Weekend Challenge - What's on Your Grocery List?

Yay! We made it to Friday! Every week we post a WEEKEND CHALLENGE! This week’s challenge is to evaluate your grocery list.

If this is what your grocery list looks like you may need to re-evaluate that liquid lunch.Retrieved from http://itsthelist.wordpress.com/tag/grocery-list/

This weekend I challenge you to evaluate your grocery list.  Take a look to see if what's on your list are good food choices.  The more processed your food, the worse it is for you.  We eat a lot that has very little nutrient value.  Think about your "must haves", are they healthy choices?  Think about the snack foods you buy.  If you have a cookie in your house, eventually you'll want to eat it.

If you don't have them in your house, you can't snack on them in a moment of weakness.  Choose healthy snacks to have on hand.

Don't know where to start?  The list below is just a sample of "healthy kitchen must haves", a framework for you to get your start.  Don't buy what you won't eat, you're just wasting money.  Avoid unhealthy snacks, build a pantry with good, whole foods and phase out processed foods.  If it's in the house, you'll snack on it.  It takes planning, but eating healthy has benefits way beyond the money you can save.   Think about the true cost of bad eating habits and obesity.  

There are 2 things you don't want to leave to chance, your food and your exercise.  Plan both and you are well on your way to being ready to get that New Year's Resolution to lose weight to finally be your reality.  Plan your weekly menu and grocery shop once weekly, avoid going when you're hungry and utilize a list...then stick to it. 

A Sample Grocery List of Staples:

Dairy (Some people avoid dairy completely, but here are a few things we like.  Hey, we are from the Dairy State, after all.):
1% or Skim Milk
Cottage Cheese
Free Range Eggs
Plain Greek Yogurt
String Cheese 

Fish:
Salmon

Fruits & Veggies:Dark Green Veggies
Frozen Berries
Seasonal Fruits and Veggies:  Click link to see Fruits and Veggies in Season in the Winter

Grains:
Whole Wheat Torillias
Multi Grain Bread
Baked Crackers
Whole Wheat Pasta

Meats:
Chicken
Lean Ground Turkey
Turkey Slices for Wraps

Misc.:

Honey
Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
Regular Vinaigrette Dressing
Natural Peanut Butter (No sugar added)
Refillable Water Bottles
Shakeology
Salsa

Nuts:
Almonds
Walnuts