Tips to Choose Healthy at the Grocery Store

(NC) Here are some ways to make sure you get the good stuff next time you’re out grocery shopping.

• Look at location: It’s a common tip to read labels in the grocery store, but for products without nutritional information, look at the label on the shelf to see where the items are grown. Choose produce locally when you can, as it may be both fresher for you and better for the environment. Choosing what’s in season is often a cheaper way to eat fresh.
• Shop the edge of the store: The aisles on the side of a grocery store typically have the least processed foods, which are often the healthiest. Start your shopping along these perimeter aisles to fill up with healthy goodness like kale, mushrooms, eggs, and beets.
• Don’t stress about color: You may have heard that a plate or grocery cart full of healthy food is a colorful one, but that’s really a reminder to get you thinking of all the veggies you could add to your list and encourage variety. But it’s not the be-all-and-end-all – in fact, some of the most nutritious veggies are not brightly colored, including cauliflower and mushrooms.
• Plan your meals: Setting out a rough menu for the week helps you actually make use of the healthy food you get at the store to prevent food waste and a wasted food budget. Otherwise, it can be tempting to let that kale go limp in the fridge or not even pick it up in the first place. A little trial and error will help you add new meals to your rotation, and help you discover new healthy additions to include in them.

We all know how important our immune systems are, so look for a variety of nutrient-rich foods to help your overall health. Some simple ideas:

• Mushrooms provide zinc, which supports the immune system; selenium which helps keep your body’s tissues healthy; and vitamin B6 which helps your body get ready to use and store energy.
• Lean ground beef has vitamin B12 and iron to help out your nerve and blood cells.
• Spinach offers vitamins A and E which can protect your vision and help prevent blood clots.
• Milk is often fortified to help you get more vitamin D.
• Beans and legumes can help vary your sources of protein and provide fiber and iron.
• Oranges provide vitamin C, which helps you absorb iron from other foods.