Helpful Tips to Make Your Grocery Shopping (and Health) Better

Don’t you just hate going to the grocery store? You wander around the store aimlessly praying that chef-inspired, healthy, easy meal that everyone will eat will just automatically fall into your cart. I’ve yet to have that happen and inspiration just doesn’t seem to hit as I sojourn through the aisles. Or you may know the feeling of making it home from grocery shopping and your family informs you “there’s nothing to eat” then when you do try to put a meal together, you don’t have everything.

All that has changed since we switched our diet. I’m not speaking of diet as in to lose weight diet but a complete lifestyle overall. Chances are that if you can’t pronounce the ingredients then your body can’t process them either. Should we really be eating “food” made in a lab? There’s a reason that box of “food" is only $1. If you stop and think about it, do you really think everything in that box could be grown, made, packaged, shipped, and still leave room for a profit if it’s only a dollar? Making the switch doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start making small changes so they will eventually add up and make a positive impact on the health of your family.

Here are my tips to make your grocery shopping a little easier and, hopefully, a little healthier:

• Make a menu with a list of items needed.

• Keep it simple. The fewer ingredients in the box, the better.

• Shop the perimeter of the store. That’s where you will find most of the unprocessed food. Think fruits, veggies, bulk, fresh meat, etc.

• Buy organic whenever you can. If you can’t buy all organic, keep this list of the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean Fifteen” handy so you can buy organic on the most toxic fruits and veggies.

• Switch to Celtic Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt.

• Use organic spices, generously. Flavor counts but doesn’t have to be artificial!

• Cut out processed sugar and artificial sweeteners. Use organic stevia, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey.

• Switch to healthy fats. Use olive, coconut or avocado oil. Eat nuts and avocados. 

• Meal prep saves time and money, so take a couple of hours and cook ahead. It saves the temptation to eat out.

• Clean your cupboard so you’re not tempted to eat the unhealthy things you may have. Have healthy choices made up and available. Think nuts, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nut or sunflower butter, and veggies with hummus or guacamole.

• If you can't-do it all at once, just make the first step. Remember:

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” -Lao Tzu

Have questions about shopping and cooking healthier? Send us an email at support@SparrowClinic.com and keep checking for recipes at www.sparrowclinic.com. If you have a healthy recipe you would like to share, please email it to me. Who knows? It may just be our next featured recipe.