How to become a savvy supermarket shopper

Most of us go to the supermarket with good intentions of buying healthy food. But, many of us leave the market with “not so healthy” food items that we never planned on purchasing. So why does this happen, and how can you prevent this from happening again?

 

Before going to the Market

• Try to view the market as a place to go to keep yourself healthy, rather then viewing it as a chore.
• Make a list of what you are going to purchase, and stick to the list.
• Gather coupons and savings cards (it is always nice to save money).
• Eat a healthy meal or snack before going to the market (you do not want to go the market hungry).
• Try not to go the market when you are rushed (it leads to more impulse purchases).

 At the Market

• Shop the perimeter of the market.
• The healthiest foods tend to be on the walls (not the middle aisles). The produce, meats, dairy, and seafood tend to be on the outside of the market, while processed, canned, boxed, packaged, bagged foods tend to be on the inner aisles.
• Look on the top and bottom shelves on the aisles. Food companies pay a lot of money to have their products strategically placed at eye level for both you and your children. Many smaller ‘healthier brands” are therefore placed on the top and bottom shelves and easily passed by.
• Try to buy less packaged items and more fresh items. Choose a fresh apple instead of applesauce, use a potato instead of French fries, buy fresh or frozen vegetable rather than canned vegetable, etc.
• Be careful about the “catchy words” on a product. ‘lite”, “multi-grain”, “low fat”, etc.
• When comparing products, look at the food label and pick foods with easy to understand ingredients. Remember, products with fewer ingredients are often less processed.
• Be careful about purchasing “impulse” buys which are often placed near the check-out aisles.
• Purchase one new healthy food at each shopping trip, and enjoy the new healthy food in your fridge, freezer, and food pantry.

 And remember, we are having our first Nutrition Supermarket tour this Saturday at Harris Teeter.

Please call Sarah Saba at

919- 232-9436 to find out more and/or sign up for the class.