Grocery shopping can be frustrating: between navigating the grocery isles and the constant influx of new products invading
grocery shelves, makes making
the healthiest food choices is a daunting task. With some products boasting “20% less sodium,” while other
products boast “added omega 3’s,” it’s sometimes hard to know where to start.
The
best way to go about shopping for food is to be suspicious: don’t trust anything
the front of the box tells you.
Companies use lots of health industry buzz words to lure you into buying
their products by making you think that you’re choosing the healthier option, but
that isn’t always the case. The
only way to know for sure is to read the ingredients label.
A
general rule: if the list of ingredients is a mile long and contains mostly
words that only a person with a PhD
in chemistry would understand,
walk away and don’t buy it.
Despite the “added antioxidants” that’s written on the box, the contents
are probably overly processed, preservative-laden and devoid of nutrition with
the exception of a quick spray of antioxidants before packaging.
Next,
look for specific ingredients such as added sugar, high fructose-corn syrup,
hydrogenated oils, etc., and then look at the actual amount of sugar, salt,
trans and saturated fats is in each serving. If you can remember that 5 grams = 1 teaspoon, it will make
navigating the nutrition label easier (and shock you with how much sugar, salt,
etc. you are actually eating). Also remember to look at what the label defines
as a serving. Often what you will find is that a “serving” according to the
label is much less than you may think. Sneaky!
Whole
foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables are simply the best option. Yes, packaged foods are more
convenient, but convenience comes with a price, and in the long run it is not
just a financial price we pay. The foundation of health begins with diet. Like
a luxury car, our bodies need the appropriate fuel and oil. Without these basic things, the engine will burn out regardless of how well designed the car
is. Fresh fruits and vegetables, good
sources of protein like fish, chicken, turkey, and legumes, and whole grains
like brown rice, are “premium fuel” for our bodies. So eat it up!
Good luck, and great health.
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