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Ok so it’s another day of grocery store shopping and you have your list in hand.  For all intents and purposes you have a healthy shop planned complete with a practical meal plan and list of your cooking needs.  You’ve got healthy snacks picked out for you and the kids and great ideas for this week’s dinners.  But, like many people, by the time you arrive home you’ve somehow managed to spend more than you were planning too and ended up with a bunch of unnecessary and, most likely, unhealthy stuff. 

How did this happen again you might ask?  Well if for starters you went in without a list and without having thought through your week’s necessities then you probably didn’t stand a fighting chance.  If you find yourself walking out of the market with a box of cookies and/or half a dozen frozen dinners then you should really keep reading.  Below are some useful hints to help you beat grocery store temptations.

1.Be prepared.  This can’t be stressed enough.  If you walk into the store without a list and without a definite meal plan in mind (or better yet written out) then you’ve essentially walked in unprotected.  Without a plan it will be easy to justify purchases that you really don’t need.  If you have no plan as to what sort of health snacks to feed the kids after school, or to feed that sweet tooth of yours after dinner, than you’ve already left yourself unprotected.  Being prepared will save you both money and extra pre-packaged pounds.

2.Leave the kids at home.  If you have kids and have the option of leaving them with your partner or even getting a sitter while you shop, do this.  Bringing your kids to the store will wear you down.  We’ve all seen it.  A tired and stressed out looking mom is trying to keep the baby from crying and trying to stop the toddler from putting more Coco puffs into the cart.  In this kind of stressed out situation it can be easy to loose your patience and your resolve.   

3.Stick to the outside aisles.  Grocery stores are designed to get you to buy more than you need.  The size of some stores now is such that you can get lost in the aisles looking for that one thing you need.  But in general, the healthiest stuff is located on the outside aisles.  So stick to the fruit and vegetable aisle, head across to the dairy and meats section, and then perhaps to the bread area.  If there is something specific you need to get from those dangerous middle aisles then be on guard and ask a clerk to gear you in the right direction. 

4.Bring a buddy.  So bringing kids is probably not a great idea, but if you shop with a friend who’s known for his or her healthy lifestyle you’ll get a glimpse into how he or she shops.  For those who are new to eating healthy, seeing what sort of staples other more experienced healthy chefs’ buy can be a great way to open your mind to new possibilities.  Also, while shopping with such a friend, you’ll be unlikely to sneak in your usual unhealthy culprits.  If you’re in need of ideas, but don’t have a buddy to bring along, than look up some new recipe ideas online.  Preparing healthy meals in usually no more difficult than eating badly.  Again it just takes a little imagination and planning.