I haven’t come across too many people who actually enjoy grocery shopping every week. I mean the idea of putting together a list, heading to the store after work, and bearing the long checkout lines can be enough to keep anyone away from their local grocery store. When you’re shopping for diabetes-friendly foods, the challenge can appear ever greater; however, that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.
I have put together five diabetes life hacks to make your weekly shopping trip painless! Yes, you heard me, painless, because no one has time to stress over picking up food for the week.
#1: Have a Snack Before You Go
I cannot emphasize this enough. Going to the grocery store hungry is a recipe for disaster. To prevent snacking on fast foods at the store, have a light snack or a small meal before you go. Have a piece of cheese or an apple with peanut butter to keep your blood sugar levels stable and get you in and out of the store without a hitch.
#2: Choose Low to No Sodium Options
Prepackaged foods tend to be packed with excess sodium which can cause imbalances in blood pressure readings and can even increase your risk of heart disease. If you do purchase canned food items, go for low sodium and choose sodium-free when buying things like frozen veggies.
#3: Watch the Sugar
Ok, so sugar is another issue here, and I know everyone loves a little sugar now and then. The problem is that nearly everything has added sugar these days, and, by everything, I mean everything. From your ketchup to tomato sauce, I bet there’s added sugar. The best thing to do is to purchase unsweetened versions such as unsweetened yogurt and sweeten it yourself. This way, you can sweeten it with some fresh fruit instead. Not only is this a much healthier option, but it can help save you money as the sweetened versions tend to be pretty pricey. Win, win!
#4: Don’t Trust “Sugar-Free Foods”
While we are on the topic of sugar, don’t take sugar-free labels for face value. While a product may be sugar-free, it very likely has artificial sugar, and it certainly doesn’t mean carbohydrate-free which is equally as important when monitoring your blood sugar. The last thing you want is to purchase an item thinking it’s sugar-free, only to deal with a blood sugar spike from the carb content. Double check the label to stay in the clear!
#5: Be Careful in the Snack Aisle
I get it, everyone needs a snack every now and then, but it’s all about being smart with your snack options. If you crave chips, opt for the bean or lentil–based choices. Making healthy snack decisions could be the difference between a successful grocery trip or an disastrous week’s worth of food intake.
I hope you take these tips and store them in your arsenal of clever tools for staying healthy with diabetes! Tackling the grocery trip will have you one step closer to reaching your health goal.
It all starts with the foods we stock our kitchens with.
