Shopping only the outside aisles of the store is another classic rule of healthy grocery shopping, but it doesn't work as well as it used to. "It's a good idea," says McGee. "But supermarkets are getting savvy -- they're putting tempting things around the perimeter that you wouldn't normally find there." Take, for example, the cake and whipped cream strategically placed next to the strawberries in the produce section. You're there to buy berries, but wouldn't strawberry shortcake be even better? So, try to stick to your list and only buy the items that really belong in the perimeter of the store. And remember that the middle rows aren't completely off limits -- there are so many great beans, grains, and frozen options you don't want to skip.
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Slim women have freezer-section favorites
The freezer section gets a bad rap, but there's a lot more than chicken nuggets and pizza in these aisles. McGee says frozen vegetables are among the best frozen foods you can buy. "They are just as healthy and fresh because they're flash frozen right when they're picked," she says. House also loves frozen fruits, and often buys frozen, wild, organic blueberries. "They're less expensive than fresh blueberries and you can get them all year," she says.
Frozen entrees, on the other hand, should be avoided. "Most of them have way too much sodium," says House. And make sure you have the willpower not to buy ice cream -- yes, even the "healthy" options -- before you head to the freezer aisles. A lower-cal, just-as-satisfying alternative? McGee buys Greek yogurt and puts it in the freezer.
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Slim women buy in-season produce
Not only does seasonal produce taste better, it has more nutrients and you can usually get it for a better price. "I'll stock up on things like apples and yams -- this way I have them on hand," says McGee. "But I'll splurge when something is in season -- like strawberries in the summer or kabocha squash in the winter."
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Slim women buy snacks -- but not snack foods
Snacking can be a major diet pitfall, but it's unrealistic to keep your cupboards completely bare -- that'll only cause you to end up at a drive-thru. Instead, buy foods that will satiate your cravings without ruining your diet. House admits to having a serious sweet tooth. "I need something sweet after every meal -- even breakfast," she says. Instead of traditional desserts, she buys dates and keeps chocolate chips and cut-up bananas in her freezer. "A lot of it is about knowing yourself," she says. "If I had cookies in the house I would eat them all."
If savory snacks are your weakness, McGee recommends making a batch of hardboiled eggs in the beginning of the week. And both House and McGee always have cooked quinoa on hand. "It's a quick-cooking grain that you can make ahead of time," says McGee. "You can eat for breakfast with cinnamon and blueberries, or make it for dinner with beans, chopped cherry tomatoes, and cilantro."
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Slim women avoid fad foods
Trendy foods -- like coconut water -- tend to be front and center at the grocery store. But unless there's a real reason you should incorporate them into your diet, stay away. "Coconut water is caloric and sweet -- and it's expensive," says MgGee. "You can drink regular water to get hydrated -- it's free!" She also hasn't gotten into the juice craze. "You can have a big kale salad with tons of vegetables on it or you can have a tiny, $10 glass of kale juice. I prefer whole foods."
House says she likes to try the fad food once and then figure out how to make it at home: "When kale chips first came out -- I made them myself and I liked them better."
You're standing in line at the grocery store, and there she is: A woman with an amazing body (she's undoubtedly wearing yoga clothes -- maybe she even has a mat strapped to her back), glowing skin, and a cart full of vegetables. You contemplate hiding your pint of Ben & Jerry's behind an "Us Weekly" as you're overcome with guilt and the realization that healthy grocery shopping has never been your forté.
Sound familiar? Whether you're on a diet or just trying to eat healthier, the grocery store can be an intimidating place, rife with temptations. However, there are certain women -- namely slim women -- who seem to float through the aisles picking up the ripest fruits and most pristine-looking vegetables. They grab a piece of wild salmon, maybe a jar of almond butter, and they're on their way.
These superhuman shoppers have a secret: a set of healthy grocery shopping guidelines they follow no matter what. While the key rule used to be "focus on the perimeter" (meaning you should shop the produce, meat, fish, and dairy sections to get the healthiest, freshest ingredients), that's no longer the ultimate rule to shop by. "I love grocery shopping," says celebrity yoga and fitness instructor Kristin McGee (who epitomizes the gorgeous shopper described above). "But it's important to go with a plan -- supermarkets are getting so tricky."
McGee and women like her have mastered the art of healthy grocery shopping. Follow their rules and you won't even want to pick up the Chunky Monkey.
