Secrets of the Supermarket Aisle: Finding the Healthiest Food Ingredients
With so many food products lining the aisles of the supermarket, it can be overwhelming to select the healthiest options. But with a few key tips, you can easily identify the healthiest food ingredients and make wiser purchasing decisions.
Tips for Selecting the Healthiest Food Ingredients
- Learn the lingo: Many superfoods and unhealthy ingredients will have a variety of terms listed on their labels. Familiarize yourself with common terms related to healthy or unhealthy food components, including “organic”, “natural”, “processed”, and “GMO”.
- Read the label: Armed with industry lingo, read the labels of food products in the supermarket. Be aware of hidden sugars, sodium, saturated fat, and other unhealthy ingredients that are often present in processed foods.
- Check the ingredients list: Compare the ingredient lists of processed foods. Choose items that list whole food ingredients at the top of the list, as those will be the most nutritionally dense.
- Go for dairy alternatives: Select foods with healthy dairy alternatives, such as almond milk, coconut milk, and other plant-based milks previously labeled as “natural”. These are lower in fat, high in fiber, and make a good source of protein and calcium.
- Stock your fridge: Focus your shopping on healthy cut vegetables and fruits, frozen fruits and vegetables, dairy products and lean proteins, as well as whole grains such as quinoa and whole wheat products.
- Pay attention to portion sizes: Remember that even healthy food has calories, so be mindful of portion sizes. Check the nutrition label for the amount of servings recommended per package.
You can make smarter food choices by using the tips above to find the healthiest ingredients in the supermarket. With little effort, you can quickly identify the most nutritious items in the market and get the most bang for your food budget.