If you’ve just made a shift to eating healthier, you may find yourself getting lost, pulled off course, and pulled into bad habits when you head to the grocery store. In fact, how to do a healthy grocery shop is something that comes up with my patients quite often when they’re making a lifestyle change.

Maybe you find yourself drifting into the candy aisle and then struggle with temptation, or maybe you get overwhelmed with all of the options and just need a game plan.

This is for you.

How to Grocery Shop Like a Pro

1. Make a List

This is your gameplan. This is what saves you from wandering around isles in search of...well, you’re not sure yet.

Make a list of ingredients you need to prepare your meals, and stick to it. Impulse grocery store inspiration buys often lead to food waste or might lead you into unhealthy habits.

Wait until you’ve got yourself grounded in your new habits before picking up spontaneous buys. Instead, if you see something that looks interesting, look into some recipe ideas and add it to the list for next week.

2. Never Shop Hungry

This is the golden rule. Shopping while hungry leads to those impulse buys. Especially if you go without your list.

It also leads you into a bit of a ‘store fog’. You know what I mean, when the fluorescent lights start hitting, your blood sugar’s low, and suddenly a quick trip to the store has you wandering in a daze and you wonder where the time went.

3. Stick to the Outside of the Store

Almost everything you need can usually be found around the perimeter of the store. Unless you need some specialty ingredients, you can find meats, produce, dairy, and eggs around the edge of the store and avoid heading into aisles where temptations reign.

4. Stay Organic & Whole

Sticking with organic, whole foods and avoiding anything packaged or processed goes a long way in your health and wellness. If you’re on a budget, try to buy these foods organic if nothing else as they contain the highest levels of pesticides: Strawberries, Spinach, Kale, Nectarines, Apples, Grapes, Peaches, Cherries, Pears, Tomatoes, Celery, and Potatoes.

5. Check the Ingredients

Check the ingredients on anything packaged that you buy to check for hidden sugar, artificial flavours or colours, trans fats, or other chemicals. Try to steer clear of anything with more than 3 ingredients, especially if you don’t recognize them.

How to Do a Grocery Shop like Pro