Get The Most Nutritional Value When Shopping
Contributed by: News Canada
How can I get the most nutritional value when shopping for groceries?
(NC) - The best advice is to be aware of the dangers that lurk in the middle aisles of the local grocery store. It's in these aisles that busy Canadians are drawn to convenient, brightly coloured packages containing processed foods. On the surface, they seem like a great option. They're tasty, the family likes them and they're certainly easy to prepare. The problem with many processed, prepackaged foods is that they're often low in key micronutrients and high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. A single serving of one popular frozen pasta dish contains 51 grams of refined carbohydrates (as many refined carbohydrates as five slices of white bread) and more than 14 grams of fat (almost 25 per cent of the Recommended Daily Allowance for an average 150 pound adult).
If you're serious about healthy eating, stick to the outside aisles of the grocery store. Look for lean meats, whole-grains, low-fat dairy products and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Each meal should represent at least three of the four food groups and snacks should represent a minimum of one or two food groups. Before heading to the grocery store, consult Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating and try to purchase foods that meet the requirements outlined in the four major food groups.
Another excellent strategy is to provide your family with a daily multivitamin supplement, such as Centrum Forte, which is formulated to provide Canadians with nutrients they may be lacking.
Robin Anderson is a registered dietitian in Edmonton, Alberta in private practice.
Share On Twitter
