The grocery store can be a tricky place and even the most knowledgeable shoppers can end up putting mistakes in their cart. But with a few tricks up your sleeve, it's not all that tough to make smart decisions at the store.
A group of nutrition experts shared tips for making healthy grocery shopping a success, reports huffingtonpost.com.
Here are their suggestions:
* Make a list: Know your grocery store and go with a list of healthy foods in the order they are laid out. That will help you resist temptation, and it speeds up shopping because you're not wasting time cruising the aisles for what you need.
*Don't go hungry: Healthy eating choices start with the groceries you have on hand. Grocery shop with a plan and shopping list. Do not attempt to grocery shop when you are hungry, as you will be surprised at the significant number of impulse buys in your cart.
*Stock up on canned foods: Many shoppers overlook the canned foods aisle because they don't realize that canned fruits and vegetables can be just as nutritious as fresh and frozen. Plus, canned foods are always available. I stock my pantry with canned veggies, fruits, legumes and broths so I can make a healthy meal in minutes.
*Go plain: The original versions of foods and beverages like cereals, soy milk, yogurt, pasta sauces and more, are usually the most nutritious. That's because as brands extend product lines, they move into more decadent offerings that cost more and have worse nutritional profiles.
*Be selective when buying organic: Buying all organic isn't realistic for most (people)... but you can easily and affordably minimize pesticide exposure when you buy according to the lists.
*Do a final check: Before you pull into the checkout line, pull over and do a final cart check. Make sure your cart has visually 50 percent fruits and veggies, 25 percent lean and plant proteins, 25 percent whole grains -- and don't forget to double check there are enough healthy fats, like avocado, nuts, seeds, nut butters and liquid oil.
