Grocery Shopping Tips:

If you are going to successfully maintain a balanced diet that will help you manage your diabetes the journey begins at the grocery store. Follow the following basic grocery shopping tips to make your shopping trip productive and healthy.

Plan your list at home

It is a good idea to plan out your meals a week in advance and make the list at least 24 hours before you plan to go shopping so you aren’t tempted to rush through the process. When planning you meals include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and at least 2 snacks and one dessert per day. Any diet will fail if you feel hungry so make sure you are planning adequate amounts. The American Diabetes Association offer free menus and recipes as well as a menu planning guide and many other sites offer similar free tools. Take the time to plan ahead and you will be well on your way to controlling your diabetes with diet and creating a healthier you.

Eat a meal before you shop

No matter how good your intentions may be, going into a grocery store hungry will put a dagger through the heart of any diet. Who among us can resist the aisles and aisles of tempting goodies with our stomachs growling? Avoid the temptation and plan ahead! If you find that even with a meal you are hungry after shopping, this may be the perfect time for that little treat to reward yourself, but make sure it’s a treat you have planned into your nutritional program.

No ad-libs

Once you make out your list and enter the store, stick to the list! The choices we make at the store are much more likely to be negative then positive. It is also hard to know without the resources in front of you where additional items can fit into your diet. If you see something you really want, keep a separate list as you go through the store and build those items into the following weeks program.

Work with Professionals

Most health centers, physicians, and HMO’s provide access to a nutritionist at little or no cost. It is an excellent idea to work with them as much as possible. In the beginning they can provide guidance and as you grow tired of certain options they can help you find healthy alternatives. Chef’s and cooking sites are also excellent sources for menu planning and they may also have some tips on how to make old favorites diabetic friendly. You are also more likely to stick with a plan if it has been professionally influenced and you have support.