In any given grocery store, there are now 18 kinds of bread, 7 different nut milks and walls worth of snacks- how do you know what’s best for you? Between all of the marketing, hyperbolic claims, and hidden ingredients, it’s very hard to decipher what product is best for you in any given category. We are here to help! I’ve personally dealt with digestive health issues, and have found a true passion in nutrition along my journey. As such, you can find me spending my free time roaming the aisles of grocery stores, looking for the latest and greatest products, and dissecting every ingredient/nutrition label. I’ve learned a few things along the way, and hope to make your grocery shopping experience a bit easier. Within every category there are a few common themes, and things to watch out for:
Avoid seed oils (soybean, corn, canola, cottonseed, rapeseed, grapeseed, sunflower, safflower, rice bran)- these oils are in SO many packaged foods these days. Seed oils are high in unstable omega 6 fatty acids/ linoleic acid, and are known to be inflammatory.
Avoid excess added sugar- excess sugar leads to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction, the root cause of many diseases. There are over one hundred names for sugar (agave, coconut sugar, corn syrup, fruit juice). There is nothing wrong with natural sugar in moderation, like in fruit, but watch out for the excess added sugars hidden in breads, sauces, yogurts, snacks, and more.
Avoid natural/ artificial flavors and ingredients you don’t recognize- Natural flavors aren’t natural, and are added to amplify the taste of our modern day foods in order to make you eat more and buy more. Transparency is important, and we should know what we are eating.
Quality matters- If possible, look for organic fruits, vegetables and legumes, and pasture raised/ 100% grass-fed and finished animal products. These higher standards result in more nutrient dense foods that are better for you and the planet.
