Where Do You Spend Time at the Grocery Store?

When you grocery shop, were do you spend most of your time?  Do you spend your time going up and down the inner aisles or hang out around the outer parameter?

When shopping, spend most of your time and budget in the produce and meats section and avoid the inner area.  The bulk of the processed (also known as high-calorie, lower nutrition) foods are.

A great weight loss strategy is to minimize your time and money in the inner aisles (can we say Peanut Butter Captain Crunch and frozen pizzas??) and focus on the produce, meats, dairy, whole grain breads and complex carbs which are kept on the outside of those processed food aisles.

Another idea of whether to buy an item is to check out the ingredient list.  If you don’t know what the first few ingredients are or need a dictionary to find out what an item contains, don’t buy it.  The ingredient list on produce, meat and dairy are very simple and obviously, those are the healthiest choices you can make.

Have a list AND stick to the list.  Make your list at home for the items that you need.  At home, you can leisurely take inventory of the items that you need.  In your own home, you aren’t in the environment of the grocery store and the temptations that lie in wait for you.  Something may look good in the store but that doesn’t mean you need to buy it.  The marketers of products at the grocery store have strategies to encourage impulse purchases.  They’ve spent time and research in knowing how to appeal to our impulse buying tendency.  Don’t succumb to those marketing strategies.  Know what you need and stick to your list.

Also, put on your blinders when it comes to standing in line to check out.  The snacks and candy are those impulse items that are waiting to be picked up.  When it comes to waiting in line at the check out areas, have tunnel vision and make it a habit not to make any purchases in those areas.

Stick to your list for your calorie and monetary budget!  Your weight loss and finances will thank you!!

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach