Want to eat better?
Grocery shop like a cardiologist.
Written by Susan Smyth, MD, PhD, the medical director of the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute.
Many of us vowed to eat healthier foods in the new year but don’t know how to begin. Here are some tips for healthy grocery shopping that’ll help you reduce the amount of dietary fat, sugar and salt in your diet, which can help prevent obesity, heart attack, diabetes and other diseases.
Start in the produce section
Make your meal healthier by substituting foods with lots of color from natural sources (not artificial colors) for foods that are white or brown. Start in the produce section with fresh fruits and veggies, which are high in vitamins and fiber and low in fat. Be sure to check labels on processed foods like guacamole or prepared salads with dressing; they may contain high amounts of fat, sodium and/or sugar.
Tips for dairy and deli
In the dairy section, stick with low-fat options where possible. Beware of flavored yogurts, which can contain as much as half of the recommended daily allowance of sugar. Recent research indicates that eggs are fine in moderation, but check with your doctor first.
At the butcher shop, lean meats like chicken and fish are the healthiest options. Processed meats, like lunch meat or hot dogs, contain high amounts of sodium.
Choose wisely in the bakery
The bakery department can be tricky. While breads and other baked goods can have a place at your dinner table, the hidden sugars and sodium in bread might surprise you. Just two slices of packaged white sandwich bread may account for as much as a quarter of your recommended daily sodium intake. Instead, select breads made from whole grains, which can lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) and decrease the risk of diabetes by almost a third.
Spend less time in the interior aisles
The interior aisles of the grocery store are treacherous. Almost everything in a plastic wrapper is highly processed and loaded with fat, salt, sugar or all three. If you spend a lot of time in the middle aisles, do a lot of label-reading and look for healthier substitutes. Plain canned beans in water are a good choice, as are some nuts and dried fruit. Also, be aware of serving sizes per package: for example, canned soups are sometimes advertised as low sodium – but if the serving size is half a can, and you’re accustomed to eating a full can of soup, you’ll be getting double the dose of sodium.
Consider frozen options
In the frozen food aisle, frozen veggies without added sauces and fruits without added sugar can substitute for fresh varieties. Choose low-fat ice cream over regular versions. And be very careful of frozen pizzas, dinners and snacks, which can be loaded with sodium.
Perhaps the easiest way to eat better is to make a grocery list that emphasizes naturally colorful foods – the more vegetables, the better — and stick to it.
Check out our video interview with Dr. Smyth to find out how her work as a researcher and clinician is helping improve the heart health of Kentuckians:
Next steps:
- Learn more about the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute, where our experts are on the forefront of the battle against heart disease and stroke.
