As you learn how to eat clean, you may not know how to shop for clean foods. And without the right ingredients, cooking healthy meals can be complicated. But you can quickly feel lost in a sea of labels and ingredient lists, which lowers your motivation before you reach the first aisle.
It helps to plan, shop the perimeter, read the labels, and avoid temptation. And don’t go shopping hungry!
It can be easy to navigate the grocery store to maximize shopping for healthier ingredients. Here are five more grocery shopping tips for clean eating.
Keep a Running Grocery List
Rather than scrambling to remember your favorite pantry staples every time you run off to the grocery store, keep a running list of the items you need to buy on your next trip. Dry-erase boards or magnetic to-do lists that hang on your fridge and some apps are great ways to keep tabs on your kitchen inventory.
Buy the Rainbow
This applies to your fresh produce. Choose ingredients from an array of colors and varieties in your shopping cart. Not only will it make for beautiful meals, but it will also provide you with the widest array of vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
Consider Online Grocery Shopping
If you feel nervous about choosing the right foods, consider online grocery shopping or choosing a time to shop when the stores are less crowded. Rushing through the isles is an easy way to end up with extra items or forget certain things you need.
Change the Way You Eat
There won’t always be a clean substitute for every single item you’re used to eating on a non-clean eating plan. Sometimes, we have to change the way we shop – and our mindset – to change our eating habits.
Be Gentle with Yourself
Remember that if you make a mistake and buy something that you realize is not clean after you’ve already left the store, it’s not the end of the world! You don’t have to go back to exchange one item. You will make mistakes, you will give in to the occasional craving, and you will buy things that you think are clean only to find out later that they are not. And that is totally okay. Forgive yourself for any mistakes you make. The important thing is that you are trying.
Need some nutritionist guidance to get started or to get back on track? Get in touch today.
[RECIPE] BACON, GOAT CHEESE & BASIL STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS
Here is a delicious steak recipe that doesn’t require a lot of fuss. Just a few simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes are all it takes to whip up a flavor-packed main course your entire family will love!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25-30 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients (choose organic where possible):
- 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
- 4 6-oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 oz. goat cheese, divided
- 6 strips of cooked bacon, crispy and crumbled
- 6 basil leaves, rolled and sliced thin
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 c. balsamic vinegar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Butterfly the chicken by running a sharp knife horizontally through the thickest part of each breast. Place one hand on top of the breast to stabilize while holding the knife parallel to the work surface while cutting. Do not cut all the way through. Open the breast so both halves can lie flat.
- Season the exposed surface with salt and pepper, then add 1/4 of the goat cheese, crumbled bacon, and sliced basil leaves to each breast. Fold the breasts in half so the cheese mixture is surrounded by chicken breast on the bottom, back, and top. Secure with long wooden toothpicks, if desired.
- Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large oven-safe skillet. Once hot, add the stuffed chicken breasts to the pan to sear. Once browned on the bottom, carefully turn each breast over and repeat on the other side. Season top and bottom with salt and pepper, if desired, during this process.
- Place skillet in preheated oven and cook until an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted approximately 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover until ready to serve.
- A few minutes before removing the chicken from the oven, start making the balsamic glaze. Heat balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir while heating until the vinegar is reduced to about 1/3 of its original volume. It will form a thick, syrupy consistency when it is ready.
- To serve, place a stuffed chicken breast on each plate and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Pairs well with a mixed green salad or roasted vegetables.
To Your Health,
Patti
