How do You Avoid Unhealthy Temptations at the Grocery Store?

1. Follow the Age Old Advice of Not Shopping when You’re Hungry

This piece of advice is still around because it still works. Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry. If you do, you’ll be more likely to buy more than you need and make unhealthy choices. Being full helps you to buy what you need, not what you want. You’ll thank yourself later.

2. Be Intentional about Eating a Healthy Snack or Meal before You Shop

Not only do you want to eat before you grocery shop but you want to eat something healthy. Eating something healthy helps encourage you to have a healthy mindset. It gets your mind on good-for-you foods. A bowl of oats, a salad or even a piece of fruit will work. Try this and see what you think.

3. Make a List and Strictly Follow It

I wouldn’t dare try to grocery shop without a list. I’d spend more than I budgeted, not have enough for a week of meals and end up with lots of junk if I tried this. I bet the same thing occurs if you try to shop without a list. A grocery list is your friend. It’s a plan of how to conquer the grocery store without giving in to temptations.

4. Shop Alone to Avoid Unwanted ‘Help’

If you have children, you know how difficult it is to grocery shop when they’re along. As precious as they are, their food choices often aren’t as wonderful. It can also be difficult to grocery shop with your partner if they aren’t as health conscious as you are. For best results, shop alone. It’s hard enough to avoid temptation without others loading goodies into your shopping cart.

5. Shop the Perimeter of the Store to Avoid Temptations

If you think about it, you’ll realize that the healthier foods are around the perimeter of the store. In any grocery store I’ve been in, the produce, meat and dairy sections make up the perimeter. Junk food lies in the middle. If you shop the outer borders, you’ll avoid running into tempting treats. You may have to go in a few aisles to get rice, bread or cereal but, for the most part, the healthier fare can be accessed by using this strategy.

6. Add Some Healthy Treats to Your List to Take the Place of Unhealthy Options

I love treats and don’t want to give them up completely. I bet you feel the same way. It’s easier to bypass the unhealthy junk food when you have some healthy treats on your list. Instead of ice cream, shop for smoothie ingredients. Instead of potato chips, shop for popcorn or trail mix. Opt for some quality dark chocolate over a sugary candy bar.

7. Choose the Shortest Line to Avoid Spending Time Staring at the Candy Racks

Aren’t those candy racks awful? All that temptation is staring you right in the face! There’s a way to deal with this, though. Choose the shortest checkout line to avoid time spent staring at the candy racks. Or you could use the self-checkout line, which usually has little to no waiting. There’s usually less candy at the self-checkout line, too.

These are some tips to help you avoid temptation at the grocery store. What tips do you use for this? I’d love to learn from you!