Grocery Shopping Tips
Grocery shopping can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you have only recently been diagnosed with diabetes. What should you pick, what should you avoid and how do you deal with all the “bad” temptations (in the form of potato chips or chocolate cookies) that you are sure to encounter in the store? Here are some of our best grocery shopping tips:
Never Shop On An Empty Stomach
Instead be sure to eat a little snack, or shop after one of your meals. You’ll be a lot less tempted to buy food you don’t need or shouldn’t have around in the first place.
Make A List And Stick To It
Before you leave for the store, sit down and plan out your meals for the week. Then use this list of dishes and the recipes to go along with them to make your grocery list. When you are in the store do your best to stick to your list. Not only will you make sure you don’t forget to buy any ingredients you need for a particular dish, you are also less likely do buy items you don’t need.
Stock Up On Good Foods
You should have a pretty good idea of what you should be eating by now. Stock up on healthy foods like plenty of fresh vegetables, some fruit (like grapefruit), lean meats and fish and some whole wheat breat, pasta, whole grain rice and the likes. Stay away from as much processed food as possible.
If you do end up craving candy, cookies and the likes, grab a small package of a diabetic version of your favorite treat and keep it in the pantry. Use it as an occasional treat. This is a better way to go then completely cutting out your favorite “bad” food, which usually ends in you breaking down and chowing down on a regular candy bar.
Until you are comfortable with your new healthy lifestyle as a diabetic, it may be a good idea to run your meal plan and shopping list by your doctor or nutritionist to make sure it works with your body and helps you keep your bloodsugar levels under control.