Pro Tips for Shopping for Healthy Foods

By Kelly Morgan, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Chair, Fundraising and Marketing Committee

Not that there's a right or wrong way to grocery shop, but I've found a few tricks to help my grocery trip be the most successful over the years. 

These tips help me to shop smart, get the healthiest foods available, and save money while doing so. Sure, you might avoid overly processed offerings or alter recipes to include what's in season, but there are a few things you might be overlooking when you're filling up your grocery cart. 

These tips will help you tighten up your healthy eating track.

Buy Local

When you shop at your local grocery store, you might think that you're getting foods from your local area. That's not always the case, though, so check where things are packaged. You might live in Florida and find your strawberries or lettuce have been shipped all the way from California. To ensure you get the freshest produce, find your local farmer's market or sign up for a CSA. You'll also be supporting local farmers and your community while eating the tastiest produce available. 

Don't Buy Washed Greens

It might look more appealing in the packaging, but those bags of lettuce and spinach leave room for error. In fact, they're the most common victims of listeria and E. coli outbreaks. Instead, buy a head of lettuce and wash it yourself. 

Stock up on frozen items

You may think that frozen vegetables may not be as healthy as fresh vegetables, but this isn't true. They're often flash-frozen at the peak of freshness, and can still pack a nutritional punch into any meal you have on your menu for the week. These are great to have stashed away for the occasional busy night when you don't have a lot of time to prepare dinner. I love to stock up on these when there is a Buy One Get One Free sale, which is quite often. 

Make a plan ahead of time  

This might sound obvious, but don't go shopping without a grocery list. It can sometimes be the most time-consuming part of the grocery shopping experience, but having a plan sets you up for the most successful grocery store run you can have.  This cuts down on excess items and extra spending, making sure you have the precise amount you'll need for the week without having to run out and grab one more ingredient to prepare your dinner. 

With these tips, you'll be buying the best foods for you and your family in the smartest way possible.