I need help - "Nutritious shopping for dummies"?

[busy mom]

I received some wonderful suggestions on a thread I recently posted related to helping my daughter shed a few pounds. Thank you to all who contributed.

What I realized is that I really need to be educated on what I should be putting into my entire family's stomachs to help us all eat and feel better.

Can anyone recommend a website or book that can help me to understand the basics of how to read food labels, and guidelines on how to purchase the right items?



Thank you !!!

 

[jmrdavis99]

I received some wonderful suggestions on a thread I recently posted related to helping my daughter shed a few pounds. Thank you to all who contributed.

What I realized is that I really need to be educated on what I should be putting into my entire family's stomachs to help us all eat and feel better.

Can anyone recommend a website or book that can help me to understand the basics of how to read food labels, and guidelines on how to purchase the right items?



Thank you !!!

Hmmm...I don't really read food labels, other than the ingredients list. In the last six months I have switched my family over to more "whole" type food & much less processed. If it has an ingredient in it I can't pronounce, I try to find an alternative. The site that really got me started on this was 100daysofrealfood.com. I also read crockpot365.blogspot.com as she has tons of crockpot recipes, many of which use mostly "whole" type ingredients. I don't think this is exactly what you were asking, but I can definitely say that I have seen a difference in mine & my family's health since we have been eating more fresh/whole type foods!

 

[vicki_c]

Maybe a good starting point would be a book like "Eat This, Not That". I don't own that - but that seems like it would be a good place to start for someone who might not know what to choose.

 

[apnep]

I really like Tosca Reno's Clean Eating books. Very simple, very healthy eating.


Good luck.

 

[HM]

The first rule is to buy most of your food from the edges of the store, not the aisles. On the edges you find the fresh veggies and fruit, meat, dairy, and juice.

You need to avoid the processed foods in the aisles as much as possible.

 

[HeatherC]

A good "rule of thumb" is to shop the perimeter of the supermarket. This is basically because most of the junk foods line the inner aisles, while the outer edge of the market is where you will find more nonprocessed foods like fruit and veggies, fresh dairy, meats, seafood, etc.

Of course there are exceptions to every rule. For instance, breads are usually on an outer aisle along with the bakery! So you still have to be aware.

I basically try to buy ....fruit and veggies, whole grain breads, lowfat dairy and minimal amounts of processed stuff.

 

[HeatherC]

HM...Great minds think alike. We must have posted at the same time!

 

[tinkerbell9227]

the easiset tip is to shop the outside edge of the super market and try to avoid the middle aisles for the most part. That is where you are going to find your whole foods. Now I say this, but keep in mind there are canned veggies and fruits and sauces that are still OK. Also frozen veggies and fruits are good to have. Especially on a budget and you want things that are not in season.

Dont go for the "low fat" things they are often higher calorie b/c they add sugar.

Really.. you just want to try to stay as unprocessed as possible. Reading labels or not the processed foods are for the most part, junk.

I *highly* reccomend a web site called skinnytaste. There are some awesome recipes its one lady who creates them. And they are light, diet friendly (she counts weight watchers points) and for the most part are all nutritious/ good for you, foods. sometimes they are a little blah but i just add my own seasonings to suit.

You should be staying away from saturated fats, high sugar , high sodium, high fat, and pointless carbs kinds of foods (whole grain bread, not white bread, etc)

low fat meats, not a lot of beef, lean pork, lean chicken (skinless!) or at least remove the skin and its more budget friendly, fruits and veggies veggies veggies (which is the hardest for me i'm not a fan!) Whole grains, and again stay away from processed foods and sugary foods .

choosemyplate.gov is your basic break down of what you guys should be consuming on a daily basis

 

[cornflake]

Michael Pollan's books are great -

The Eater's Manifesto, which contains the now-famous - "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." and a lot of explanation and disussion.

There's a new book, Food Rules, I think, and his first, the Omnivore's Dilemma.

They all delve into food processing, what's in processed stuff, what we should be eating, how to buy/eat better, etc.