| We all know that when we're doing some grocery | | | | 8. Since calcium is essential for your body, consume |
| shopping, it can be extremely hard to find the right | | | | adequate amounts of dairy products or go with |
| food for your healthy dinner recipes. Here are some | | | | calcium-enriched beverages. |
| tips you can keep in mind the next time you find | | | | 9. Keep the sugar content low when selecting |
| yourself in the grocery store. | | | | products, being especially careful with dairy and drinks. |
| 1. Shop in the Natural Health Food section of the | | | | 10. Avoid white flour based products like bread, bagels |
| supermarket to find better food choices. Always | | | | and spaghetti. Instead introduce in your diet the whole |
| select the organic products whenever they are | | | | grain versions of these products. |
| available. | | | | 11. Finding healthy snacks can be difficult. Watch out for |
| 2. Start in the fresh food section of the supermarket. In | | | | the partially hydrogenated oils and sugar used in the |
| fact if you shop around the perimeter of the store you | | | | coatings. There are protein bars and healthy varieties |
| will end up making healthier food choices. | | | | of snacks available in the health food section. |
| 3. Because vegetables lose their vitamins and other | | | | 12. Fruits are high in vitamin C. Eat more melons such |
| nutrients very rapidly, buy only the freshest ones. | | | | as cantaloupe if you are trying to lower your calories. |
| 4. Quick frozen vegetables can be more nutritious than | | | | Cantaloupe is not only high in vitamin C, but has plenty |
| 'fresh' ones that have been on the store shelves for a | | | | of beta-carotene that helps defend against diseases |
| few days. | | | | such as cancer. |
| 5. Stay away from the canned goods whose contents | | | | 13. For frozen dinners, buy the ones with low |
| are preserved in brine, oil or syrup. Go with those | | | | cholesterol, sodium and fat. |
| packed in water, but pay attention to the amount of | | | | 14. Don't go to the grocery store without a list, or if you |
| salt or sodium in them. | | | | are hungry. Being prepared with a list of food items will |
| 6. Learn to read the product labels. Be on the alert for | | | | help guarantee that you'll end up with more healthy |
| terms like "hydrogenated" and "partially hydrogenated". | | | | choices than if you buy on the impulses of a growling |
| The earlier it appears on the list the higher the amount | | | | stomach. |
| or portion of trans fatty acids there are in the product. | | | | Keep these tips in mind whenever you are shopping |
| 7. Try to buy skinless chicken and turkey. If you do buy | | | | for food. Grocery stores are full of healthy products |
| one with skin, make sure that you remove the skin | | | | for your dinner recipes; you just need to know which |
| prior to cooking. If you are buying beef, only buy the | | | | ones they are, and make a conscious effort to avoid |
| leaner cuts. | | | | the unhealthy ones. |