After accidentally getting into a debate with a registered dietitian friend of mine, I have decided to write this blog to help her and all other health and fitness professionals, myself included, debunk the nutrition myth related to grocery shopping “shop the edges only”.
We’ve all heard the grocery store nutrition myth before, “Only shop the edges of the store.” While the intentions behind this statement were good, it leaves out a lot of necessary nutrients and nutrient dense foods.
Shopping the edges of the grocery store will reduce the amount of processed foods, which we all can agree is a good thing. But doing so also leaves out herbs and spices that provide needed micro-nutrients like olive, coconut, avocado and other oils which provide us a source of healthy fats. We can’t forget nuts and nut butters which again provide micro-nutrients, healthy fats and protein.
There are even healthy snacks like some trail mixes, canned fruits, veggies and meat. Also some protein bars like the RX bar, which only has 3-5 ingredients in it, are another good option for a snack or small meal on the go.
What Bad Foods to Avoid?
But what about the chips, cookies and other “bad” foods? Well first off, there is no such thing as bad food. There’s just food that is more nutritious than others. If I eat one serving of Double Stuff Oreos, am I going to get diabetes? Nope. Am I getting much nutritional value from them? Also nope.
But some people struggle to get all of their necessary calories for the day, so sometimes a snack like that is thrown in. Also, who wants to live a life that doesn’t allow them to have ice cream or cookies sometimes? As long as you do so in moderation, there isn’t any reason why you can’t enjoy a treat every now and then.
While I agree that most of your shopping should be on the edges of the grocery store, you can’t be afraid to venture into the aisles. With the proper education and practice, you can navigate any grocery store knowing what is the healthier option, what works for your specific lifestyle, and not be afraid of buying that box of Oatmeal Creme Pies.
If you think you might be interested in nutrition coaching, click here to set up an appointment. We can review the nutrition myth related to grocery shopping, or anything else that you need guidance with! Myself or Coach Jennifer are happy to help!