I have always done most of the family shopping, as I'm the only driver in the family. Subsequently, since I changed lifestyle a year ago - the rest of the family have been forced onto healthier diets
(my youngest daughter sometimes rebels against
healthy food!)...
I have to shop often - probably every three or four days. Eating healthy
is more expensive than eating junk food. I try to economise where I can. What I buy also depends on the season. I try to buy in favour of some seasonal stuff. At this time of the year, I eat A LOT of steamed vegetables. In the summer I mainly eat salads.
My shopping list would include some berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc), green leaf (kale, lettuce, Chinese lettuce, spinach etc), broccoli, carrots, onions, roots (swede or rutabaga, etc) etc. I would like to buy organic, but I can't always afford it. Mushrooms - I LOVE them! If I can afford them, I like shittake - if not, then chestnut mushrooms. Canned tomatoes seem to be good value and nutritional. Other fruits: tomatoes (preferably organic on the vine if I can afford them), apples, bananas, grapes, raisins, pineapple, cherries etc. I try to eat a banana, an apple, and a tomato most days. I also try for some additional variety whenever possible.
Meats: I try to cut down on these when I'm in weight loss mode, but ... skinless boneless white meat of chicken and turkey, and lots of fish. Fish - fillets of tuna, cod, salmon, trout or whatever (whitefish as well as oily fish); canned or tinned fish (herring, tuna, sardines, sild etc). I love shellfish - I might buy some prawns, or mixed seafood (its cheaper frozen) - or buy a dressed fresh crab. As a treat, I'll have the odd lean steak of beef, venison or whatever. I also have some wild rabbits on order from a shooter friend. On rare occasions, I might have a bit of liver or kidney.
Soups: When trying to lose weight, I buy lots of low cal vegetable or tomato soups. When not trying to lose weight, I prefer to make my own. Soup is a great weight-loss food.
Eggs - organic free range. I hard boil them four or five at a time. Great protein. I buy them by the dozen.
Dairy: semi-skimmed milk, NO butter, cream or spreads. Sometimes for variety, I buy goats milk. Every few weeks or so, I buy a small tub of reduced fat cottage cheese. I also buy whey protein powder.
Beans, nuts, pulses: I can't be bothered boiling dried pulses, so I buy cans of mixed organic beans and lentils. I also buy a small tub of reduced fat hummus - love that stuff! Also almonds, walnuts, cashews, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds - but I don't eat so many nuts while I am trying to lose weight. A can of 'reduced salt and sugar' baked beans goes down well.
Bread and cereals: strictly wholemeal loaves - never white. Sometimes I also buy ryebread or crispy ryebread. Cereals - mainly organic Irish oats for making porridge. Sometimes a high fibre bran meal.
Sauces and dressings: the hummus, reduced sodium soy sauce, Spanish EVOL, walnut oil. Again, while I am losing weight - I use oil dressings sparingly.
Other things: honey - I don't use it much - just now and again as a treat sweetener. Chocolate - dark organic bars, at least 70% cocoa only. A few squares after a workout are a great treat. Olives - green and black. Booze: I sometimes buy a bottle of red wine. If I am really trying hard to lose weight though - I keep off of the booze altogether.
Reduced items: our superstores usually have a 'reduced for quick sale' shelf. Ok, I don't buy many vegetables from there (some!), but its a great place to
try new foods, dips, meats, etc.
Thats my 'shopping list'...
