EnergyFirst Healthy Living Tool Kit

Top 10 Healthy Shopping Hints

1. Only buy food off the "Foods to Emphasize" list or the EnergyFirst Shopping List.
   
   
2. List the foods you are going to buy in order of priority: first, lean protein (chicken, turkey, fish, salmon, tuna, shellfish, whey protein, non-fat dairy); next raw fats/oils (avocado, extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, raw nuts and seeds); and lastly unprocessed carbohydrates (non-starchy vegetables, fruit and some whole grains like old fashioned oatmeal, brown rice, beans and lentils)
   
   
3. Never shop when you are hungry or tired-you are more likely to make poor decisions. And, plan what you are going to buy before you shop.
   
   
4. If it's in your house you will eat it! Keep your house free of junk food! Avoid having cheat meals at home - eat out for your cheat meals.
   
   
5. When buying carbohydrates, focus on unprocessed foods-as-grown carbohydrates from the produce department. i.e. Anything that comes directly from the ground! Buy organic vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, where possible. They are hormone and pesticide free, and are higher in nutrient value.
   
   
6. Remember to shop from the outside aisles of a supermarket. This is where you will find the fresh produce. The inside aisle are where you will find all the processed and junk food.
   
   
7. Buy free-range eggs and egg whites, rather than commercially raised eggs, which contain drugs and anti-biotics and higher levels of cholesterol.
   
   
8. If you are a fan of red meat, buy wild game (venison, ostrich, quail, pheasant, moose) and organic beef - both are very lean i.e. low in saturated fats (as compared to commercially raised red meat which is very high in saturated fat and loaded with hormones and steroids), and contain essential fats.
   
   
9. Buy raw seed oils such as EnergyFirst OmegaEnergy Oil (for salad dressings, in your shakes etc) and keep them refrigerated. Buy raw nuts (e.g. cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts etc) and raw seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin) from the bulk food section of your health food store. Buy raw seed butters (e.g. tahini, pumpkin seed butter) and raw nut butters (e.g. raw almond, cashew, or macadamia nut butter) from your local health food store.
   
   
10. INFORM YOURSELF - Food marketers are very clever at hiding away sugars and fats. So it is always important to read labels when you purchase food. Read the nutrition facts and the ingredients.