The reading level for this article is All Levels
When I was about six weeks pregnant I started having major food aversions. I didn’t want to eat anything healthy. Vegetables, fruit, grains, and even some sources of meat where completely unappealing to me.
It felt so strange. After all, I am someone who generally loves these foods. I found myself frustrated because I had a difficult time figuring out what to eat. I almost wished I didn’t get hungry, so I wouldn’t have to worry about what to feed myself.
In an act of desperation, I decided to go to a local “mainstream” grocery store, rather than the “health food store” I usually shop at. My mission was to go through the store and to find some foods that I felt I could eat.
Much to my horror, I walked out of the store with a Carvel ice cream cake, crackers with trans fats, a bag of white French bread rolls, and frozen French fries. Any one of these items eaten on occasion is not a big deal, but I was struck by how easy it was to leave the store with a bag full of processed foods that had almost zero nutritional value.
What I realized is that most of the mainstream grocery stores are simply filled with foods like these, and they do a phenomenal job of marketing these foods throughout the store. In a moment of weakness, it worked on me like a charm.
My purpose here is not to bash the mainstream grocery stores or to dictate where you should shop. My clients shop at all kinds of stores and I help them navigate through the food options at whichever store they choose to go to. My purpose is for you to think about how the stores you go to influence your buying habits.
The health food store I shop at certainly has some foods that are not as healthy, but I find it’s not as prevalent and the marketing isn’t quite so savvy. Because of that, I find I am much less tempted by processed and nutritionally deficient foods.
Go on a field trip to two or three different types of stores in your area and notice what foods they have, what you’re tempted by, and what you choose to buy at the stores. Think about how you could modify your shopping habits to make them work even better for you.
If you are ready to make lasting lifestyle changes for yourself and your family, stop your war with food, and get healthy, Amy Lippmann, Certified Holistic Health Counselor, can help.
Sample Amy’s work by listening to a F*REE AUDIO, “Finally, How to Get Healthy Meals on the Table, In No Time.” You will also receive a complete transcript, pantry essentials list, her mix-and-match meal planning chart, healthy recipes, and much more. Grab your copy now at http://www.wellnesshealthcoaching.com and start feeling better about your health and fitness.
