Healthy Eating Starts With Healthy Food Shopping

The new National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Obesity Guidelines say that you can reduce the time you spend cooking healthy by using a shopping list and keeping a well-stocked kitchen. Read the labels as you shop and pay attention to serving size and servings per container. Compare the total calories in similar products and choose the lowest calorie ones.

So, shop for quick low fat food items and fill your kitchen cupboards with a supply of lower calorie basics like the following:

Dairy Products

• Fat free or low fat milk, yogurt, cheese, and cottage cheese
• Light or diet margarine
• Eggs/Egg substitutes

Starches

• Sandwich breads, bagels, pita bread, English muffins
• Soft corn tortillas, low fat flour tortillas
• Low fat, low sodium crackers
• Plain cereal, dry or cooked
• Rice, pasta

Proteins

• White meat chicken or turkey (remove skin)
• Fish and shellfish (not battered)
• Beef: round, sirloin, chuck arm, loin and extra lean ground beef
• Pork: leg, shoulder, tenderloin
• Dry beans and peas

Fruits and Vegetables

• Fresh, frozen, canned fruits in light syrup or juice
• Fresh, frozen, or no salt added canned vegetables

Condiments

• Low fat or nonfat salad dressings
• Mustard and catsup
• Jam, jelly, or honey
• Herbs and spices
• Salsa