The Ultimate Healthy Grocery Shopping List for Healthy Eaters on a Budget
Was your New Years’ resolution to eat healthier and get into shape? I hate to break it to you, but we’re only a few weeks away from another New Year’s Eve. If you haven’t reached your goals yet, you may have been sabotaging yourself.
The truth is that new habits start when you sit down to make a healthy grocery shopping list. Planning out what you’re going to buy before you hit the market can help you with saving money on grocery runs, too. Healthy grocery shopping on a budget can help you meet both health and financial goals at the same time!
Are you ready to start buying healthy groceries? Read on to learn some suggestions for creating the perfect healthy grocery list!
Shop the Perimeter
Picture your local supermarket in your mind. If you were to walk around only the perimeter of the store, what would you find there?
On your typical grocery run, the perimeter of the store is where you will encounter fresh produce, dairy products, and unprocessed meat and seafood. In certain stores, this is also where you can find dry goods. The center of the store is where you will run into trouble if you are looking to fill your cart with healthy groceries.
Rather than winging it, go in with a plan and a list. If you will be prepping healthy meal plans, figure out what you need for the week. Fresh food is healthy food, so take it a few days at a time.
A great way to begin your list is by listing out the departments that you will encounter when walking the perimeter of the store. Here are a few of the leaner and healthier options that you might find there.
The Produce Area
You cannot go wrong with fresh fruits and vegetables! Most vegetables are low-calorie, so you can eat them in high volumes. This has helped many individuals on weight loss journeys to continue eating larger meals without ever feeling deprived!
To save money, you can also buy frozen fruits and vegetables. They do not have less nutritional value than their fresh counterparts. Steamer bags make incorporating veggies easy, and frozen berries are a delicious treat!
Meat and Seafood
Protein is important because it is satiating, and if you are also starting to work out, it will help fuel you. Even so, your best bet will always be leaner proteins. Seafood, chicken, and turkey are always nutritious and versatile options.
The Dairy Aisle
Dairy also contains protein. If eaten in moderation, cheese can even be part of a healthy grocery shopping trip! Many people add yogurt and cottage cheese to their healthy meal plans.
The dairy aisle is also where you can find non-dairy, lower-calorie alternatives to dairy products. Many dieters swear by almond and cashew milk, which ranges from 25 to 30 calories per cup!
Bulk Foods
You can never go wrong with legumes! Beans and lentils are a highly efficient food that you can buy inexpensively. They’re also an incredible source of plant protein that you can incorporate into the food of many different cuisines!
Your Healthy Grocery Shopping List
The key to a healthy grocery shopping list is prioritizing healthy, high-volume, fresh foods. If you can stay out of the center of the store, you will be able to avoid temptations like Oreos and crackers. By filling up on nutrient-dense foods, you won’t even have room for dessert!
If you want more tips for eating well, you’ve come to the right place! Browse the rest of the blog for more posts that can help you meet your culinary goals!
June Potter wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world.
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