How to shop healthy at the grocery store

When people begin their fitness journey with us, the most frequently asked question we get is the following:

“What do I buy at the grocery store?”

With so many options at the grocery store, figuring out what to buy and what not to buy for your new fitness journey can be rather confusing. If this sounds like you, don’t worry we got you covered!

A very easy way to to grocery shop is to divide your list into different categories. Refer to the graphic below for an easy, healthy grocery list example for your new fitness journey!

Protein

Protein is a vital nutrient in muscle recovery/muscle building. For proteins, you have a variety of choices to choose from, ranging from fish and chicken to steak and ground turkey. You may also purchase protein powders/protein bars for an extra protein kick throughout your day! Get creative with the type of protein you purchase each week; switch it up to keep things interesting!

Carbs

New clients tend to shy away from carbs, believing that carbs are bad and should be avoided. This couldn’t be farther from the truth! We need carbs for energy during our workouts; it is our body's most frequently used form of energy! At the grocery store, lean towards complex carbohydrate sources, such as fresh veggies, rice cakes, wheat breads, whole grain pastas and oatmeals. These complex carbohydrates will give you long lasting energy as opposed to simple carbohydrates(sugary treats and drinks) which tend to make many people crash.

Fats

Incorporating healthy fats in your diet can help improve cholesterol, lower your risk of heart disease and give you energy. Our personal favorite sources of healthy fats are nuts, avocados, and dark chocolate. All of these can be found at your local grocery store!

Dairy

Dairy is a good source of calcium and vitamin d. Some dairy products, such as yogurt, are extremely beneficial to gut health. Our personal favorite dairy products at the grocery store include greek yogurt, cottage cheese(excellent source of protein) and egg whites!

Conclusion

When starting a new fitness journey, nutrition plays a vital part in seeing results. However, it can be rather difficult to figure out what to buy at the grocery store. There are a lot of options available, both healthy and unhealthy. We hope this guide will help you the next time you go to the grocery store!