As you trek up and down the aisles at your local grocery store, it's easy to get distracted, resulting in throwing a plethora of unhealthy items into your shopping cart. Do you really need the processed jalapeno cheese dip just because it's on sale? Probably not.
Health.com provides all of us easily distracted shoppers a simple Top 10 list of the healthiest foods we can gather on our next excursion to the market. Next time, add these items to your shopping list:
Raspberries
A great source of soluble fiber, which helps reduce bad cholesterol and makes you feel full faster, Raspberries are also packed with antioxidants. However, they're not always in season. When they aren't, they can cost a bundle. No worries, though. The frozen variety is always available at a reasonable price.
Asparagus
Asparagus is amazing when it's roasted. Plus it's low in sugar and high in folate and vitamin C.
Skim Milk
There's no substitute for good, old milk. Sure there's a new, noticeable "soy" craze in the fridges, and they offer tempting flavored varieties. But they are mostly sugar. It's true. Stick to the classic skim milk when you're making your lactose decisions.
Flavored Seltzer Water
Got a craving for vitamin-fortified water? Rethink your choice when you read the label. One bottle has more calories and sugar than a can of cola. Plus the vitamins are negligible, compared with the amount of sugar you’re getting. These flavored seltzer waters have zero calories and contain no artificial sweeteners or added sugar.
Bulgur / Quinoa
Need a rice alternative? Well, couscous may seem the best option. But when you consider it has the same nutritional value as white pasta (penne or rigatoni), reach for bulgur or quinoa instead.
Bulgur has fewer calories and three times the fill-you-up fiber. Quinoa is high in fiber and a great source of protein (on par with a piece of chicken).
Extra-lean Ground Sirloin
Beef gets a bad wrap. With more people using ground turkey in place of it in meatloaves, meatballs, etc. However, did you know that unless you're using "lean" ground turkey, you're actually just getting a mix of white and dark meat, as well as skin, resulting in inflated calories and fat content? So fear not the lean ground sirloin! Plus, lean beef supplies a good helping of iron—almost five times more than turkey.
Red, Black, or White Beans
Thinking of making your own hummus? Rethink canned chickpeas. While they admittedly are the main ingredient in the Middle Eastern dip, using red, black, or white beans are lower in fat and calories, higher in protein, zinc, and folate option.
Whole Wheat Pasta
While whole-wheat pasta contains about the same nutritional information as its relatives, white and tricolor pasta, it does contain more fiber than either. So if you have a pasta craving you just can't beat, this is your best bet.
Dried Apricots
Dried apricots contain few calories and less than 1 gram of fat (plus loads of vitamin A) per serving. Buy organic and you’ll also avoid sulfites, which can trigger migraines and even disrupt sleep.
Feta Cheese
The Greek salad staple is a healthy bet. It has about 4 grams of saturated fat per serving, compared with 7 grams in goat cheese, and around 15 fewer calories per ounce. Sprinkle a few chunks on your white or black bean hummus? MMMMMMM!