If you’ve been around for some time, then you might remember that we started filming our healthy grocery hauls and sharing them on Rob’s YouTube channel.
Quote of the day: “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Robert Collier
This idea started when one of my readers asked us to share what we buy on our grocery trips.
Thus, I photographed and wrote about shopping at:
–Trader Joes
–Aldis
–Frys & Sams
But then we thought, maybe we will video the healthy grocery hauls. After doing this for an entire year, we noticed some interesting patterns.
The biggest lesson is that Healthy Eating isn’t nearly as complicated as social media sometimes makes it seem.
Yet I hope that by now we all realize that our Health is highly dependent on what is on our forks. You can’t expect to put unhealthy things in your body and be healthy.
Bodies are amazing, but they have limitations.
I’ve discussed health and food in the past, if this is interesting to you.
–Nutrient Dense Eating
–Our Healthy Kitchen
–Chia Pudding For Breakfast
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One of the first things we realized is that our healthy grocery hauls look remarkably similar from week to week.
Fresh vegetables.
Fruit.
Eggs.
Greek yogurt.
Avocados.
Sure, there are seasonal additions and the occasional fun find, but the foundation stays pretty consistent.
I think many of us believe healthy eaters are constantly trying the latest wellness trend. In reality, most healthy eating comes from repeating simple habits over and over.
And with that, having it be whole/real foods. Foods you would find in your grandma’s kitchen. Not chemicals and highly processed food.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from sharing healthy grocery hauls publicly, it’s that everyone has an opinion.
Someone will tell you bananas have too much natural sugar.
Someone else will tell you to avoid potatoes.
Another person will question your choice of yogurt.
At some point, you realize that perfection isn’t the goal.
Our goal has never been to create the “perfect” grocery cart. Instead, we focus on filling our carts with mostly whole, real foods that nourish our bodies.
And occasionally, we will splurge on items that aren’t considered super healthy. But even then, we try to limit those because many ultra processed foods are engineered to be addictive.
If it’s one thing I abhor, it’s being manipulated by food scientists.
Because the healthiest Diet is the one you can maintain for years, not a few weeks.
Another interesting thing about filming healthy grocery hauls is seeing how our choices have changed over time.
As we’ve learned more, we’ve made small adjustments.
For example, one of our friends suggested switching to pasture-raised eggs. We looked into it, learned more about the benefits, and now that’s what we buy regularly (although Rob still complains about the higher cost).
There are simple swaps that can make a difference in our health, and if they are doable and relatively easy, then why not?
It reminds me of the simple food swaps that I’ve discussed (I think buying most salad dressings is something EVERYONE should reconsider).
One of the things I Love about health and wellness is that you don’t have to change everything overnight. Small improvements add up (just like the quote says at the top of this post).
One misconception we hear often is that healthy eating is expensive.
Can it be? Absolutely.
But perspective is key. If you aren’t healthy, you could be spending more than you realize on doctor’s visits, prescription drugs, and the mental setback about not feeling well.
And we do try to consider prices when we shop for our healthy grocery hauls.
It’s one reason we belong to a warehouse club (Sam’s), and I know which stores tend to have deals on certain items we always purchase.
Some budget facts with our healthy grocery hauls:
-Sprouts has limited bulk foods that we buy. NOT the candy, but the beans, nuts, and sometimes dried fruits.
-Buying produce in season helps.
-We stock up when staples go on sale. Luckily, we have a freezer and an extra refrigerator in our garage for extras.
Healthy eating doesn’t require shopping at specialty stores or spending a fortune on trendy products.
Related post: Healthy convenience foods
Looking back on a year of healthy grocery hauls, I think that’s the biggest lesson.
Health isn’t built from one perfect grocery trip.
It’s built on hundreds of ordinary trips where you continue choosing foods that support your goals.
I’m sure it’s obvious, but if you only have healthy food in your kitchen, you won’t be tempted to eat unhealthy food.
Very similar to if you only have cute clothes in your closet, you won’t look basic.
Will every item in our cart be approved by every health expert on the internet? Probably not.
But our focus remains the same: real food, balanced choices, and habits we can maintain for the long haul.
We also use 2 apps to help if you aren’t a fan of reading ingredients or you’re just starting:
-Bobby Approved
-Yuka
And like everything else in life, I take the findings with a grain of salt.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting nutrition advice, start small. Because, trust me…there is a lot of noise out there.
Start with whole foods. Buy what works for your family and your budget. Stay open to learning and making small improvements along the way.
You can’t expect your health to change if you continue doing the same things over and over.
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The post Lessons From Filming Our Healthy Grocery Hauls for 1 Year appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
