News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
How you shop can have an impact on your health - your physical well-being and the condition of your wallet. A little technique in your grocery shopping can keep your basket full of good stuff and your bank account healthy.
Shop the perimeter
Most grocery stores and supermarkets are laid out with the whole foods such as produce and meats out on the edges. More processed foods - the stuff that comes in boxes - is shelved in the center aisles. If you shop around the perimeter of the store, chances are you're sticking to the healthiest foods in the store. Choose lean meats and buy lots of fruits and vegetables.
Make a list and stick to it
If you shop from a prepared list, you're more likely to make healthier food choices and to avoid overspending. Reducing impulse buying is both good for your body and good for your budget.
One way to make sure you stick to the list is to avoid going grocery shopping when you're hungry. High-carb snack foods are almost irresistible when hunger is gnawing at you. You'll buy things you ordinarily wouldn't and overspend your budget.
Read labels
Look for foods with no added sugars and salt and as few additives as you can get. The longer the label, the more additives and the less "good for you" a food item is likely to be. The closer to the top of the label an ingredient is, the more there is in the food.
"Hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" indicates the presence of trans fats. Look for foods that list "zero" for the trans fat content.
Get to know your store
Grocery stores are offering more and more healthful choices, including items for people on restricted diets, such as gluten-free products. Don't be shy about making requests; stores want to serve their customers.
A little bit of planning and self-discipline in your grocery shopping can help you meet your health and wellness goals and keep the money from flying out of your wallet, all while putting the good stuff on your family's plates.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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