Food Shopping - A Nightmare or Good Times?

Far too often, we hear that food shopping can be quite a headache, with non-stop questions of “How do I make healthy choices? What do I buy now? Is this [item] healthy and why?” If you’re not a confident shopper who continues to get drawn to the snack or treat aisles only to purchase the very foods that keep cravings active, here are some tips that help promote food choices that’ll make well-being possible.  

Here’s a brief overview of our supermarket finds that aim to nourish:

Look for labels that include organic, wild caught, pasture raised, fair trade, and grass-fed!

Refrigerator: 

• Eggs

• Yogurt/kefir

• Deli meats

• Dairy/non-dairy milks

• Deli cold cuts/cheese slices (optional)

Freezer:

• Meat, poultry, fish

• Frozen prepared meals

Dry goods:

• Whole grain bread(s), tortilla with less ingredients

• Uncooked grains/pastas 

• Canned items (ex. beans)

• Plant oils (unrefined and cold pressed ideally)

• All-purpose flour   

• Cereals with at least 3 gms of protein and fiber listed (non-commercial, preferably) 

We are big fans of products from Bob’s Red Mill!

Vegetables/fruit:

• Choose an array of colors for diversity of nutrients, fiber, and flavors

• Root veggies that can substitute for whole grains

• Fresh herbs

Miscellaneous goods: 

• Seeds/nuts (in whole or butter form)/dried fruit (as tolerated)

• Dark chocolate {*!*}

• Spices for flavor

• Flavoring agents (ex. honey)

We like turmeric, oregano, paprika, garlic, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and vanilla extract as staples in our pantry. 

Aside from our credentials, we are human, just like you, trying to stay afloat during the hectic workweek while maintaining our sanity. We’ve discovered that:

1. Batch cooking

2. Having easy-to-cook/prepare meals, or when tired of leftovers

3. Including frozen packaged meals 

…allows us to maintain optimal performance and have some quality of life, so we’re not scrambling at the last minute to fill empty tummy voids. The latter point can create vicious emotional, stress, and hangry eating cycles that we aim to avoid to maintain our health goals. 

Where’s the treat/snack list, you ask! We’re all too familiar with this section, so choose wisely on what you allow in your household. A fun challenge here is to create your snack or treat with the foods mentioned above! Here’s another fun challenge for this Memorial Day Weekend: check out our offerings in Nutrition Custom Care at services.nutritioncustomcare.com. You’ll find more information to help you go from a clueless wanderer in the supermarket aisles to a competent go-getter! We’re happy to guide you and are on standby to hear how we can support your health journey with a discovery call!