When visiting a grocery store, we get bombarded with every item of food we could possibly want. With cookies staring at you from the shelves, ice cream calling out your name and potato chips taking leaps into your shopping cart, it's difficult to stick to only purchasing healthy foods. There are however some simple steps you can follow to stick to your healthy eating plan.
Prepare and eat a healthy snack before you even thinking about what you want at the store.
By satisfying your hunger, you will be more likely to stay on task and focus only on the healthy foods that you want to purchase.Create a list of food items that you plan to purchase.
A list will keep you focused while you are in the grocery store, and will cut down on impulsive buying. Take stock of what is in your refrigerator and pantry as you make your list, so that you do not forget anything important. Make sure to include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat proteins and whole grains.
Go directly to the grocery after you've made your list and while your appetite is still appeased.
You might as well park at the very end of the parking lot to get a bit of extra physical activity while you are at it.
Plan to walk around the perimeter of the grocery store first.
This is where most of the foods will be found that are on your list, such as produce, fresh poultry and fish and whole grain bread.Using your list as a guide, start cruising down the aisles in the middle of the store, where you will find your remaining items.
Do not go down an aisle if you do not need to do so, especially if the aisle contains sweets, snacks or highly processed foods. This might offer a temptation to impulsively purchase some junk food that is not on your list.
Pay for your groceries and go straight home.
Fresh items that need to be refrigerated can spoil very quickly. Put everything away immediately, focusing on the items that need refrigeration first.