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Step 1
Use the food pyramid as a guide of what to buy. This is put together by the United States Department of Agriculture, and it outlines what you need to have a healthy diet. They even allow you to personalize the pyramid to meet your personal preferences, that way you're more likely to stick to this healthy eating plan.
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Step 2
Visit your local farmer's market. Groceries you pick up here are usually at their peak freshness. Many times, these items are grown organically, although that's not always guaranteed. Organic or not, farmers markets are known for providing high quality products. There you'll find everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to homemade breads and even fresh eggs.
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Step 3
Shop the outside sections of your local grocery store. This is where you'll usually find the freshest items they sale. When your food is fresh, it will be more nutritious. In the aisles you typically find processed food, which is usually unhealthy and it's often times more expensive than fresh foods.
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Step 4
Opt for the leanest cuts of beef. That's because toxins from hormones and antibiotics are found in the fatty tissue.
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Step 5
Look for free range meats and poultry, meaning the animals didn't come from a factory. Chicken raised in a factory are at higher risk of disease, and they can even be genetically manipulated. That makes the skin of the chicken a hazard to your health. Also, fish caught in the ocean are a much healthier option than farm-raised fish.
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Step 6
Choose fresh vegetables over the frozen variety because it's the healthier alternative. Freezing foods can actually damage the cells in the food, and that can negatively impact the food's nutritional value. However, frozen foods are healthier than canned vegetables.
