As a parent, you want to protect your children. And while more often than not when we think of “protecting” our kids we consider bullying at school or getting into trouble like substance abuse, what many parents don’t realize is that the first place to start when protecting your kids is in the kitchen. Optimal health starts in your childhood. By building a solid foundation in your children’s younger years, you can set your children up for a healthy and balanced lifestyle. By showing them how to treat their bodies as a child, they’ll learn to take care of their bodies as grown adults.
It all starts with making smart decisions when doing your grocery shopping and getting them accustomed to real and whole foods. Here are some essential tips for healthy grocery shopping that will make your trips to the grocery store a smoother and more healthful experience that ultimately set your children up for success.
Pay Attention to Packaging
Nowadays, there are all sorts of chemicals in the packaging of our foods. You want to support companies that use sustainable materials and won’t risk getting micro fragments of plastic onto your dinner plates. Opt for foods that are in cardboard or biodegradable packaging, and avoid anything with Styrofoam by all means!
Plan Ahead
Sometimes we’re in a rush at the grocery store and we simply start throwing things into our carts. Unfortunately, this is a big reason why we end up buying a bunch of stuff we don’t actually need that isn’t actually healthy for us! Plan ahead and make a list of everything you plan on eating for the week.
From snacks to main dishes, making a list will help your grocery shopping experience that much more straightforward. Instead of grabbing snacks, you’ll opt for full meal items that ideally will be full of plenty of nutrients rather than simply for your pleasure.
Remember the 80/20 Rule
No one is saying that you can’t indulge once in a while. In fact, studies show that people who indulge more often are more likely to stick to their healthy diets! However, you should strike a balance between indulgence and making smart decisions. 80% of your grocery shopping should be full of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats. The other 20% can be “fun stuff.” Things like chips, cookies, and ice cream can make up 20% of your cart. Anything beyond that is wasting your money, as it really has no nutritional value!
Read Labels
It’s easy to fall into the grips of marketing masters. Just because something says it’s “healthy” or is worded in a way that makes it seem like it is, it’s not necessarily telling you the truth. You want to read labels carefully and understand which words mean what.
For example, certain words are synonymous with sugar, while other words are synonymous with excessive sodium. Get to know them, and pay attention to things like serving sizes and added preservatives that are not beneficial for your health!
