Grocery Lists

Putting together a clean grocery list is hard when you're first starting out. I found ideas and inspiration through Pinterest, Lisa-Marie's (from bodyrock.tv) Facebook page, and a ton of blogs (I especially like the undressed skeleton on tumblr, that girl rocks!). I thought I'd share a few of the ones that I use regularly.

1.) This one is my favorites. As you can see there are a LOT of options.

2.) I know that a lot of the foods are repeated, but I like how they are broken down. I eat well over 50% of what's on this particular list.

3.) You want to make sure that you don't buy foods with these on the label:

4.) Got the munchies? Here's a quick reference for a healthier way to curb the need to nibble:

5.) Some general guidelines to help you stay true to your new diet:

6.) One of the best ways to stay on track is by keeping a food diary. It may seem silly at first, but it is an awesome way to track the changes in your body. So when you're wondering why you gained that extra pound or what you did to lose two pounds, this is an amazing point of reference! I definitely recommend keeping an exercise log as well. 

7.) A simpler grocery list:

8.) Relative measurements to make sure you're eating the proper portions. Eating healthier won't help if you're going overboard on portion sizes!

9.) Michi's Ladder is an awesome point of reference when you're trying to decide what to put on your grocery list. It's broken down into a Very Best/Good/Neutral/Bad/Very Bad system. I use this all the time to make sure I'm sticking to my healthy diet.

10.)  Nutrition Facts break down:

11.) Should I buy organic over conventional? I personally go with both. Produce that doesn't have an exterior shell protecting it from pesticides (like lettuce, tomatoes, grapes, strawberries, etc.) I buy organic ALWAYS. But the produce that you discard the peels or husks (oranges, bananas, avocado, corn, etc.) I buy conventionally.

12.) Remembering what fruits and veggies are in season can be a real pain, so I use these charts to make sure I'm buying things that are in season. It's cheaper and they taste so much better when they are in season!

13.) Learning the correct way to prepare veggies can make or break your taste for them. The cooking process alters their texture and taste. Like Asparagus, boiling it will make it mushy (same as buying it canned, which my mom did growing up and I absolutely hated it) but steaming, baking, or even grilling it is amazing!

14.) I drink a glass of water before every meal to make sure that I don't overeat, and after dinner to help my digestion. Water flushes your body of impurities that it picks up from the things that you consume. If you're like me and don't care for the blandness in water, try adding fruit and/or herbs to jazz it up a bit.

15.) YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, SO MAKE IT HEALTHY!!!!