Supermarket shopping is often a complete minefield, so, to save you some of the confusion, here are some easy to implement tips to help you rev up your shopping trolley as a vehicle for healthy living...
Look at the average grocery basket and you'll invariably see that it's packed with ingredients that'll take you from sugar fix to sugar fix; even seemingly 'healthy' or savoury products have sugar on the ingredients listing nowadays. And then there's all the poor quality, high cholesterol dairy products and animal protein that's been pumped with growth hormones and antibiotics, not to mention salt!
Fruit and veg... Choose fresh, local and seasonal produce where you can. It's not always necessary to jump on the organic bandwagon, but it does make sense to get out of the supermarket and visit your local farmer's market as you'll naturally find foods there that are in season and grown locally. Go for the full spectrum of colours when making choices for a greater range of nutrients too.
Tinned and pre-packed foods... Always check the label and choose options that don't contain added salt or sugar.
Grains, breads, cereals and legumes... Always go for the whole food options that are as close to how Mother Nature produced them. Remember, your body processes refined white flour products as sugar, so choose products made of the whole, intact grain ...you'll naturally up your fibre intake and include more anti-stress B vitamins in your diet.
Dairy, refrigerated and frozen foods... Choose butter over margarine (which'll help you avoid trans fats) and avoid anything that's labeled low or no-fat as it's likely to contain sugar instead. Avoid frozen meals that are high in salt, and instead opt for healthier protein sources such as frozen edamame, omega-3 enriched eggs and fresh tofu.
Meat, seafood and fish... Choose organic (nb, you are what you eat and what that's eaten too so if they've eaten growth hormones and you ingest them too ...emmm guess what happens?!) Go for fresh or frozen to widen your selection, and focus on seafood. Be kind to the environment and go for ethically produced options which are pasture fed or that come from sustainable waters wherever you can.
Healthy Fats... Choose raw, unsalted nuts and seeds and always choose a high quality extra virgin olive oil for cooking and baking.
Becoming more mindful about what you put in your basket is one fast way of becoming healthier. It is tricky nowadays because the supermarkets shelves are lined with processed and refined foods, but it is possible to make discerning choices that put you in control of your health ...think of it as proactive health insurance ...it's the best there is.
