My Grocery List

Grocery shopping can be rather overwhelming.. and honestly, I used to hate it!! Now that I have grown to love eating clean and trying new food items, food shopping has become one my favorite necessary "chores." :-)

So what is on my grocery list? It can vary from week to week, but let's start with the staples:

1.Greek Yogurt - plain, non-fat
2. Liquid egg whites
3. Dozen of large Grade-A eggs
4. Sweet Potatoes (yams)
5. Chicken Breast
6. Ground lean turkey or chicken
7. Tilapia or Salmon Filets
8. Pumpkin (Pure - canned or otherwise)
9. Truvia (stevia)
10. Plenty of frozen or fresh veggies and fruit (your choice!)
11. Ezekiel Bread (sprouted grain bread - found in the freezer section)
12. Oats (Old fashioned rolled oats, oat bran, steel cut, 10 grain.. usually Bob's Red Mill brand - found in the organic isle)
13. Brown rice or Quinoa
14. Low-Sodium Tuna
15. Unsweetened Almond Milk















Most, if not all of those items can easily be found in your local grocery store.

Now, for a few must-have extras (in my opinion). These are all items I shop for at my local health food store and/or Wegman's. Places like Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Trader Joe's would carry these items as well.:

1. Almond Meal - this can also be made by simply putting raw almonds in a food processor and blending until flour consistency.
2. Raw Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds)
3. Chia Seeds
4. Somersault Snacks (Guilt-free, totally awesome snack!!)
5. More varieties of Ezekiel breads (Tortillas, English Muffins, low-sodium, etc)
6. Agave Nectar
7. Coconut Flour
8. Frozen Keifer
9. SHOT bloks (energy chews)
10.  Raw Nut Butter

11. Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
12. Coconut Oil
13. Nutritional Yeast
14. No Noodles (or miracle noodles, OR Shiritaki Noodles)
15. Cacao Nibs or powder
16. Oat Flour
17. PB2 **which is actually at my local grocery store now too! Also, get the Chocolate PB2 while you're there. ;-)
18. Ground Flaxseed
19. Raw Sunflower Seeds
.....So much more.. I need to stop this list because I am sure I already overwhelmed you and your wallet!! :-P

I use most these items in my recipes and will be using more of these in recipes to come. Try new things every shopping trip. No need to go out and buy everything all at once! If I could afford to, I would.. but, these items can be pretty pricey. (I am still trying to come up with a justification for paying $10 for a jar of organic almond butter!! :-P) ...And these are merely suggestions and what is on MY grocery list. I personally love Bob's Red Mill Brand.. tons of organic, perfect sized items. Bob's Red Mill brand makes all different types of flours, oats, seeds, etc.

I don't eat white flour, rice, bread.. ANYTHING. White flour items are just processed crap. Sorry to say it, but it's true. Plus, there are so many awesome subs for white flour that you won't miss it! Trust me. :-)

I am like a kid in a candy store when I'm in the health food store and Wegman's organic aisle.. I walk up and down each aisle (usually 2 or 3 times) and examine everything!! Just ask my boyfriend about how much he LOVES shopping with me! :-P haha

In conclusion, I'd like to leave you with a few tips regardless of what your diet and nutrition goals may be:
1. TRY NEW ITEMS!! Try something new every week! Keep it fun and interesting!
2. Eat more whole foods and less processed crap... Frozen dinners are NOT healthy. You are better off eating a cheeseburger (lean meat on a whole grain bun, of course) than a Lean Cuisine.
3. Shop the organic aisles!! I found so many items there that I used to just pass by.
4. READ LABELS! You want to buy food with ingredients you understand!
5.Do research. I love reading all different health & fitness mags, books, etc.... or Google new food items you are unsure how to prepare.

I hope this helps!! Ask me any questions you want. I love to answer. I have had many people ask me for a grocery list and I am really flattered. One of the best compliments I could receive is knowing that I have inspired someone else. ;-)