How to select and buy food that is healthy

From ArticleWorld


To select and buy food that is healthy can become a part of your routine with only a little practice. Only when you eat healthy can you teach your children to eat right to ensure their health well into adulthood. But to convince yourself to choose peas over pizza is easier said than done. You can begin by selecting only healthy foods from the grocery stores and avoiding bringing home sugary drinks and high fat snacks and keeping fruits, vegetables and whole grains stocked up. Here are some handy hints on how to opt for healthy food.

A few suggestions

  1. To begin with, opt for less fatty foods of the same kind that you are used to. For example get 1% or non fat milk instead of whole milk. Buy baked or toasted chips instead of the usual Lays. Choose fat free yogurt as a replacement for whole cheeses.
  2. If someone else is going grocery shopping for you then give them a list of food that is healthy. Make sure that your list contains plenty of green leafy vegetables, fish, unsweetened fruit juices and roasted (not fried) nuts while you can give a miss to the potatoes and corn. Not going to grocery shopping yourself saves you from being temped.
  3. If price is not a constraint then go for the organic section of the produce department. These days you can buy almost everything from meat, fish, and eggs to milk in the organic foods section.
  4. If you need to go the grocery store yourself, then make sure that you do not go empty stomach to avoid getting tempted and buying junk food.
  5. Finally, if you are in the habit of snacking at odd and all hours then opt for a healthy snack. Grab a tray of fresh fruit or a fat free yogurt instead of that tempting piece of pie.

Do’s

  • Stay away from trans fat, carbohydrates and sugar. Get into the habit of eating unprocessed foods, whole grain foods and fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Frequent small snacks are preferable to huge unhealthy meals.

Don’ts

  • Don’t give in to the temptation of eating the finger foods at social gatherings. They are usually loaded with calories.