Grocery shopping is a household task that many people dread. Whether it's navigating through the crowds, lugging over-packed bags to and from your car, or dealing with your impatient youngsters, grocery shopping is not always a very pleasurable experience.
This is especially true when you're trying to lose weight. Not only is it nearly impossible to resist Ben and Jerry when you feel like you've been surviving on carrot sticks, but shopping for healthy fare can also be expensive if you're not careful.
Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to help keep costs down while also keeping those diet-sabotaging snacks and sweets where they belong: on the grocery store shelves.
Tip #1: Don't go shopping on an empty stomach. This one is pretty obvious, but it's an easy mistake to make when your kitchen cupboards are barren or you're crunched for time. No need to eat a five-course meal before you head to the store, but at least make sure to grab a healthy, filling snack that will help prevent you from piling every tempting item you see into your cart.
Tip #2: Make a list. They may seem old-fashioned, but making a grocery list is one practice that will never go out of style. Unfortunately, it is estimated that over two-thirds of shoppers who make a list actually forget to bring it with them to the store. To help avoid this frustrating mishap, keep your list in your purse or car so that it is with you at all times. Or, if you're tech-savvy, try making an electronic list using a website such as tadalist.com and then downloading it to your phone or PDA for easy access from the supermarket.
Tip #3: Learn to read food labels. Don't assume that just because an item is labeled "reduced fat" or "light" that it is necessarily a good choice for your weight loss goals. Pay attention to calories, fat grams, sugar, fiber and other nutrient content rather than relying on diet claims. Also remember that many lowfat snacks are actually very high in sugar and calories, which can be just as devastating to your diet efforts as foods that are high in fat.
Tip #4: Don't be a slave to packaging. Prime shelf-space and colorful, eye-catching packaging is often reserved for unhealthy snack trends. Some of the healthiest foods have the most boring packaging and are more likely to be shelved out of your direct eye-line. Take a few moments to search out the very bottom and top shelves for healthy classics and don't let yourself get sucked in by flashy displays and packaging.
Tip #5: Take advantage of the shelf checkout. Not only is it often more convenient, but using the shelf checkout can also help you to cut back on those last-minute buys that end up increasing both your grocery bill and your calorie consumption. Grocery stores surround checkout lanes with high-fat and high-sugar snacks, so while you're waiting for the cashier you are more likely to grab these last-minute items in a moment of weakness. You can avoid exposure to most of these snacks by using the self-checkout and scanning each item yourself forces you to be more aware of what you are actually buying.
Tip #6: Shop online. Many people remain weary of online grocery shopping, but it actually has many benefits. Not only can you avoid the crowds while you shop in your pjs, but shopping online cuts down on many of the temptations that you are faced with at the grocery store. Studies have shown that people who shop online buy almost thirty-percent less high-fat foods than those who visit the grocery store. Also, many sites have convenient features that help you to select foods based on their fat and calorie content, which makes choosing healthier options easier than at the supermarket.
Whether you decide to shop online or visit your local supermarket, these tips can help insure that you stick to your diet goals without spending lots of extra time or cash. It many never be your favorite chore, but when you come prepared with a game plan in mind, grocery shopping doesn't have to destroy your diet or your afternoon.