If you missed part 1, click here to read a list of practical ideas to help start your journey to a healthier you. When people say it IS possible to eat healthy foods on a budget, it's some times hard to believe. That's why I LOVED that Dana actually gave us a sample grocery list to get us started on this journey. She started this part off with a list of groceries she saw in women's carts throughout the store... let's see if I can remember (I didn't write that list down):
- pop tarts
- toaster strudels
- frozen pancakes & waffles
- hot pockets
- macaroni and cheese (a HUGE weakness of ours!)
- pre-packaged chips (for lunches)
- pre-packaged cookies
- sugary cereal
- ice cream
- frozen pizza
Her list was extensive, these are just the few things I remember. Then she rattled off our new grocery list and this is what I was able to jot down:
- whole chicken/turkey/ham (on sale)
- brown rice
- fruit (on sale)
- canned beans
- salsa
- tomatoes
- celery
- oats
- spaghetti sauce
- carrots
- organic milk
- yogurt
- whole wheat pasta noodles
- natural, unsweetened applesauce
- canned pumpkin
- canned sweet potatoes
- flour
- whole wheat tortillas
A couple of notes about the grocery list:
- The thing I loved about her presentation was that it wasn't extreme. Beginning a journey of eating healthier is no small step, but she presented it in such a capable, non-intimidating way. There are a few things I disagreed with about her list - for example, anything canned. I don't agree that it is the most nutritious way to approach things, but it's low-cost and it's better than a lot of what we are eating now. So while there are things she suggests that may not be the BEST option, she keeps it real. And I appreciate that.
- Boxed Macaroni & Cheese is "THE WORST." This was the WORST news ever as it's the one exception I make as far as buying preserved food that will last forever and ever (gross). We eat ridiculous amounts of macaroni & cheese. But, between the insane amounts of sodium and the dyes, it happens to have no nutritional value whatsoever. So... we will make this a rare treat around here from now on. (sigh)
- I prefer to make my own spaghetti sauce from scratch... err... with canned tomatoes. I have read that canned tomatoes are some of the worst foods you can eat. This is very unfortunate (for me) and I am not sure yet if I should buy spaghetti sauce or find an alternative way to make it (like, *gasp* from actual fresh tomatoes!).
- Regular milk is LOADED with additional sugars (news to me!) and if you must buy and drink milk, buy organic.
- Anything orange is dyed (even oranges have artificial dyes added to them): Yellow cheeses, kraft macaroni & cheese, orange soda, etc.
Okay, more to come in Part 3. I'll try my best to explain how to read Nutritional labels and throw in the last few of the notes I took as well. I don't know about you guys, but this is really fun for me! :)
