If you want to feel better, stay out of the grocery store
Recently, we asked the Senza community whether keto feels sustainable as a way of eating long-term. Nearly two-thirds said yes, but the remaining third wasn’t so sure. Many people struggle to stay on track with their chosen nutrition plan, despite experiencing measurable results. Life gets in the way, and we tend to cycle in and out of healthier patterns.
At the heart of this problem is the way most of us source our food. Big box supermarkets are the default, and they also are the epicenter of bad eating. Thousands of products compete for our attention, pushing outdated nutrition principles and misleading us with false health claims. It’s enough to make an informed consumer absolutely crazy. How is someone who is new to the idea of “food as medicine” supposed to navigate this environment?
We have a theory to suggest: It’s that people who avoid the grocery store and get their food from alternative sources are more likely to make progress toward their health goals? Here are three reasons why this could work for you:
Break bad food habits: You’re too familiar with products in the aisles you’ve shopped for years. It’s hard to shop differently and easy to fall back on brands that do not have your best interests in mind.
Avoid impulse buys. Advertisers have you figured out. They know exactly where to place items that are likely to catch your attention and wind up in the shopping cart at the last moment. If you don’t go in, they can’t influence what you buy.
End decision fatigue. Once you’ve decided to change how you eat, reading the fine-print on nutrition labels becomes an exercise in frustration. There’s always an ingredient that you should avoid, and you cannot trust the marketing on the front of the package. Minimally processed foods that you find at smaller markets usually contain fewer ingredients and have simpler labels to analyze.
If this idea of staying away from the grocery store resonates, where can you shop for food instead? We polled our community for some alternative ideas:
Order groceries online: Even if you’re choosing from the same type of inventory, you won’t be tempted to wander the aisles in quite the same way.
Try a meal delivery service. There are many low-carb options that use quality ingredients. Some have set meal plans; others let you order entrees one by one.
Buy from local farms. If you have growers and ranchers near where you live, find out who offers shares/boxes of meat and produce, (also called CSA subscriptions). Food tastes so much better when you know who grew it for you!
Shop the farmers market. Get outside, meet the people in your community who grow and make quality food, and focus your budget on basic ingredients like meat and produce. If there isn’t a market nearby, look into Market Wagon, a new online farmers market.
Plant a garden: From seed jars and microgreen kits in the windowsill to outdoor containers and plots in community gardens, almost anyone can grow something that’s edible. Harvesting your own herbs and greens adds a flavor boost and personal touch to any meal.
This spring, try one or more of these options and see if it becomes more sustainable to make healthy food choices.
Have you tried steering clear of the supermarket, as a way to make better food choices? Share your experience with us in the comments section or through the coaching window of the Senza app.