15 Foods NOT To Buy At The Grocery Store
Let’s talk about 15 foods that I NEVER buy from the grocery store and why!
I get emails and DMs all the time asking me about my favorite foods to buy from Trader Joe’s and what foods you should stay away from in terms of being unhealthy.
So this inspired my latest Youtube video which you can watch below, or just keep reading!
Here’s my disclaimer…if you look back at some of my other Youtube videos and posts, maybe on my website or on Instagram, you may find me eating some of the things I talk about in the video. I just mean that I don’t buy these unhealthy foods on a regular basis at the grocery, but there have been times when we travel or I’ve been at the airport and grabbed a packaged snack. Now that that’s on the table…
Some of the Most Unhealthiest Foods That I Never Buy
Flavored Oatmeal Packets
For all of you Quaker Oatmeal fans, I was once like you and basically LIVED off of these in college, Apple Cinnamon to be more specific. But now I typically grab some organic oats when I shop at Trader Joe’s.
Not only is it not processed, no added sugar, but over time it’s much cheaper and really easy to make at home. I just add oats, Stevia, chia seeds, cinnamon, peanut butter, salt, and water to a bowl and microwave on high. This is what I eat every morning, sometimes I change it up and add berries or these healthy no-oil sauteed apples!
The best alternative to homemade oatmeal, are the packets made by RX Bars. They are really good, but again, more expensive.
Favorite Oatmeal Recipes:
Mayo and Sour Cream
I didn’t grow up eating these, so it’s definitely not hard to keep from buying at the grocery store. Any time a recipe calls for either mayo or sour cream I replace it with greek yogurt and it tastes the same. I did that with my Chicken Salad and Potato Salad, and everyone still rants and raves over it. Not to mention greek yogurt is way higher in protein.
White Granulated Sugar
I swap regular sugar out for coconut sugar. Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index, so when you eat it, it doesn’t spike your blood sugar as white sugar would. The taste is the exact same. When using sweeteners, some other ones I reach for are raw honey or pure maple syrup.
Fake Maple Syrup
This includes anything outside of pure maple syrup and includes all the syrups that are marked as sugar-free, fat-free, or reduced-fat. If the syrup isn’t pure, it’s actually not maple syrup at all! It’s filled with high fructose corn syrup, unnecessary additives, and artificial flavors.
Juices
While being pregnant I have craved juices more than usual, but I never buy prepacked juices or smoothies, you know those kinds to take on the go. These are usually filled with tons of added sugar and just flavorings rather than the actual juice from the fruit or vegetable. They’re also lacking all the fiber that is so essential to blood sugar control and fullness! You can read more about the importance of fiber in my e-book.
Bottled Smoothies
A major reason I like smoothies is because of the fiber content and how many nutrients you get, but pre-bottled ones typically strip any benefits it may have had. They contain a lot of added sugar that’s not good for you either. When I make a smoothie I typically add a little fruit, protein, greek yogurt, nut butter, and milk.
Favorite Homemade Smoothies:
Granola Bars
Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of granola bars or granola in general. When I look for a yogurt topping or need a little crunch I like the Fiber cereal from Trader Joe’s. If you look closely at the ingredients on prepacked granola bars, they are filled with unnecessary added sugar, contain hardly any protein, and other funky ingredients.
Favorite Substitute for Granola Bars: Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
If you find yourself needing a bar on the go I recommend Lara Bars or RX bars. They really just contain nuts and dates, maybe a few other ingredients but definitely not filled with all of the unhealthy stuff.
Vegetable Oil
I prefer to cook with olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil. You literally cannot tell the difference and all of these oils are much healthier than vegetable oil. But believe me, growing up, my mom always had vegetable oil and Crisco sticks in the cabinet!
White Bread
Someone’s feelings may get hurt on this one. White bread really has no nutritional value! Through processing, any nutritional goodness it did have is stripped away. So I really like the Sprout bread from Trader Joe’s and Dave’s Killer Bread.
Sweetened Dried Fruits
My favorite is dried figs mixed with nuts to make my own trail mix. Dried fruits are one of the departments you really have to watch when it comes to added sugar and processed syrups! Stay away from the fruit cups, but if you really have to buy those be sure to check the label!
Protein Snack Boxes
You know the ones you can get at Starbucks, it’s like the grown-up version of Lunchables. From a nutritional standpoint, there’s nothing really wrong with these. From a budget standpoint, these can be really expensive if you eat them often. So I just recommend making your own at home, add your favorite cheese and crackers, fruit, olives, and a couple of boiled eggs.
Fruits Cups with Syrup
I cannot stand the thought of eating fruit that is drowning in syrup. I mean what is that syrup anyway? Because when I cut up my own fruit, there’s only juice involved, not syrup, so that just goes to show you the “added extras”.
Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter + Reduced Fat Cream Cheese
So pretty much anytime you buy something that’s reduced sugar and fat they basically have replaced it with added sugar, emulsifiers, and different additives to make it still taste good and to give it the same texture as the regular one. Especially with these two things like peanut butter, it’s such a healthy fat I don’t really think you should be trying to reduce them. The same goes for salad dressings! Light dressings just taste weird and are not the same as the real deal.
Pre Packaged Salad Kits
I do buy these occasionally, but I don’t use everything in them, I basically just like the blends of different greens. Caesar Salad Kits….I love romaine lettuce but from a nutritional standpoint, it’s like water and there are not many benefits from croutons either.
Favorite Homemade Salads That Aren’t Boring:
- Easy Harvest Salad with Creamy Walnut Vinaigrette
- No Mayo Mediterranean Tuna Salad
- Pear, Pomegranate, and Pumpkin Seed Salad
- The Freshest Five Minute Salad
There you have it my friends, some of the unhealthiest foods that I don’t buy from the grocery store! I would love to hear your thoughts, so tag me or shoot me a DM over on Instagram!
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