Let’s get back on track people. Seriously, let’s do it.
Ok, I can blame last week on my birthday. But this week, it’s time to get back to basics. More vegetables, less junk. It’s that simple.
Or so it seems.
Do you ever feel like you keep making the same goals over and over again?
It’s frustrating, I know. I know, because I make them too. So let’s start with healthy eating (what else?!) and where it starts. You may think it starts at the “what’s for dinner” idea… but it’s actually before that.
When you walk into the grocery store, you’re making choices for the rest of the week.
There are two common mistakes people (me) make:
1. You don’t buy healthy food
2. You don’t buy healthy food you actually like
If you don’t have healthy food on hand, you won’t be able to make good choices. And if you don’t buy healthy food that you actually like, it’ll just go to waste.
So here are the staples that I buy at the store, that keep me reaching for healthy food all week:
Clockwise:
- Almond milk- I like unsweetened vanilla and I use it in my smoothies and my coffee
- Frozen fruit- I’ll either mix it with yogurt or eat it right out of the bag!
- Egg Whites- Easily cooked in the microwave with a little string cheese, for a protein packed snack
- Apples/Bananas- The perfect grab and go snacks (and I use a banana in all my smoothies!)
- Onions/Tomatoes- Versatile for everything from stir fry to salsa
- Beans- Canned make it easy for last minute dinners
- Greek Yogurt- I’ll eat this for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacking!
- Salad Mix- You’re more likely to eat your vegetables if they’re already washed and ready!
These are the things I stock my cart with when I’m really trying to get back on track. I love pretzels, granola, soy crisps, cereal, and other healthy-ish snacks, but sometimes I have trouble with portion control. Sometimes instead of trying to control it, it’s best to just not have it around. But hey, maybe you’re not all as tempted by Peanut Butter Puffins as I am 😉
I find that lots of veggies and protein tend to be the best way for me to fill up and stay energized. While it’s easy for me to munch my way through a box of cereal, it doesn’t leave me feeling full. I’ll be sticking to protein packed yogurt bowls, and lots of vegetable stir fries!
I started the week off on a pretty good note, with a green smoothie for breakfast, a garlicky kale salad for lunch, and a chipotle burrito bol for dinner. (Hey, I can’t pass on Chipotle!)
Great post Liz! I have been eating way too many sweet things lately so definitely want to get back on track too! I have the same problem with stuff like pretzels, I just can’t have them around without eating them all, so I think its far more realistic to just admit that to yourself and not buy them.
I love reading/seeing other people grocery staples because it always gives me ideas of my own 🙂 My stapes are apples, spinach, egg whites, greek yogurt, goat cheese, fish, and chicken!
Hahaha I do too!! It’s fun knowing what other people buy!
We have (most of) the same staples, I do believe. [But do we have the same stapler? ;)]
Salty snacks are very dangerous for me. As is cereal–but not Puffins (yuck!)–and any form of nut butter.
Haha it’s because we’re foodie soulmates 😉 And also life soulmates. But that’s obvious.
Ha – #2 used to be me. I’d plan meals but dread them all day long. I’m much better about that now!
Haha that’s the worst!! It’s way more fun to look forward to your meals 😉
Bananas, almond butter, greens, hummus, almond milk, goat cheese and avocado are my healthy staples!
Great post! My grocery shop is pretty similar to yours, add in a few grains like oats, multigrain bread and wraps. Love filling my meals with veggies, quality proteins and filling grains 🙂
Staples I get every week? Bagged lettuce, eggs, salad mix-ins (cauliflour/carrots/zucchini/etc). Those are non-negotiables.
My main grocery store staple is a giant tube of organic spinach from Sam’s Club. If I don’t feel like cooking my veggies I can easily make a green smoothie instead. I know you and Lindz do this a lot! 🙂
Haha yes!!! We do it like every day! I’ve started buying frozen spinach, because it’s a little cheaper, and since I almost always just use it for smoothies, it works just fine!
I can’t just walk into a store and buy things without knowing what I’ll be doing with them. I make a list on Saturday mornings for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks and then base my list on that list.
My grocery staples are cereal, Greek yogurt, and raspberries!
Lately they are: unsweetened coconut milk (so low in cals!), old-fashioned oats, PB, hummus, Tortilla Factory wraps, tofu, frozen veggies
Ohh I love unsweetened coconut milk too!! I pretty much just use almond/coconut milk for smoothies, so if I’m feeling tropical, coconut is the way to go 😉
It’s funny that I am reading this post today… I was just thinking the same thing. I have to get back on track. Starting today more veggies need to happen and less baking and sweets! Thanks for this post! It’s a helpful reminder!
I totally feel you on repeating goals! It can be so frustrating sometimes! My staples include granny smiths, cucumbers, almonds, and yogurt!
That literally looks like what my haul looks like when I come home from the grocery store! Some of my other staples are peanut butter, dark chocolate, hummus, and whole wheat wraps 🙂
Haha yes! I must have at least 4 kinds of peanut butter in my house 😉
That looks like my kitchen counter after last night’s grocery run. Well, part of it… I bought a LOT! 🙂
I make an affort to shop the perimeters of the store and buy mostly fresh foods. That way you’re sure to buy good for you items and avoid the processed crap in between. I also close my eyes in the check out line to avoid the Reese’s. LOL!
I end up at the grocery store multiple times per week because I am incapable of planning ahead when it comes to meals. I really need to work on that.
Your groceries look very similar to mine – almost identical actually. lol
I have to keep things like cereal, chips, granola and trail mix out of cart when I’m trying to be diligent with healthy eating because I have no portion control with these things.
I love seeing what other people purchase at the grocery store! Our groceries look a lot similar, but I wish I was better at liking beans. As a vegetarian, they’re such a good source of protein…but I am only on board with black beans at the moment. I’ve got to warm up to others!
And SERIOUSLY, the peanut butter puffins are deadly. I just bought a box (even though I have two other open boxes of cereal in my pantry!) and I think I ate a quarter of the box for breakfast this morning. I have to limit myself to like, one box a month. It’s madness.
Oh man I LOVE beans! But black are probably my favorite 🙂
I don’t know if I’ll EVER be able to buy peanut butter puffins again. I literally have no self control with those!
Your grocery list’s soo similar to mine! To add..sweet potatoes and avocados are must! My diet used to be centered around cereal.. Esp Quaker Oatmeal Squares. I would eat a whole box in one sitting..those were my bingeing days. Can’t believe…now I try to fill up on high-protein, lots of produce!
There are definitely some “trigger foods” I have to avoid!
I love avocados but I never know when they’re ripe! I always end up waiting too long and having to throw them out! 😦
Having the healthy stuff on hand DOES make a huge difference! Carrots, romaine lettuce, and almond milk get picked up every time I step in a grocery store! I go through those three like nobody’s business. Although, I switched up the carrots with celery for a change this week..bad idea. Definitely not a favorite thing to snack on–why so many strings??? 😦
Hahaha yeah celery isn’t my favorite either. I love carrot chips, and then roasting them in the oven and dipping them in ketchup!
Holy cow, that is the best idea ever! I already love doing that w/ sweet potato. As soon as I can get through this celery (ohhh, it’s going to linger in my fridge forever), I’m picking up carrots and doing that! Any excuse for ketchup. Err, I mean, carrots 😉
I love that unsweetened Almond Breeze milk. They have just started to sell it in the UK and I am obsessed!
Eggs, fruit, some kind of green are ALWAYS in my grocery cart. If nothing else, I always have a healthy breakfast, which sets the tone for the day.
I buy seriously everything you mentioned! I totally agree, it is important to just HAVE healthy food in your house an then you won’t feel like reaching for the ice cream 🙂
I buy similar things, plus peanut butter, multigrain bread, frozen veggies, and oatmeal!
Happy belated birthday! Hope it was a good one…
And I can’t comment on your most recent post but had to say… cheesecake-stuffed strawberries… wow!
Haha they’re not even that unhealthy, because it’s not THAT much cream cheese! haha
great post. i had to teach my boyfriend this – because he would have all of this healthy, but gross and boring food. or at least he didn’t know how to prepare it or spice it up. now…he is learning that when we spend a little more at the grocery store it is totally worth it!
Such a great post!! I am with you on almost everything. I have to have unsweetened almond milk AT ALL TIMES, tons of greek yogurt, frozen fruit, PEANUT BUTTER, OATMEAL & OATBRAN, veggie burgers, lots of veggies, hot sauce (ha..so need this). I mean really veggies are KEY!!!
Great tips. I always have Greek yogurt on hand, and I love to make homemade granola for snacking. I have recently started buying Chia seeds and putting them in everything too.
*Erin
Peanut butter puffins! Impossible to stop eating. You’re not the only one 🙂
We’ve got a lot of similar staples! Frozen fruit to go in smoothies, yogurt. The yogurt, itself 🙂 Apples and bananas! I pack these as on-the-go snacks allll the time.