Shopping at the supermarket is a crucial time for those following a weight loss/maintenance diet. A large part of the success of a diet depends on the ability to choose food at the time of purchase, but not only that. From an emotional point of view, it takes a lot of awareness and willpower to 'get around the obstacles' that you
hide behind every supermarket aisle! Shelves full of 3×2 offers of all kinds of sweets, cheese, cold cuts and various delicacies certainly do not help. In this regard, one must be clear in one's mind: to lose weight or to stay in shape, one must plug one's ears at the call of such 'sirens'!
Tips on shopping at the supermarket
Here are some tips from our dietician on how to shop in the supermarket in a conscious way:
- Prepare a detailed list shopping by consulting your food plan: knowing that during the week you will need a cow's ricotta, a primosale cheese and 2 light mozzarellas is more useful than a generic 'cheese' once you are in front of a shelf with dozens of fatty cheeses.
- Try to shop at the supermarket once a week instead of buying something every day, so you only have to resist the temptations of the most attractive departments once every 7 days.
- Go shopping after eatingor at any rate, when you are not very hungry: the same applies to nervousness, sadness and stress. In fact, biological hunger and hunger induced by altered moods do not help you resist temptation! Remember that such conditions lead to the shelving of all good dietary intentions and the induction of compulsive shopping for 'calorie-dense' foods.
- Choose a quiet timeso that they can search for the right foods without haste and distraction from other consumers filling their trolleys without inhibitions.
- Buy only the foods on the list of shopping, without exception. In this regard, keep only the money needed for organised shopping in your wallet and try not to carry credit/debit cards.
- Let us accompany you if possible by a person who shares the same remise en forme state as you, or by a trusted person who shares your choices in this respect: in front of him/her it will be more difficult to show weakness and not get caught up in guilt! No pity with sweets, ice cream, fizzy and sugary drinks unless they are part of the 'weekly reward' of a good weight loss.
- Do not buy large packages family size, although they are more convenient. It is more difficult to resist the temptation of an encore or the last taste when faced with abundant supplies.
- Go through the fruit and vegetable department. Fruit and vegetables are the indispensable foods of all healthy diets. Get apples, pears, oranges and kiwis if you are dieting during the winter; peaches, strawberries, watermelon, melon and apricots if it is summer. Avoid bananas, figs, persimmons and tangerines or buy a maximum of two for a week.
- During a slimming diet, it is a good rule to drink plenty of waterat least 2 litres a day, and give up fruit juices and fizzy drinks altogether, both of which are rich in simple sugars. The ideal is to put lots of bottles of low-mineral water in your trolley, so that you have supplies.
- Avoid 'dangerous' departmentsAvoid walking past the high-calorie snacks and sweets area. If you have a sweet tooth for sweets, chips, cold meats and fatty cheeses, pretend those departments don't exist! Willpower is fine, but let's avoid putting it to the test!
- Learn to reading nutrition labelsWhen faced with two or more similar products, they will help you choose the one with the least fat, sugar and calories. It will seem a difficult task at first but after a while it will become the practice that will save your line.
- Beware of light or diet foodsOften the differences with traditional yogurts are more in price than in nutritional content. For example, a fruit yoghurt 0% contains 0% of fat but at the same time a lot of sugar or substitutes that also raise insulin levels.
- Beware of the last danger! Once at the checkout with the trolley full of healthy food do not be distracted by chocolates, candies and various sweets placed specifically where the consumer has to spend the most time: in front of the checkout! Distract yourself by planning your weekly diet menu or simply by calling a friend or leafing through a magazine. Again, your figure will thank you!