Congratulations! You’ve decided to change your eating habits. Whether the decision was made because you want to improve your overall health so you can live longer, or to have more energy or to lose weight, any change is a step in the right direction. So let’s get started.
First, clear out your cupboards. Toss out all the junk – -the cookies, the candy, any sugary cereals, all the “goodies”. It doesn’t mean you will never eat any of those items again; moderation is the key, but start by cleaning out, then adding later.
- Write it down. Instead of rushing out and completely stocking up on “clean” foods, which can end up costing you money on products you may not use, create a menu for the week of all the meals you’ll eat including your snacks.. Then make a shopping list. This stops you from impulse buying, which usually ends up being high fat items.
- Don’t shop on an empty stomach. If you’re hungry you will buy stuff you don’t want and buy too much of it.
- Read labels. Yes, it’s something that all health conscious shoppers learn to do. Stay away from saturated fats. Nutrition labels will list the total grams of fat per serving along with the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol. Stay away from saturated fat. For example, on the nutrition label for TOFUTTI Chocolate Fudge Treats, which tastes the same as real fudge bars but is soy-based we find 30 calories, zero fat , zero sugar and zero butterfat and only 6 grams of carbs.
- Shop outside the aisles. Sale items, fresh produce and vegetables, and dairy products are on the outside. Once inside the aisles, you’re looking at more expensive processed, packaged foods.
- Watch for fake foods. Those are ones that say “healthy”, and “low-fat” or “lite”. Read those labels carefully –sometimes they are too good to be true.