Every year, millions of dollars are spent on advertising foods that might not be the best choices for your heart and health. Yet, healthy food is out there and available. A wise shopper must learn where to look and how to go about making healthy choices.
When it comes to types of food and brand items, grocery stores offer their shoppers a lot of choices. So many choices can oftentimes be daunting. Shoppers do not have to be discouraged, however.
Before you go to the store, create a grocery list. You can't eat in a healthy way if you don't have all the ingredients you need for your meal. This can also save confusion, later, when you're in the store.
As you're making out your list and planning your menu, remember the food pyramid. Making sure that you have the correct amounts of vegetables, whole grains, dairy, fruits, lean meat, poultry, fish, nuts, and beans is important to your overall health.
Try to incorporate lots of fresh fruit and produce into your diet. This means fewer canned fruits and vegetables. They don't have to be organic, either. Try your local farmer's market to get locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Although the taste might take some time to get used to, try using whole grained rice and pasta when cooking. These foods contain a lot of fiber, which is good for you.
For your meat choices, the best options are lean cuts. You also want to try to stay away from poultry with skins. For fish, salmon is generally a good bet because aside from being inexpensive, it does not usually have that "fishy" taste that can turn people off.
You don't have to fill your entire plate with protein, either, which is good for your budget. The USDA only recommends that of your plate be protein, with the rest being fruits and vegetables and whole grains. That doesn't even have to be meat-it can also be beans, tofu, eggs, or nuts.
While you're shopping, stick to the edges of the store. The healthy foods like the meat, produce, and breads are usually located on the edges. The junk food aisles are generally in the middle of the store.
If buying canned food, try to look for food that has minimum salt. Fruits stored in fruit juice are a good option as well. If worried about salt, you can always rinse off the items before you use them.
When you're buying fruits and vegetables, try to purchase items that are in season. These are generally cheaper and have a better taste. When buying some fruits, you can always freeze them and use them later when they are out of season again.
Snacking might have a bad reputation, but it can actually be good for you, as long as you don't overdo it. When you pick out your snack foods, make sure you that you include both healthy and unhealthy snacks. Along with your ice cream and cookies, be sure to include nuts, apples, and bananas as well.
The last thing to remember is that although pre-packaged food is quick and easy to fix, it is almost always filled with saturated fat and sodium. If you buy the ingredients and prepare the meal yourself, it might take a little bit more time, but you'll come out ahead in the long run knowing that you've made the healthy choice.
When it comes to types of food and brand items, grocery stores offer their shoppers a lot of choices. So many choices can oftentimes be daunting. Shoppers do not have to be discouraged, however.
Before you go to the store, create a grocery list. You can't eat in a healthy way if you don't have all the ingredients you need for your meal. This can also save confusion, later, when you're in the store.
As you're making out your list and planning your menu, remember the food pyramid. Making sure that you have the correct amounts of vegetables, whole grains, dairy, fruits, lean meat, poultry, fish, nuts, and beans is important to your overall health.
Try to incorporate lots of fresh fruit and produce into your diet. This means fewer canned fruits and vegetables. They don't have to be organic, either. Try your local farmer's market to get locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Although the taste might take some time to get used to, try using whole grained rice and pasta when cooking. These foods contain a lot of fiber, which is good for you.
For your meat choices, the best options are lean cuts. You also want to try to stay away from poultry with skins. For fish, salmon is generally a good bet because aside from being inexpensive, it does not usually have that "fishy" taste that can turn people off.
You don't have to fill your entire plate with protein, either, which is good for your budget. The USDA only recommends that of your plate be protein, with the rest being fruits and vegetables and whole grains. That doesn't even have to be meat-it can also be beans, tofu, eggs, or nuts.
While you're shopping, stick to the edges of the store. The healthy foods like the meat, produce, and breads are usually located on the edges. The junk food aisles are generally in the middle of the store.
If buying canned food, try to look for food that has minimum salt. Fruits stored in fruit juice are a good option as well. If worried about salt, you can always rinse off the items before you use them.
When you're buying fruits and vegetables, try to purchase items that are in season. These are generally cheaper and have a better taste. When buying some fruits, you can always freeze them and use them later when they are out of season again.
Snacking might have a bad reputation, but it can actually be good for you, as long as you don't overdo it. When you pick out your snack foods, make sure you that you include both healthy and unhealthy snacks. Along with your ice cream and cookies, be sure to include nuts, apples, and bananas as well.
The last thing to remember is that although pre-packaged food is quick and easy to fix, it is almost always filled with saturated fat and sodium. If you buy the ingredients and prepare the meal yourself, it might take a little bit more time, but you'll come out ahead in the long run knowing that you've made the healthy choice.
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For more advice on how to make up a useful healthy grocery list, visit 4GrocerySavings.com to learn how to shop successfully for healthy groceries.
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