Shop Smart to Lose Weight

Heading to the grocery store every day gets expensive, not to mention pretty dangerous when you are trying to follow a weight loss program. Grocery stores know our weaknesses. They know that after a long day at work we are tired and hungry. They know that many of us don’t want to walk around the whole store in search of what we are going to buy. This is why they stock-pile the ends of the aisles with unhealthy snacks that we’ll pick up without thinking twice. Some food stores even have small kiosks with samples of home-cooked meals to sway your decision process.

Getting just one or two things from the food store takes a lot of determination. Most of us impulsively buy an extra snack or a beverage that looks good. Going to the store hungry just makes you even more susceptible to this.

Having fresh ingredients to prepare a meal doesn’t require a daily trip to the market. By doing one large shopping trip at the beginning of every week you can load your kitchen with healthy foods that will encourage you to stay on track with your weight loss efforts.

Set your week up for healthy-eating success with a few simple tips:

• Plan meals with similar ingredients: Plan meals ahead of time that use similar ingredients. For example, you might be able to make grilled chicken twice, complementing each meal with different vegetables. Or, maybe you can buy two heads of broccoli and serve the vegetable twice during the week.
• Have an ongoing list: Consider hanging a dry erase board in your kitchen to keep a running list of items you’ll need to buy. Encourage all members of your household to write items on the board as they finish them. Before going to the food store you can simply take a picture of the list with your phone so you don’t forget anything.
• Hang your receipt on the fridge: This is a great way to remind yourself of what you have in the kitchen, as well as how much you’ve spent on food for the week. As you use items, cross them out. When your entire grocery list is crossed through it is time to head back to the store. This can help you work through all the groceries you’ve purchased without produce going bad before you remember you bought it.

The foods you have in your kitchen can impact the diet choices you make. Fill your home with wholesome ingredients and healthy snacks that will keep you on track with your weight loss program. Developing healthy strategies like these now can help you keep up your weight loss long-term, too.