from greatest to least.
4. Nutritional Facts
The Nutrition Facts label presents important nutrition facts for the consumer. It is not a recommendation on how much you should consume. On this label are the following:
1) serving size
2) calories
3) nutrients
4) daily value
This information informs the consumer the amount in each serving size. Serving size indicates the amount of a product that people typically eat or drink.
5. Know the Meanings
Natural, hormone-free, antibiotic-free do not have any regulations. This means the FDA has no input on what these words mean. No verification process means companies can market these words as they choose.
6. Know Your Foods’ Diet
When buying animal products, it is important to know how the animal was fed. Common wording on packaging is grass-fed and vegetarian diet. However, a vegetarian diet can consist of unhealthy produce such as soybeans and corn. This is important because what your food eats passes down to you.
7. Substitutes
Buying alternatives are a good way to incorporate healthy habits. This means you do not have to disregard some foods, just replace them with a healthier version. For instance, here are some common alternatives:
· vegetable pasta vs. wheat
· wild & brown rice and quinoa vs. white rice
· plant milks vs. dairy milk
· fruit oil vs. vegetable & nut oil
· gluten-free vs. wheat
8. Reduce Sweets Buying
Sugary products are not healthy. Fruits are rich in natural sugar that your body needs. Eating fruits more often can reduce your sugar cravings that can reduce your sugary product consumption. Eat more plants.
9. Buy Local
Buying local helps boost local economy and reduces the carbon footprint of your food.
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Poll Answer: Aldi
Reusable Tote Bag For Shopping
When grocery shopping, try to avoid using plastic bags to carry your items. Plastic bags are hard to recycle and are terrible for the environment. Instead, try our tote bags! They are large, durable, and a perfect way to reduce your carbon footprint.
In-Season Produce Smoothie Recipe Book for Healthy Grocery Shopping
To increase fruit and vegetable consumption, smoothies are a great option. Our smoothie recipe book can help increase your fruit and vegetable intake and make effective grocery shopping easier. Links below:
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