Diet Talk - Surviving Food Shopping

DIET TALK is a series of 56 topics addressing the psychological and social aspects of successful, long-term weight management. DIET TALK is based on my NPR series. This lecture addresses surviving food shopping.

Transcript

Surviving Food Shopping How can you go food shopping and come home with only items that will help you lose weight and keep it off?

The best thing to do is to consider food stores as being war zones.

Product packaging not only preserves food and protects it,

Packaging also attracts attention.

It influences much of what we purchase,

And it is one-third of all household garbage.

Be aware of the fact that the products you don't need are usually displayed between waste and eye level so they will attract your attention and interest.

Staples such as sugar,

Flour,

And bread are more difficult to see,

Often on the bottom shelf.

The most visible display areas are assigned to those products that the manager would like to attract by your interest.

Checkout areas are the most popular place for such items.

Stores have climate control and the type of music that encourages shopping.

Some have in-store snack bars and most have employees who give out samples during peak shopping times.

These comforts are designed to keep you in the store as long as possible.

To win the shopping battle,

You must be well prepared.

Start by planning your menu for at least one week and preparing a list of all the needed items.

Make as few trips to the store as possible.

Try to shop after eating and only when you're feeling comfortable and rested.

Once you get inside the store,

Walk quickly to minimize your exposure to problem foods.

Keep your list handy.

Walk down only the aisles that display foods that are on your list.

And try to shop with a friend who will help you resist unnecessary items.

With this ammunition,

You'll do fine.

Reviews

Thankfully, I have this one down pat! Thank you!