My Shopping List

dannytrees1

Hi friends,
I’m 212 lbs and want to get down to 185 lbs.
I haven’t been eating healthy… lots of pizzas and fried chicken and chocolate.
I’m going to try to eat more salads
And apples with peanut butter.
I’m going shopping today
Please suggest a few things to add to my shopping list.
Thanks

mlrtri

I recommend avoiding the middle aisles as much as possible. Buy a nice variety of vegetables and fruit. Spinach is something you can use in 100 ways. Pick up some nuts (plain), berries, and plain Greek yogurt. I like dairy products so I always pick up cheese (full fat) and cottage cheese. I have started buying smaller portions of meat but better quality - so grass fed beef and free range chicken. Make sure you have olive oil or avocado oil on hand. I cook with more seasonings than condiments now. So having those on hand is good. If you are buying pasta/bread look for whole wheat with high fiber.

Salads are good and I love a good salad (not just out of the bag salad mix). But you don’t have to eat salads all of the time. Watch your dressing (type and amount) though.

It gets easier knowing what to buy as you get further into this. And everyone has different approaches. I have success with increasing fiber and reducing added sugar.

Give yourself a few weeks to learn what works for you. Log everything and pay attention to how you feel each day. Was there a day you felt full up until lunch? What did you have for breakfast that day? What were the macros? Was there a day you felt you were starving? What did you eat that day? How were your meals spread? What could you try to make the next day better? You will figure out what your body needs that way. Nobody started off perfect. Log and learn. Congratulations on starting on a path to a healthier you.

Chef_Barbell

I love supermarket rotisserie chickens... they have so many uses... or be like me and just bare hand caveman style eat it :laugh:

littlegreenparrot1

Salad is great, but if I eat a bowl of leaves I will be hungry an hour later.
Have a think about what you can add to make them a bit more filling- some chicken or feta to have on top? Tasty seeds to sprinkle (pumpkin or sunflower are good for starters)
Some grains- cous cous, bulghar wheat, quinoa (dead easy to cook and will happily sit in the fridge for a few days)
Roasted veg is also nice warm or cold- pepper, aubergine, courgette, squash, sweet potato.
I eat mine with a spoon or two of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon or lime.

Eggs are handy, hard boiled to add to salad, or a frittata.
Soup is also easy and filling, either to make or have a few tins in.

SuzySunshine99

First of all, ignore any advice like "stay out of the middle aisles" or "only shop the perimeter of the store." Besides the fact that grocery stores are not all laid out in the same way, you are an adult who can figure out where in the store to find your food without silly rules.

For me, it helps to plan out all of my meals for the week and make my grocery list based on that. I don't buy random foods at the store and then try to make meals with them later. This just leads to waste and unsatisfying meals.

You can try a simple formula for your main meals...like protein + vegetable + starch/grain. Then pick foods that you like from those categories to make meal combinations that sound good to you.

For example, tonight I am making grilled pork chops, roasted sweet potatoes, and green beans. Tomorrow, I am making roasted chicken, rice pilaf, and asparagus. I make side salads as well, but you don't need to. I don't always follow that format, but it does make it easier to make a grocery list.

COGypsy

I'd have a good think about what you actually like to eat and are likely to finish if you buy it. I can't tell you how many bags of carrots I throw out because A: carrots taste too "carroty" without a gallon of ranch or guacamole; and B: no matter how virtuous, clean, healthy...whatever I feel like I'm being, I simply don't like loud crunchy food that tastes weird and it will turn to liquid slime in the refrigerator drawer every time. However, my luck is slightly better with sugar snap peas. Cucumbers with vinegar and pepper flakes or red peppers with hummus are a winner every time.

Before you go buy every healthy thing in the store, make sure it fits your palate and eating patterns.

dannytrees1

Thanks everyone,
You have given me some good advice and ideas.
Ready to go shopping now
I have crossed the pizzas off my list.
Wish me luck🤠

Dreamroper

I like string cheese for a snack. It's only 80 calories per piece and I have found that if I eat a couple, it curbs any hunger pangs, I also like the Quaker Oats little mini rice cakes. I get the sweet chili flavor and it's 130 calories for 16 of them. My nutrionist suggested that I eat them together, but one or the other works okay for me. Good luck on your journey.

KL1887

I buy peppers, cucumbers and carrots. Then when I’m home I’ll bulk slice all of them and put them in an air tight tub. I find if they’re already sliced I’ll opt to use them, but if they’re not I’ll swerve them for something faster (and not necessarily healthier) to grab instead.

corinasue1143

I realize you’ve already gone, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents.
I agree with @COGypsy. Add veggies and fruit you like and are easy to prepare. You’ll eat those, not waste your money.
Like fried chicken? Get boneless, skinless chicken breasts and some good seasoning you like. Season them up good and bake.
Chocolate? Get the darkest you can possibly eat, then go just barely darker. Most people will have a very small amount occasionally, but you won’t want a whole candy bar.
Just thoughts.

Alatariel75

Try not to try to be too perfect when shopping. I know for me, I can get a bit optimistic and up on my high horse and think "I will not snack! I don't need treats! I'm going to be perfect and eat only the most amazingly good for me things and cook every meal from scratch!" and then I get hungry, or tired, or busy and everything I bought is too hard, and it can lead to "bugger it" thoughts. Buy for all moods, consider back up products for busy/tired/bad mood etc that will still help you keep on track, so you don't get tempted by the "all too hard, I'll order takeout".

azuki84

seasonings will save you while eating veggies

Lietchi

If you want to try salads, don't be afraid to experiment. Personally, I don't do salads with leafy greens: I don't particularly enjoy those, so I make alternative salads with other raw vegetables. My last salad was: red bell pepper, tomato, chickpeas, shrimp (bought pre-boiled) and (store-bought) pesto.
I'm a huge fan of chickpeas in my salads, fills me up but zero effort - just drain the can and add

dannytrees1

I made my shopping yesterday.
I did pick up some of your suggestions
They were low on stock and quality in the vegetable area…no cucumbers and the bananas were too ripe.
There’s another store a bit further away,
I will go there next.
Day 2 today and feeling good 🤠
Please add more suggestions
I’m going to start shopping every week instead of every 2 weeks.
Mainly for the fresh vegetables.

SuzySunshine99

If you find your regular store lacking in the selection or quality of fresh produce, you could also get some frozen vegetables. Because they are typically flash-frozen soon after harvest, frozen vegetables often retain more nutrients than fresh vegetables that have had to travel far from the farm to the grocery store.

I always keep some frozen broccoli, green beans, and mixed veggies on hand for an easy side or to throw into a stir-fry. Best part is, you don't have to worry about using them before they go bad.

Chef_Barbell

dannytrees1 wrote: »

I made my shopping yesterday.
I did pick up some of your suggestions
They were low on stock and quality in the vegetable area…no cucumbers and the bananas were too ripe.
There’s another store a bit further away,
I will go there next.
Day 2 today and feeling good 🤠
Please add more suggestions
I’m going to start shopping every week instead of every 2 weeks.
Mainly for the fresh vegetables.

More importantly... are you eating them? 🤔

dannytrees1

Chef_Barbell wrote: »

dannytrees1 wrote: »

I made my shopping yesterday.
I did pick up some of your suggestions
They were low on stock and quality in the vegetable area…no cucumbers and the bananas were too ripe.
There’s another store a bit further away,
I will go there next.
Day 2 today and feeling good 🤠
Please add more suggestions
I’m going to start shopping every week instead of every 2 weeks.
Mainly for the fresh vegetables.

More importantly... are you eating them? 🤔

Yes I am … have a look at my diary 🤠

dannytrees1

SuzySunshine99 wrote: »

If you find your regular store lacking in the selection or quality of fresh produce, you could also get some frozen vegetables. Because they are typically flash-frozen soon after harvest, frozen vegetables often retain more nutrients than fresh vegetables that have had to travel far from the farm to the grocery store.

I always keep some frozen broccoli, green beans, and mixed veggies on hand for an easy side or to throw into a stir-fry. Best part is, you don't have to worry about using them before they go bad.

Yes good idea on the frozen veggies.
They had no cucumbers and the bananas didn’t look good was my issue.

Chef_Barbell

dannytrees1 wrote: »

Chef_Barbell wrote: »

dannytrees1 wrote: »

I made my shopping yesterday.
I did pick up some of your suggestions
They were low on stock and quality in the vegetable area…no cucumbers and the bananas were too ripe.
There’s another store a bit further away,
I will go there next.
Day 2 today and feeling good 🤠
Please add more suggestions
I’m going to start shopping every week instead of every 2 weeks.
Mainly for the fresh vegetables.

More importantly... are you eating them? 🤔

Yes I am … have a look at my diary 🤠

Good stuff 👏

gluckmdg15

Ole Xtreme Wellness Tortilla Wraps, your favorite lunch meat or tofurkey Italian sausage, tomatoes, baby spinach, mustard. Add a piece of fresh fruit and that’s llunch for the week.