Thanks to the internet, many people are discovering the importance of exercising greater control over their diets. Taking responsibility for one’s own health is easier than ever due to our ability to access articles, recipes, exercise programs, and products in mere seconds. With so much information readily available, we are all finding new and creative ways to improve our eating habits. The first step in this journey involves accepting that healthy food planning starts at home. The next step is putting this knowledge to work when planning our shopping list and continues when they go to the grocery store to shop.
We finalize our goals for a healthy eating plan when we prepare the food we purchased, and eat in in the right portion sizes.
With all of these things in mind, here’s a look at how healthy food planning works at the ground level.
First, if we want to eat healthier, we must take an honest inventory of the types of foods and products that we have in our homes. If we are eating foods and products full of chemicals and preservatives, we need to ‘detox’ our pantry, because these clearly aren’t the sort of things our bodies need. Also, if our foods are full of saturated and trans fats, they are going to hurt us in the long run. Learning how to read nutrition labels can go a long way in determining what you should and should not eat.
Given the amount of variety on display at the grocery store, we don’t need to eat bad food due to lack of alternatives. Our generation has more options than ever when it comes to the food we choose to eat. However, it does mean that we have to be wise about what we choose.
For instance, a low carb shopper can easily find high protein pasta, low carb bread, and whole grain and whole wheat flours. It’s also simple to switch from refined white sugar to brown or turbinado sugar (or Splenda). These sugars are closer to the sugar cane, and haven’t been bleached. We can also decide to use healthier oils such as olive oil, or any other natural oil, in our cooking.
The key to healthy food planning is to first choose foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Fruits and vegetables are just that…and they’re often delicious coming straight from the ground, without the need to drown them in sauces. Likewise, lean meats just need to be lightly seasoned and cooked. These types of foods are always going to be good for you, because they are whole foods. People might dress up these foods with seasonings, spices, or fats, but at their core, they are simple foods and often quite tasty on their own.
Second, when shopping at the grocery store, here’s a trick you may already know that will help you to shop healthier: You should shop the perimeter of the store. Most grocery stores have entrances that start at the produce department. They then will lead to the meat department, and then on the other end of the store, the shopper will find the dairy department. Shoppers wanting a healthier lifestyle, especially those wanting to start eating low carbs, should learn what is available on the store’s perimeters, and stock up on these types of products.
The trap that gets most shoppers away from their healthy eating plans are the middle aisles of the store. This is where the highly-processed breads, boxed foods, sugary candies, and unhealthy fats lurk. If one is planning on eating healthy, there are things that they can do to indulge in these types of foods, especially if they are eating on a low carb plan. They should choose low carb or keto friendly snacks and breads. With so many people eating for their health, these products are easy to find, and are affordable.
For instance, protein bars like these are quick, nutritious snacks that may be eaten on the go. They’re available in a wide range of tastes and tend to last a long time, making them an easy thing to keep on hand. If you’re looking to add more muscle mass while being active, consider increasing your protein intake.
Keep in mind that it’s important to plan your meals ahead of time. Too often we’re tempted to just grab whatever is easiest when we’re hungry, which leads to choosing pre-processed meals and fast food options rather than nutritious options.
Finally, we should look at cooking methods such as baking, broiling, boiling, steaming, or grilling rather than frying. These methods of cooking are very tasty, and don’t add the fat load that deep frying does. If we follow these steps, or make even one change in our healthy food planning, we will look and feel healthier as a result.