I used to loathe grocery shopping. But since I started eating healthier, I actually enjoy going to the store and picking out new healthy foods and buying fresh fruits and veggies. Maybe I'm a weirdo. I mean, I wouldn't like to go every day or anything crazy.. but it's less of a chore now.
This last time I went to the grocery store I noticed something I've never noticed before:
This is the set up of the grocery section at the Super Target I go to. The entrance is at the bottom of the page. I don't know about YOUR grocery store, but this seems to be the set up of every grocery store I've ever been in. I had a few things on my list that were in the center aisles, but probably 80-90% of what I purchased was from the outer area of the grocery section.
These are the things that I purchased from the center aisles (labeled "BAD!" in blue on the drawing):
-low fat honey mustard dressing
-ketchup
-nutmeg
-sesame seeds
-kashi go lean crunch granola
-peanut butter
-whole wheat pita bread
-whole wheat english muffins
-truvia
-special k snack bars (only for emergencies when i'm really in a hurry and need a snack)
-coffee
-half & half
-graham cracker cookies for Brayden
For the most part, the center aisles are filled with sugary foods that will leave you hungry in an hour. The foods on the ends of the aisle (pink on the drawing) are even worse! They are placed there simply to catch your eye and cause you to make an unneeded purchase.
The majority of your shopping trip should be spent on the outside aisles: dairy, meat, and produce.
The biggest part of my purchase included fresh fruits and vegetables, soy milk, almond milk, skim milk, low fat yogurt, white fish, shrimp, eggs, low fat feta cheese, etc. When I put my groceries away, I scatter them in the fridge so basically everywhere I look is something healthy! Makes it much easier to decide what to eat :)
So, if you're trying to eat healthier, stay out of the center aisles!!
