Healthy eating habits start at the grocery store.

I was working out at the gym yesterday and it struck me as somewhat comical... Every television station on had something to do with eating.  Whether it was Mrs Obama wanting fast food restaurants to have smaller portions for kids, Obama Care, Obesity in children... I was perplexed and amazed that we don't seem to get it.

I am the type of person that prefers to be proactive about things.  I find it ironic that American's don't seem to get that many of the issues we face are related to the way we eat.  Increases in obesity, Increases in heart disease, increases in cancer.  All can be linked in someway to eating healthy.

While speaking with some of my friends recently, many were under the impression that in order to eat right, it cost too much money.  I can see that most would think that, but that doesn't have to be the case.  What has to happen is that people need to learn how to get a healthy meal on the table at a low cost.  It CAN be done.   You have to have a goal.  Try it for one month and see how much you spend.

So here is how I put affordable meals on the table. 
I use current month food magazines for recipes.  If you don't get them, sign up at Cooking Light.com or Myrecipes.com. The reason I use current magazines, or last years magazines from the current month is so that I can reach GOAL #1.  Goal #1 is to use fruits and vegetables that are in season.  They cost less than those that are out of season.  I love Cooking light magazine, it uses great in season products, it provides easy to follow recipes, and each month it provides low cost meal ideas as well.  Not only does it have great recipes that my whole family loves, they are easy to make and I find that many are great for left overs

Before I go to the grocery store, I decide what the "menu" for the week will be.  Then I peruse my refrigerator to see what I already have.  Then I create my shopping list.  I have actually started using the shopping List on myrecipes.com.  It allows me to pull the recipes that I found in many of the magazine and it creates the shopping list for me.  This may sound like it takes a long time but  this  step takes me about 15 minutes.  I never go to the grocery store without a list!! I also eat before I go...If you are hungry you tend to buy more.  Stick to the list....

I do always read the circulars to see if there are any good "deals" at the grocery stores and I usually look for the deals on meat and fruits and vegetables.  If I see chicken breasts on sales, well then I know that I should look for a chicken recipe.  I like to get enough to make it for 6-7 servings so I have left overs.

A few snacks I always have on hand and last are apples.  My kids love them with peanut butter.  I also keep on hand bags of carrots and hummus.   We love the lemon hummus that SABRA makes.  And I find that every month there are coupons for SABRA in the newspaper.