Most healthy eating advice focuses on balancing the food on your plate (like MyPlate or the Healthy Eating Plate). But in some ways, this is a bit too late in the eating process. That’s because your plate is really determined by the foods you choose on your grocery trip.
This can be explained by two simple nutrition truths:
1. You will eat what you purchase.
2. If you buy it now, you will be tempted by it later.
Follow these strategies to change your grocery cart and reshape how you eat:
- Remember the basics: Make a list and stick to it. Skip the candy, chip, soda, and alcohol aisles. Avoid shopping while you are hungry. Shop the perimeter of the store.
- Switch grocery stores: Habit drives a lot of shopping choices. Changing stores creates an opportunity to re-learn your grocery routine, potentially making it easier to choose healthier items.
- Shop with a friend: A second person can help boost your willpower, making it easier to avoid bringing home hard-to-resist foods.
- Take inventory: Make a list of all the food in your house. Does the list reflect the kind of eater you want to be? If not, your inventory will identify where to adjust.
- Reconsider snacks: A lot of processed foods are purchased for snacking. But if your hunger is triggered because of stress or emotions, then these snacks are truly empty calories. Try taking the snack foods out of your cart altogether. Then, swap snack time for taking a walk, meditation, or any other stress relief techniques.
I know it’s easy to list these strategies, but a lot harder to make them happen regularly. If you need some coaching to help you get this right, take advantage of our free nutrition counseling services!
