41. shop the perimeter of the supermarket.
i’ve heard that the perimeter of the supermarket is where the healthiest foods are. i suppose most people, whether they’ve got the munchies, need some last minute snacks for a party, or simply don’t care about nutrition, just want to get in and get out. they head straight for the center because it’s the shortest distance from the door. the more i thought about it i realized that the center is filled with starchy carbs, which are mostly processed foods full of salt and sugar. the produce and refrigerated sections are located around the perimeter. even when stores have a special diet section it’s located off towards the side.
since i’ve kept to the perimeter of my local chain grocery store i’ve discovered a previously-overlooked end cap of gluten-free products. i’ve also managed to locate a weekly sale isle in addition to a couple of carts that hold “distressed” merchandise where dented cans/boxes are discounted. recently i stocked up on some expensive organic tomato sauce. additionally, any time a brand changes its packaging the store must quickly get rid of all items with the old design. they’re still good, they just look different so the store has to discount them.
next time you shop start with the fruits and vegetables, then continue along the edges. if necessary, pop into an aisle to grab some quinoa pasta, salad dressing or granola bars. otherwise, don’t even bother browsing the chips and cookies- as the old saying goes: out of sight, out of mind.
I haven’t been in the cookie or chip isle in ages. Most of the time I don’t venture out of the deli, bakery, fruits & veggies or natural food sections. Its less disappointing while shopping. Most processed/pre-packaged foods have milk in them in some variation. If I have a hankering for chips I generally pick up Kettle brand chips or some other brand of baked chips that are relatively healthier for you than the processed greasy options. But even with Kettle brand chips I’m limited in my flavor options.