Tips for Smart Shopping and Meal Prep
Making healthy eating a consistent habit is easier when you have a few simple strategies in your toolkit. Here are a couple of tips to help you at the grocery store and in the kitchen.
First, become a label detective. Don’t just look at the front of the package. Turn it over and read the Nutrition Facts panel. Pay close attention to the “Total Carbohydrates,” “Dietary Fiber,” and “Added Sugars” lines. A good rule of thumb is to choose foods with more fiber and less added sugar. Also, scan the ingredients list. If sugar (or one of its many other names, like corn syrup, dextrose, or fructose) is one of the first few ingredients, it’s best to put that item back on the shelf.
Second, embrace batch cooking. You don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen every day. Set aside an hour or two on the weekend to prepare some basics for the week ahead. You could grill a few chicken breasts, roast a big pan of vegetables like broccoli and bell peppers, or cook a pot of quinoa. Storing these components in containers in the fridge makes it incredibly easy to assemble a quick, healthy meal in minutes during a busy week.
For science-based nutrition information, refer to the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Nutrition.gov and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The National Institute on Aging also has excellent resources on healthy eating for seniors.
