Have you noticed the increasing amount of nutritional information in your grocery store lately? Here are some tips to follow to make your next shopping trip easier.
Planning
Plan your meals for the week around the four food groups: vegetables and fruit, grain products, low-fat dairy products and alternatives, and lean meats and alternatives, such as fish, beans, nuts and soy.
A precise list
Make a shopping list of items you will need to prepare your planned meals for the week. This will save you from making impulsive decisions, not to mention the temptations for foods high in fat and s alt.
Outsmart the grocery store
Spend as much time as possible in the outer shelves of the grocery store, where you will find vegetables, fruits, breads, meats and milk.
In the cart
Divide your shopping cart into four sections, one for each food group. Fill the cart half full with vegetables, fruits and grain products, a quarter with low-fat dairy products and a quarterleftover lean meats and alternatives such as fish, beans, nuts and soy products.
Nutritional value
Read the Nutrition Facts table on food packaging. Choose products that contain less s alt, saturated fats and trans fats. Look for products that contain 2 g or more of fiber per serving.
Reproduced with permission from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
