5 Tips for Grocery Shopping On A Diet
Do you find that when it’s time to go shopping for the week you end up buying things that you didn’t intend on buying? Maybe you went shopping and, despite going with good intentions, you come home realizing that you bought all the unhealthy things that that aren’t helping you reach your goals. I for one have been guilty of this and let me tell you that there are many others who have done the same. One thing for sure is that food shopping can be a dreaded task, but good preparation can eliminate most of the frustration that comes with it. I have compiled a list of tips that will help you successfully complete your grocery shop whilst staying on track with your fitness goals.
Tip 1: Plan ahead
This means creating a shopping list based on the meal plan you have created for the week. Why is this important? We all know what happens when we go shopping unprepared. We tend not to think and pick up items based on impulse. You are more likely to forget items too, causing you to fall short for the week and not having enough food in. I know most people in this case will opt for a takeaway instead.
Tip 2: Eat before you go
You’ve probably heard it before, eating before you go food shopping is essential if you want to avoid buying loads of junk and blowing your diet. When hungry, our bodies naturally tend to seek out high calorie foods. And what’s worse than being tempted by an abundance of high fat, high sugar foods as you walk through the store. It’s important you have something to eat, or at least drink, before you head out if you want to avoid the after-shopping guilt. I’m not saying go and stuff your face completely, something light will do. This can be a piece of fruit or a protein bar for example.
Tip 3: Buy in bulk
If you are really serious about dieting, you might want to consider meal prepping. This means preparing all of your meals early on in the week, saving you time cooking in the evening. This is something I definitely recommend you do it you don’t have the energy or the time when you get back from work to prepare a healthy evening meal. So, buying in bulk and preparing your meals in advance won’t only save you money, but also time. It will reduce the risk of you falling off track as your meal will already be ready for you, saving you the effort.
Tip 4: Don’t avoid frozen foods
It’s a common misconception that frozen foods aren’t as healthy as fresh foods. In fact, frozen foods retain their mineral and vitamin content even when frozen. Having a selection of frozen vegetables, fruits and proteins in your freezer will come in handy if you run out of fresh food during the week.
Tip 5: Read the labels
Most foods have a nutritional information label that can help you determine how they fit in your diet. Now if you have followed tip 1 already then you should already know what foods you are going to buy. But if you are faced with multiple options to choose from, you may want to have a closer look at the label and choose the lower calorie option or the higher protein option, whichever is in line with your goals.
Thank you for reading
Michael