The Groceries Dilemma
Let’s be honest here. No one wants to spend an entire day every single week shopping for food. The grocery store. The Butcher. The fish market. The health food store. The farmer’s market. The local farmer you heard about. Buying food from 10 different places is unproductive, boring and downright insane. To reduce the time it takes you to run the errands, stick with 2-3 places maximum. The good news is – wherever you choose to shop for food, there’s always a way to make the right choices.
At The Grocery Store
If you only have access to a “regular” grocery store or can’t afford most ingredients sold in fancy health food stores, it doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to eat yourself fat. You should be able to find the following foods at most grocery stores:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Rice
- Beans and lentils
- Eggs
- Raw nuts and seeds
- Seeds
- Fish and shellfish
- Olive oil (try to find extra virgin)
- Avocados
- Meat and poultry (if they’re factory-raised, choose lean cuts)
Also, you’ll probably find the following ingredients if you shop at Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Supertarget, Safeway, Whole Foods Markets and Trader Joe’s:
- Grass-fed and pasture-raised meats
- Coconut oil
- Raw honey
- Stevia, xylitol or erthritol
- Unrefined sea or rock salt
- Coconut products (milk, dried, etc.)
- Fermented veggies (like sauerkraut)
- Organic stock
There’s no way you won’t be able to find healthy foods at your local grocery store. Avoid the center aisles where the crap is, and you’ll automatically make the right choices.
At The Health Food Store
Most health food stores sell some or all of the ingredients I recommend in The Truth About Fat burning Foods, along with supplements, fruits and veggies. The thing you need to be very aware of are the clerks. From my own experience, some of them will make you the wrong recommendations or sell you overpriced products. Use your own judgment and the information in here before taking any decision.
At The Farmers’ Market
Farmers’ markets can be the place where you spend the most money, or where you get the best savings of your entire life. Once you locate a farmers’ market near your area using the list HERE, use these strategies to get the most bang out of your buck:
1. Develop relationships : Farmers often give great deals to regular customers, so fidelity is the key.
2. Try new foods : Very common produce (potatoes, carrots, lettuce) are often more expensive, while other less-known fruits and veggies will be cheaper but as nutritious. Learn to expand your palate and to cook with
new ingredients – you’ll avoid diet boredom.
new ingredients – you’ll avoid diet boredom.
3. Buy in bulk : Farmers are often stock with surplus in-between seasons and will sell tomatoes, pumpkins or cabbage for next to nothing. Plan a weekend and can those veggies – you’ll save a ton of money during the next year.
4. Shop with friends and family : Farmers usually offer discounted “cases” of food that can be too much for one person, but that might be perfect to share between 3-4 households.
At The Butcher
Butchers are often aware of where the meat they sell comes from, and that’s a big plus for you. Ask your butcher if your beef is fed grass, if the animals are given antibiotics, etc.Buy in bulk and stock up your freezer. You’ll often end up paying 10 to 20% less that way.
At The Fish Market
Another place you can make sure your food has been raised and fed the right way. Ask the sellers if their fish is wildcaught, and where it comes from. You’ll find the freshest fish and seafood around the town, and will probably won’t pay more than what you already pay for products of questionable quality at the supermarket.
At The Exotic Food Store
You’ll find several speciality food stores (Indian, Asian, etc.) in most big cities. Pay those a visit and check out what they sell. You’ll often find hidden treasures like really cheap coconut oil or other products that’ll end up costing you way less than at the health food store.
Online
If you don’t have access to a local health food store or a farmers’ market – or just want to save time and get the best prices available – ordering online is your best choice. You’ll find a lot of online retailers that offer cheap or even free shipping on food products that may be hard to find elsewhere. Here’s my list of the best online retailers:
Amazon
Almost every healthy food can imagine. The free shipping is very interesting if you plan on spending more than $25.
Nuts.com
Nuts, dried fruits, chocolate & sweets, sweeteners, snacks, coffee & teas, baking goods, superfoods.
Teccino
Dozens of herbal teas and teas.
Tropical Traditions
Coconut oil, red palm oil, and a ton of organic products (sweeteners, snacks and even cosmetics).
Upgraded Self
High quality products designed for performance.
US Wellness Meats
Grass-fed beef, lamb & bison, pasture-raised poultry & pork, wild caught seafood, organic snacks.
YouBars
Create your own organic, all natural protein/nutrition bar. You actually get to choose the ingredients and even the name.
