SMART CART

 

The first grocery trip after returning home from H3 may seem daunting.  However, appropriate planning and preparation will see you through to success.  Here at Hilton Head Health, we make sure to prep you for your return through our SMART CART trip.

Our Nutrition experts take you on a trip to the local grocery.  Not only will you gain great ideas for quick and healthy meals, but you will be able to compare and contrast the options in the ‘unwise, better, best’ categories.  You will practice developing a healthy shopping list, experience optimal food selection and learn how to manage the tempting aisles of your favorite store.

Here are a few expert tips on how to get through the grocery store without anything ‘sneaking’ in your cart!

1. Plan ahead.  Make a list before going to the store of everything you need for the week.  Click here for the H3 Shopping list - just print, check the boxes, and you're off! 

2. Don't shop when you are hungry or in a hurry - shopping at these times, you are more likely to make 'impulse' buys.

3. Shop the perimeter of the store.  This is where you will find the healthiest options such as fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and lean meats.

4. Spend the majority of your time in the produce aisle - make sure to buy fruits and veggies from all colors of the rainbow.

5. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best, but if you are worried about waste, frozen are a great alternative.

6. Stay AWAY from the snack food aisle.  Notice how the chips, cookies and sugary sodas are all together in one place!  (Better to avoid this aisle all together.)

7. Convenience is worth the extra cost.  Individual baggies of pre-cut fruits and vegetables are perfect for packed lunches, snacks and quick salad toppers.

8. Instead of ground beef, try ground turkey breast, ground chicken breast or even soy crumbles.

9. Choose 100% whole wheat pasta and bread.  The first ingredient should read whole wheat flour.

10. Learn how to read nutrition labels.  Keep an eye on fat (trans and saturated), calories, sugars and sodium content.  (Check back next week for a more detailed guidelines on how to choose 'unwise, better, best'.)

These are just a few tactics to make your shopping trip a success.  Do you have any grocery store strategies?