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It can cause anxiety, trigger a headache and for some, it may make you avoid doing this activity at all cost.

On the other hand, for others, they do this activity everyday or maybe even twice a month!

What am I talking about?

You know what I am talking about don’t you?

Okay, I will stop playing the guessing game with you!

I am talking about grocery shopping!

I get it!

Grocery stores can be intimidating to navigate. With so many choices and with new diets fades coming out every year,

it’s hard to identify what’s really healthy and what’s not.

Believe me, we’ve all been there!

However, by applying these five tips, you will be well on your way to having a healthier grocery shopping experience.

Are you ready? Here we go!

5 Tips to Successfully Navigate the Grocery Store

Tip # 1 Stay Near the Produce Area:

The produce area is usually the first area you encounter in most grocery stores. In this area you will discover a rainbow of color from fruits and vegetables and other healthy products. The variety of colors you will discover in this area reflect the different vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrient (plant) content of each fruit or vegetable. Stay in this area the longest.

Tip # 2 Don’t Stay Too Long:

When shopping for bread, cereals, and pasta, don’t spend too much time in these areas. When choosing to shop for items in this area, choose the least processed foods. For example, Steelcut oatmeal is less processed compared to instant oatmeal.

Tip # 3 Choose Frozen:

When fruits and vegetables are frozen after being picked, the nutrients are locked in. Some studies believe frozen foods may offer more nutrients compared to non-frozen foods. It is important to mention that all frozen foods aren’t healthy. Therefore, be aware of seasoned vegetables and frozen diet meals; these items are known to be high in sodium.

Tip # 4 Limit Canned and Boxed Foods:

Canned and boxed foods are typically higher in sodium compared to fresh foods. High amounts of sodium and preservatives are used to preserve their shelf-life. Therefore use sparingly.

Tip # 5 Limit Your Amount of Sugar-free Foods:

Although sugar-free foods may have less calories, these foods contain sugar alcohols, some which have been known for causing gastric distress. Therefore use sparingly and instead of Sugar-Free, try Stevia or Truvia which are plant based sugars instead.

Tip # 6 Don’t Believe the Plant-Based Hype:

Just because a food product is plant-based doesn’t mean it is healthy. Therefore, read all ingredient labels on plant-based products and be mindful of their sodium, sugar and calories. Numerous plant-based products are high in sodium.

Grocery Shopping Doesn’t Have to Complicated

We get it!

Grocery shopping can sometimes feel like going to the dentist. It can be painful and you only want to go when you have to. But hey, grocery shopping can be enjoyable and more easily navigated when you know what to look for, where to shop and you know how to identify what is really healthy from what isn’t!

Here’s to keeping you well!

Looking for more action-oriented and non-complicated nutrition information? Check out our nutrition book Don’t Complicate It-Basic Nutrition and Healthy Eating Made Simple!

And don’t forget to sign-up for our monthly newsletter to receive more nutrition information and other wellness information in your inbox!

Here’s to keeping you well!

Written By: Olympian, 13 x Wellness Author, Health and Fitness Expert Laticia “Action”Jackson 

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