Great health starts in the aisles

Eating healthy is all about what kinds of food you are buying, and that all starts in the grocery store. Some people love going grocery shopping, while others find it to be stressful and just a big pain-in-the-butt. Whether or not we hate it or love it, it has to be done, so we mind as well find a way to make it fun. 

First thing you need to have done before you even step foot in the store is make a list. This is probably the most important part of the check-list because then you know exactly what you came there for. Walking aimlessly around a grocery store results in wasted time and cart full of items you really didn't need and probably aren't healthy either. An easy way to do this is to go online. Most stores will actually put a sort of menu of everything they have in stores, so you can literally plan exactly what you are going to buy. A good way to make the list is to plan what kinds of meals you are going to make, and then going from there when figuring out ingredients.

Second, you're going to want to coupon. Now, I know the couponing shows make this look like only freak shows do this, but trust me it is going to save you a lot of money and it'll help you stay under your budget. Another way you can save money is by buying the store brand foods. To be honest, they don't taste that much different and they are usually a dollar or more less than buy name brand items. If you really want to make sure they are the same, you can always check the label. 

Checking the label is important because it'll tell you exactly what you are getting. In order to make sure what you are eating is actually going to be beneficial for you, look at the calories, sugar, fat content, sodium and artificial ingredients. Just because something is labeled organic, doesn't mean it is actually healthy. Because, I hate to break it to you...a lot of things at a regular grocery store that isn't aimed toward health, like Whole Foods is, is going to have unhealthy options. 

This is why it is important to try and stray away from junk food. It'll help to already have that list in hand, but sometimes you may feel the urge to buy those chips or that soda...you need to stick to the list, unless you see something that is actually healthy for you. Also, although the little gum and makeup sample type stuff in the check out lanes aren't going to bring up your bill all too much, they are still impulse buys. So rather than standing in one of those lanes and grabbing a chocolate bar, do self-checkout. If you have to wait, grab a magazine to flip through while you wait for the next check-out to open. 

Lastly, while you're standing in line waiting to check out, look through your cart and make sure everything in there are items you will actually eat and will be healthy for you. In your cart, you should have a variety of colorful veggies and fruits, lean proteins like chicken or fish, whole grains and healthy sources of fat like nuts or seeds. If your cart is filled with snacks that don't fall under any of these categories, you may want to rethink what you're buying and go back to the drawing board. 

Your health is going to start with what you put in your cart. Ultimately, you are deciding what you are eating at the end of the day, so it is your decision whether or not you will be healthy or not. Choose health; your body is your shrine.