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Use these tips to make healthier choices as you navigate through those aisles.
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Plan Ahead:
Plan your meals for the week and make a shopping list. Only purchase what is on your list and never, ever go grocery shopping when you’re hungry.
Plan your meals for the week and make a shopping list. Only purchase what is on your list and never, ever go grocery shopping when you’re hungry.-
Shop the Perimeter:
Buy most of your food from the outer aisles where fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy are often kept.
Buy most of your food from the outer aisles where fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy are often kept.-
Buy Readily Available Produce:
Let’s face it, kale is very difficult to find. Luckily, you can get a ton of nutrients from more readily available vegetables such as romaine lettuce and parsley.
Let’s face it, kale is very difficult to find. Luckily, you can get a ton of nutrients from more readily available vegetables such as romaine lettuce and parsley.-
Buy Organic:
Choose organic as they have no pesticides, no hormones and are non-GMO (genetically-modified organisms). When unable, stick to foods on the clean 15 list (least contaminated with pesticides) and avoid the dirty dozen (most contaminated).
Choose organic as they have no pesticides, no hormones and are non-GMO (genetically-modified organisms). When unable, stick to foods on the clean 15 list (least contaminated with pesticides) and avoid the dirty dozen (most contaminated).-
Limit Processed Foods:
Highly-processed foods are stripped of nutrients and high in calories and artificial ingredients. These include white breads and pastas, breakfast cereals, chips and cookies. Go for minimally-processed foods like whole-grain bread and canned goods that don’t have added salt, sugar or preservatives.
Highly-processed foods are stripped of nutrients and high in calories and artificial ingredients. These include white breads and pastas, breakfast cereals, chips and cookies. Go for minimally-processed foods like whole-grain bread and canned goods that don’t have added salt, sugar or preservatives.-
Always Read Labels:
Ignore everything on the package except the food label and ingredient list. If the ingredients are a paragraph long you know the product is likely not very healthy. Rule of thumb: avoid ingredients that you can’t pronounce and wouldn’t cook with yourself.
Ignore everything on the package except the food label and ingredient list. If the ingredients are a paragraph long you know the product is likely not very healthy. Rule of thumb: avoid ingredients that you can’t pronounce and wouldn’t cook with yourself.-
Ingredients to Stay Away From:
If you come across any of these ingredients in packaged foods, don’t buy it: High fructose corn syrup, aspartame, MSG (monosodium glutamate), agave nectar, hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated oils, carrageenan and food dyes.
If you come across any of these ingredients in packaged foods, don’t buy it: High fructose corn syrup, aspartame, MSG (monosodium glutamate), agave nectar, hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated oils, carrageenan and food dyes.Where to Buy What:
I frequent a variety of places that each offer their own specialties:
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Al Osra: Best selection of freshly baked breads. They also occasionally stock fresh kale.
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Tamimi: Excellent organic produce section. The general organic section of the supermarket also has a good selection of grains, flours and canned goods.
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Danube: They have the largest selection of organic packaged products. Filled with organic grains, seeds, nut butters, coconut oil, milk alternatives, sweeteners and healthy snack bars.
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Abazeer: Here you’ll find more specialty organic products, such as miso paste, dried seaweed, dried mulberries and freeze-dried fruit.
