Nutrition
Navigating the Grocery Store: A Comprehensive Guide to Smart Food Shopping
tips, tricks and tactics to ensure smart food shopping.
The grocery store is where good intentions and healthy eating go to die. It’s a minefield of processed products, impulse items and distracting discounts.
Healthy eating starts with what you put in your shopping trolley. Yet sometimes it can feel like the moment you enter the grocery store, all your willpower and health motivation drains away.
If so, you’re not alone and experts around the globe have plenty of advice to help you switch up your shopping habits.
Let’s unpack the top tips, tricks and tactics to ensure smart food shopping.
Before You Shop: Preparation is Key
We all understand the importance of eating healthy, but the whole grocery store can feel like it’s set against us.
From the chocolate bars by the counter to the sugary discounts at the end of every aisle, quick unhealthy purchases are easy profits for the store.
That’s why going in with a plan is essential.
It may seem a little obvious but having a shopping list keeps you focused and driven—no need to make an in-the-moment decision when you’ve got your plan to follow.
Another simple trick to avoid impulse purchases is to go shopping after eating a meal. That way you can lead with your head and not with your grumbling stomach.
Healthy Choices in Every Aisle
The best way to avoid making poor health decisions is to avoid unhealthy products entirely.
As a general rule, the healthier items are found on the perimeter of the store. Sticking to the perimeter generally means exploring the fresh food options including:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Seafood
- Meat
- Poultry
- Dairy
That said, be careful of distracting perimeter pit stops like the bakery and processed food options they tempt you with at the end of each aisle.
Try to stick to whole grain bread or tortillas and avoid finger buns and other sugary distractions.
If you’re looking for a quick snack, then there are still plenty of great options. Some of the most convenient healthy snacks include:
- Fresh fruit
- Nuts
- Boiled eggs
- Yoghurt
- Low-fat cheese
- Hummus
These healthy and quick snacks will help you master any late-afternoon cravings.
Reading Labels Like a Pro
Interpreting food labels is essential for making healthy decisions.
Food labels are your chance to look past the advertising and packaging to really understand what’s in the product.
One useful metric is the serving size on the back of a packet, as it gives you a rough idea of how much you should be eating. However, be warned that some companies manipulate the serving size to then misrepresent the nutrients per serving size.
For example, a lolly packet might have a really low serving size so that there appears to be an equally low amount of sugar per serve.
The “per 100 grams” column is an alternative tool that provides a more flat comparison rate of all the important nutrients.
Key Takeaways
Making healthy choices at the grocery store makes it easier to eat healthy later. The key tips and tricks to remember are:
- Eating beforehand
- Following a grocery list
- Shopping the perimeter
- Choosing healthy snacks
- Checking the health labels
With just a few tweaks, you can master your grocery shopping.
Healthy eating is the key to good health and general well-being. Follow these top tips and tricks and you’ll be navigating the grocery store like a pro in no time!