Laurel House, author of "Quickie Chick's Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance -- On a Less-Than-Fabulous Budget," says that her number one grocery-shopping tip is to shop with a list -- and stick to it. "I only buy the necessities," she says. "The impulse buys are generally the most fattening and the most expensive." She keeps an ongoing list in her pantry, and chooses foods based on a "bites with benefits" philosophy she developed. "I think of my goals for the week -- like sleeping better or de-stressing," she says. "If I have a vacation coming up, I'll buy belly-flattening foods. Foods that are high in potassium will flush out salt. High-water foods -- like cucumbers, celery, and watermelon -- are also good." To help keep her on track, she'll write the benefits next to the item on her list.
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Slim women don't shop when they're hungry � or rushed, or tired, or when the store is too crowded
Nutritionists and health writers have been saying, "don't shop when you're hungry" since the invention of the refrigerator -- and while that tactic is still a good one, there are even more factors to consider. The best shoppers head to the store with the ideal shopping mentality -- not just a full stomach. House always has a healthy snack before she goes to the store, she gives herself ample time to get what she needs, and she tries to sneak in a workout beforehand. "If you've worked out and eaten something healthy, you'll feel better about yourself and you'll make better choices," she says.
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Slim women shop the perimeter -- with caution
Shopping only the outside aisles of the store is another classic rule of healthy grocery shopping, but it doesn't work as well as it used to. "It's a good idea," says McGee. "But supermarkets are getting savvy -- they're putting tempting things around the perimeter that you wouldn't normally find there." Take, for example, the cake and whipped cream strategically placed next to the strawberries in the produce section. You're there to buy berries, but wouldn't strawberry shortcake be even better? So, try to stick to your list and only buy the items that really belong in the perimeter of the store. And remember that the middle rows aren't completely off limits -- there are so many great beans, grains, and frozen options you don't want to skip.
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Slim women have freezer-section favorites
The freezer section gets a bad rap, but there's a lot more than chicken nuggets and pizza in these aisles. McGee says frozen vegetables are among the best frozen foods you can buy. "They are just as healthy and fresh because they're flash frozen right when they're picked," she says. House also loves frozen fruits, and often buys frozen, wild, organic blueberries. "They're less expensive than fresh blueberries and you can get them all year," she says.
Frozen entrees, on the other hand, should be avoided. "Most of them have way too much sodium," says House. And make sure you have the willpower not to buy ice cream -- yes, even the "healthy" options -- before you head to the freezer aisles. A lower-cal, just-as-satisfying alternative? McGee buys Greek yogurt and puts it in the freezer.
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Slim women buy in-season produce
Not only does seasonal produce taste better, it has more nutrients and you can usually get it for a better price. "I'll stock up on things like apples and yams -- this way I have them on hand," says McGee. "But I'll splurge when something is in season -- like strawberries in the summer or kabocha squash in the winter."
You're standing in line at the grocery store, and there she is: A woman with an amazing body (she's undoubtedly wearing yoga clothes -- maybe she even has a mat strapped to her back), glowing skin, and a cart full of vegetables. You contemplate hiding your pint of Ben & Jerry's behind an "Us Weekly" as you're overcome with guilt and the realization that healthy grocery shopping has never been your forté.
Sound familiar? Whether you're on a diet or just trying to eat healthier, the grocery store can be an intimidating place, rife with temptations. However, there are certain women -- namely slim women -- who seem to float through the aisles picking up the ripest fruits and most pristine-looking vegetables. They grab a piece of wild salmon, maybe a jar of almond butter, and they're on their way.
These superhuman shoppers have a secret: a set of healthy grocery shopping guidelines they follow no matter what. While the key rule used to be "focus on the perimeter" (meaning you should shop the produce, meat, fish, and dairy sections to get the healthiest, freshest ingredients), that's no longer the ultimate rule to shop by. "I love grocery shopping," says celebrity yoga and fitness instructor Kristin McGee (who epitomizes the gorgeous shopper described above). "But it's important to go with a plan -- supermarkets are getting so tricky."
McGee and women like her have mastered the art of healthy grocery shopping. Follow their rules and you won't even want to pick up the Chunky Monkey.
