I used to dread grocery shopping ... it just always seemed to stress me out.
Maybe you can relate, but whether we like it or not ...
grocery shopping is a big part of seeing the best fitness results.It's no secret that those who consistently grocery shop almost always tend to be healthier than those who don't.
But I know how hard it can be to make sure you're grabbing the right things, looking in the right places ... and also avoiding the items that may not be part of your nutrition plan.
So today, I want to hook you up my top 6 grocery shopping tips:
1. Shop With A Full Stomach My biggest problem with grocery shopping in the past, was always grabbing things I just didn't need. Snacks, unhealthy treats, etc.
Now, I make sure I do my shopping with a full belly ... and it makes an incredible difference. I crave those "not-so-healthy" items much, much less. This makes it easy for me to grab the things I do need, and not the things I don't.
2. Make A List Before you head out to the store,
make a list of the things you know you NEED ... and then stick to the list. If it isn't on your list, don't get it. This helps makes sure you're not grabbing unnecessary items ...
or spending unnecessary money.The key to this tip working though, is STICKING TO THE LIST. Just having the list isn't enough ... you have to stick with it.
3. Shop The Store Perimeter In most grocery stores,
the outside perimeter surrounding the aisles is going to have some of the better food options. Most whole food sources are found on the outer edges (meat, veggies, fruits, etc) ... and most of your "snack" type foods will be within the aisles.
This isn't 100% true, because many complex carbohydrates (rice, whole grains, pasta, etc) can be found within the aisles. But in most cases ... shopping the outer perimeter of the store is going to be your safest bet.
4. Buy In Bulk When Possible This is something I've recently started doing myself ... and it's definitely helpful. I know things like lean beef, rice, potatoes, pasta, etc will always be part of my meals. So, whenever possible ... I try to grab those things in bulk.
That way I'm stocked up on my essential items and have no excuse for falling off my plan.
Buying in bulk also helps you save some money in the long run! 5. Read Nutrition Labels This is a big one, and is going to be specific to your personal plan & needs ... but make sure you're paying attention to food labels. I always try my best to stick to foods that have a shorter ingredients list ... and I also make sure the calories, proteins, carbs, and fats fit my specific fitness goals at the time.
This looks a little different for everyone,
but make sure you're paying close attention to those labels.6. Fill Gaps With Supplements I'll be honest, some of my supplements I consider to be part of my grocery shopping. Sustained Assimilation Meal Replacement Shakes, greens powders ... and even my multivitamin. I consider these groceries because they're literally part of completing my meal plan.
And that's what supplements are there for ... filling gaps in your diet.Because of using certain supplements to fill gaps in your diet, that may completely eliminate some purchases from your "actual" grocery list.
An example for me is breakfast. I use meal shakes for breakfast almost 100% of the time, it's just easier for me ... and much faster. So, you won't see a ton of breakfast items on my actual grocery list ... because I supplement for breakfast.
And I'm well aware that following these tips can be much easier said than done ... but that's why we're here!
At
your local S2 location, our sports nutrition specialists are always happy to help you dial in your grocery shopping needs.
We can even hook you up with a personalized meal plan & foods list ... which you can use to help grocery shop, and we do that 100% FREE at all of our locations. Just swing by & see us ... we'll be more than happy to get you taken care of!
