How to Have a Healthy Grocery List
It’s best to come up with a grocery list when you go out to buy groceries in the supermarket. For those who are trying to lose weight or simply want to be healthy, creating a healthy grocery list is a must. These are some of the groceries that you can grab from any aisle in the supermarket:
Bakery and Bread
When it comes to bread and bakery, it’s better to look for labels that say “whole wheat” and “whole wheat flour.” Always look for whole-grain pieces of bread that have 3 to 4 grams of fiber and have less than 100 calories. Some examples of these are whole wheat bread and whole-grain flour tortillas.
Cereals and Breakfast Food Items
Purchase cereals and cereal bars that contain a high amount of fiber and a low amount of sugar. To add sweetness to your cereals, you can add berries, nuts, and dried fruit. Examples of these are whole-grain cereal bars, whole-grain or multigrain cereals, steel-cut or instant oatmeal.
Frozen Foods
For frozen foods, it’s better to buy frozen vegetables that can be used for stews, casseroles, and soups. You can also buy low-fat frozen yogurt mixed with frozen fruit. This makes a quick, easy-to-make, and healthy smoothie. Examples of the frozen foods that you can buy are frozen broccoli, peas, carrots, spinach, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, whole-grain vegetable pizza, and others.
Dairy, Eggs, and Cheese
You need not avoid eating butter and whole-fat cheeses. The trick is to use only smaller portions. It’s also wise to buy strong-flavored cheeses such as goat cheese and Parmesan. Just make sure to use only a small amount so as not to sacrifice the taste. Avoid pre-sweetened or flavored yogurts which may have a lot of sugar and calories. Instead, you must buy plain yogurt which will allow you to add your preferred flavor by adding jam or fresh fruit in it.
Soups and Canned Items
Always look at the label to know the sodium content of canned items and soups. Always look for the low-sodium varieties. When you buy canned fruits, pick those that are packed in juice and not syrup. Examples of these are tuna or salmon packed in water, low-sodium broths and soups, and diced green chilies.
Meat and Seafood
Choose the leanest cuts when you decide to buy red meat. Those that have the slightest marbling. Instead of ground beef, choose ground chicken or ground turkey breast. They have lower fat content. You just have to play around with condiments for adding more flavors without resorting to fat. Other examples of these are trout, mackerel, halibut, and your favorite seafood as well as reduced-sodium lunchmeat.
Pasta and Rice
Just like bread, always consider the whole-grain varieties. Examples of these are brown rice and whole-wheat or whole-grain pasta.