Empower Your Shopping Experience

Healthy living begins with healthy eating and healthy eating begins with healthy shopping...

Regardless of what nutritional program you are following - whether it is low fat, no-sugar, low carbohydrate, or based on some other method - there are always healthier choices that can be made when you are shopping.

Support your nutritional program week-by-week and day-by-day by ensuring that you stock up on the wholesome foods you need for your meals and snacks. Having the right food on hand helps you avoid eating the wrong things such as food, which are too high in fat, calories, sodium, and sugar. Additionally, shopping wisely helps you eat more of the good things like fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Use the suggestions below to avoid supermarket "traps" and help stay on track...

Plan The Shop & Shop The Plan

Put on your 'thinking cap' and make a list of the foods you need before you shop and stick closely to it. Plan your shopping around your favourite meals and recipes & don't be tempted by those wayward specials that may fall outside of the foods best for your program.

HALT! Don't Shop When You're Hungry-Angry-Lonely-Tired

Heed this word and make sure to eat before you shop to avoid impulse buying or stocking up on items you may regret later.

Begin With Colours

Fill up your shopping cart first in the produce section with lots of vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits. Select a variety of colours, flavours and textures to add interest and variety to your meals. Be adventurous and go for exotic fruits or vegetables that you may not usually choose.

Choose Individual Servings

When buying chicken, fish or meat, get single meal-size servings that you can freeze and use as needed. That way you'll always have good-quality fresh protein on hand and won't be tempted to eat more than your body wants. Likewise, buy fresh vegetables like mini carrots in small packages too. They'll stay fresh and make convenient "on-the-go" snacks.

Read Labels

Supermarket aisles are avenues to greater nutritional knowledge as the food label offers more complete, useful and accurate nutrition information than ever before. Become a fervent 'label reader' and scrutinize packaged foods, dressings and sauces before purchasing.

Avoid The "Aisle Of Weakness"

In all honesty, everyone has their "aisle of weakness"-be it the ice cream, cakes or sweet section. Do yourself a favour and avoid mouth watering temptation by steering completely clear of the entire area. And this "aisle" (or "aisles") is usually found in the centre! So, shop the perimeter of the store first, which is where you find the healthier foods.

Tantalize & Excite Your Taste Buds

Stimulate your palate and your recipes with the inspiration of fresh herbs like basil, ginger, lemongrass and cilantro. In addition, stock up on spices that can literally transform an ordinary meal into an exotic dish. Actively pursue variety. Expand your range of choices and explore new tastes, within and among food groups. Eating a wide variety of foods not only promotes optimal nutrition but also provides us with the 'pleasure factor'.

Don't Feel Deprived

Even though there are certain foods you'll want to avoid on your nutritional program, the supermarket is packed with a great variety of health-friendly food items. By choosing a variety of the foods you enjoy, and watching your portions, you need never feel deprived -no matter what foods you choose. Make moderation your goal, you decide how much and how often. Healthy eating doesn't mean feeling deprived or guilty.

Final Check

Before you check out, ask yourself (honestly!) if there is any item in your shopping cart that you could remove to better support your program. Put yourself and your optimal nutritional program before all else.

When you shop healthily, it is a great contributor to the 'feel good factor'!! Additionally, consider clearing your cupboards and fridge of any foods that don't support your program. With only great-tasting nutritious foods around you can cook up a healthy storm and enjoy your meals & snacks to the fullest -and enjoy the pleasurable aspects of eating and... living!

About The Author

Copyright 2004: Antoinette Mc Donnell

antoinette@bestshape.info

Antoinette is a successful wellness mentor who has been assisting people achieve excellent health through cellular nutrition. For people wanting to lose weight she uses a scientifically proven approach that enables people to boost their energy and to block cravings while they are burning fat and thus losing weight. Visit her website at antoinette@bestshape.info and see what you can do to take control today.

affordable house cleaning Park Ridge ..
In The News:

Holiday shopping scams surge as fake refund emails target distracted consumers during Black Friday and holiday seasons, costing Americans billions annually.
The AI-powered IRMO M1 exoskeleton features four modes, including turbo, eco, training and rest for hiking, running, cycling and sports with eight-hour battery life.
OpenAI announced upgrades for its ChatGPT Images platform on Tuesday, saying the program can now make more precise edits and produce images more quickly.
Chrome for Android now turns web articles into AI-powered podcast conversations. Get hands-free browsing with Google Gemini's natural audio summaries.
LastPass faces $1.6 million fine from U.K. regulators after 2022 data breach exposed 1.6 million users. Password manager failed proper security controls.
Petco disclosed a data breach exposing customer Social Security numbers, financial account details, and driver's license information due to a software error.
Baseball teams can now analyze complete swing mechanics in normal training environments using Theia's markerless AI system that processes standard high-speed footage.
Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.
MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.
The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.
Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.
Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.
Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.
Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

Exercise and Weight Loss for Life - The Magic Formula Doctors DONT Want You to Know!

In twenty years of consistant exercising, maintaining a low percentage... Read More

Weight Loss With Bontril: Smooth Sailing On The Weight Loss Ocean

As many of us know, it's the first few days... Read More

Half of our Nation is Overweight!

Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More

Lose Weight NOW! ? Do or Die Time!

Some of you will not like what I'm going to... Read More

Protecting Your Spine and Lower Back While You Lose Weight

When most people begin a Weight Loss program or diet... Read More

How To Be A Big Fat Loser In 2005

Now that the temptations of the Holiday season have passed... Read More

Dumping Syndrome: The Dirty Secret Gastric Bypass Patients Keep

Dumping syndrome is an effective result of the gastric bypass... Read More

Spritz On Some Flavor!

Now that everything from a tan to pantyhose comes in... Read More

Fad Diets & Weight Loss

A diet may be a fad diet or a healthy... Read More

Dont Just Melt Fat Off - Burn It Off With A Blow Torch!

Cardio Exercise...A huge variety of fitness activities provide cardiovascular benefits.... Read More

The Neuro-Science Of Losing The Weight You Hate

Are you one of the 90 million Americans who are... Read More

Diet Scams : How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off

Have you ever received those tempting ads that seem to... Read More

Fat Burning Foods

Are there any foods that burn body fat? If yes,... Read More

Hoodia - An Elixir that Fights Obesity Part 1

Humanity is always in search of a wonder drug that... Read More

Is Your Ability to Buy Dietary Supplements, Herbal Preparations, and Tonics in Jeopardy in the USA?

When the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was passed... Read More

Eating for Health, Happiness and Successful Weight Control

Don't diet, just eat and lose weight!First, the following "diet"... Read More

Walk Your Way to Weight Loss

"The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of... Read More

Get NeanderThin on the Cave Man Diet

Are you up to a cave man diet? You won't... Read More

Obesity as an Issue Today and the Half Ton Man

Following recent reports of a South Dakota man weighing half... Read More

Diet Candy for Delicious Weight Loss

There are currently over 100 billion dollars sold in weight-loss... Read More

LA Weight Loss Secrets ? High Profile Personal Trainer Shares the Magic Formula!

In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More

Obesity and Weight Loss Surgery

Let's face facts; obesity is ripe today in America and... Read More

Playing Games Does Not Help Your Weight Loss Efforts

Have you ever wondered why some fat people can be... Read More

Overweight - Answering Your Critics

There are those that walk amongst us who have followed... Read More

Simple Plans for Social Eating and Travel

It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when... Read More

affordable house cleaning Mundelein ..