As we all know, having the right types of foods in the house is crucial for weight loss success. For some, a trip to the grocery store is a nice relaxing time away from the hustle and bustle of the home, but others dread it. No matter which one you are, here are some tips for making the most of your grocery trips and keep your weight loss on track!
1. Plan your meals ahead of time- Take time to sit down the night before your grocery trip and decide what you will be having for dinner each night for the next week. I also recommend having one or two items on hand to rotate for breakfasts, and same for lunches. Choose a few healthy snack items to have on hand as well.
2. Make a detailed list based on your above choices- Getting everything you need in one trip will prevent multiple grocery trips. With every grocery trip, your will power is tested so limiting to once a week is usually best.
3. Review your list- Does your list contain mostly REAL foods? Are there processed foods that you could exchange for something more real, for instance swapping spaghetti noodles for spaghetti squash?
4. Stick to the list- Going in without a plan will lead to more impulse purchases, which puts you at risk of bringing home high calorie, low quality foods.
OR Avoid the shopping altogether- Check to see if your local grocery store has grocery pick-up service or delivery service so you do not need to shop at all. The bonus is that it is quick, so you can use the saved time to do something else- like exercise!
For more information on weight loss topics, please visit the National Institute of Health (www.nhlbi.nih.gov).