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.
Grocery stores offer a lot of choices when it comes to food and that can be overwhelming. It doesn't necessarily have to be, 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.
You don't have to eat organic to be healthy. As long as you eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, you're doing well. Try adding these to your list instead of the canned variety. To get a good deal, and help out your local economy, consider visiting your local farmer's market.
If you and your family are big pasta and rice lovers, try switching to whole grain. Although the taste might take some time getting used to, it holds more fiber which is a healthy alternative.
When choosing meats, try to purchase lean cuts, as well as skinless poultry. The skin usually holds the most fat. When it comes to fish, salmon is generally a good bet because it's healthy and doesn't have a "fishy" taste to it.
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.
The healthiest food options are usually located around the edges of the store. This is where you will find your breads, produce, and meats. The junk food aisles tend to be in the center of the store.
If buying canned food, watch for items that do not contain a lot of salt. Canned fruit that is packaged in fruit juice is also a healthy choice.
Seasonality plays a part in produce. Fruits and vegetables tend to cost less, and are tastier, when they are in season. Some fruits, such as strawberries, can be frozen, too, and used in the off-season instead of purchasing them later when they are more expensive.
As long as you snack in moderation, snacking throughout the day isn't necessarily unhealthy. Make sure, however, that you balance out unhealthy snacks with healthy snacks. Along with the cookies and other "junk food" that you snack on, be sure to have on hand a supply of apples, bananas, and nuts.
Last, but not least, although pre-packaged food looks more convenient, it is usually filled with sodium and saturated fat. When shopping for healthy choices, it's always better to purchase the ingredients and prepare your food yourself. In the long run, you'll end up paying about the same amount of money, but your menu will be much healthier.
Grocery stores offer a lot of choices when it comes to food and that can be overwhelming. It doesn't necessarily have to be, 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.
You don't have to eat organic to be healthy. As long as you eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, you're doing well. Try adding these to your list instead of the canned variety. To get a good deal, and help out your local economy, consider visiting your local farmer's market.
If you and your family are big pasta and rice lovers, try switching to whole grain. Although the taste might take some time getting used to, it holds more fiber which is a healthy alternative.
When choosing meats, try to purchase lean cuts, as well as skinless poultry. The skin usually holds the most fat. When it comes to fish, salmon is generally a good bet because it's healthy and doesn't have a "fishy" taste to it.
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.
The healthiest food options are usually located around the edges of the store. This is where you will find your breads, produce, and meats. The junk food aisles tend to be in the center of the store.
If buying canned food, watch for items that do not contain a lot of salt. Canned fruit that is packaged in fruit juice is also a healthy choice.
Seasonality plays a part in produce. Fruits and vegetables tend to cost less, and are tastier, when they are in season. Some fruits, such as strawberries, can be frozen, too, and used in the off-season instead of purchasing them later when they are more expensive.
As long as you snack in moderation, snacking throughout the day isn't necessarily unhealthy. Make sure, however, that you balance out unhealthy snacks with healthy snacks. Along with the cookies and other "junk food" that you snack on, be sure to have on hand a supply of apples, bananas, and nuts.
Last, but not least, although pre-packaged food looks more convenient, it is usually filled with sodium and saturated fat. When shopping for healthy choices, it's always better to purchase the ingredients and prepare your food yourself. In the long run, you'll end up paying about the same amount of money, but your menu will be much healthier.
About the Author:
For even more advice on how to make up a useful healthy grocery list, visit 4GrocerySavings.com to discover how to successfully shop for healthy groceries.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment