3 Ways Changing My Diet Made Shopping Easier

Nov 11, 2015

It has been about 15 months since Mark and I committed to changing the way we eat. When we first began to change our diet, I was extremely overwhelmed. I had to rethink EVERYTHING we were eating! I felt like I was making all of the wrong choices and there were no right, easy choices. It seemed that I had to read every label on every item and this took a lot of extra time. The learning curve was very steep.

However, after a couple of weeks, I began to get the hang of it. Because my list of acceptable foods was specific, I eliminated many foods that, in the past I would have deemed ok. Mark and I changed our diet with emphasis on losing weight, so our options were limited and we cut out many things that we have since added back in, but that, when we first began, hindered our weight loss. Limiting our diet actually made it easier to make the change because our choices were fewer. As we began to lose weight and learned how what we were eating was affecting our bodies, this new way of eating started making sense.

One of the differences I have noticed is that grocery shopping went from overwhelming to one of my easiest tasks.

Here's why:

My choices are clear. Most of the items in the grocery store are not on my list. I shop the perimeter - dairy, frozen, meat and produce. That's just about it, with the exception of a few items (peanut butter, spices, oils, etc.).
I have a master grocery list. I know the basics that I need each week and keep a running list in my phone. I know that most of the recipes I use call for similar ingredients, so as long as I stock my shelves and my fridge with my "basics", I can make most anything I want at any given time. I have learned over the past year what seasonings, vegetables and meats we enjoy and want to have on hand. We have a handful of basics for breakfasts, lunches and snacks. As long as I have a few of those, we are good to go.
I plan my meals. During the past year, I have become a pretty good planner. At the beginning of each week or before I head to the store, I plan our meals and snacks for the week - or for the next few days. When I go into the store, I know exactly what I am going to buy. The only reason that might change is if there is a sale on a particular item that would make more sense buying than what I had planned. Meal planning saves me time and ensures that I have everything I need for a successful week.

Are you wanting to make a change in your diet but don't know where to start? You can click HERE to view my grocery list that I use to keep our family on track with good, healthy choices.

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Getting healthier, one meal at a time!

Robin