Food is man’s greatest need to survive in this world. It is the most essential necessity of every human being. How do you think we would be able to live without food to get rid of our hunger and starvation? Fried rice, beef stew, sautéed pork, grilled chicken, vegetable soup and fruit salad are just some of the scrumptious cuisines we always like to eat. But little do we know that some of the luscious and mouth-watering foods we crave for are not so healthy for our body. How do we know if the foods we eat are right and healthy for us?
Healthy foods are composed of low-sugar and low-fat and are rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. According to health organizations, food is considered to be healthy when it is low in fat (particularly saturated fat), cholesterol and sodium. It should also contain at least 10% of vitamin A or C, calcium, iron, protein and fiber. When buying foods, especially in grocery stores, not many shoppers think of the foods they purchase will contain sodium or less protein. It has been a habit for most of us to just easily buy the food we want without even checking if it is healthy for us to eat.
So here are some tips buyers should note when purchasing healthy foods in grocery stores.
Look at the food label. Check the nutritional values of foods you purchase. It must contain more protein, vitamins and carbohydrates and less content of sodium, fat and sugar. Often, we don’t check the food labels of the food we buy anymore making us ignorant of the unhealthiness of those foods.
Buy fresh and organic foods. Fresh fruits, vegetables and unprocessed foods contain the largest quantity of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that provide our body with the greatest amount of nutrition. They don’t have any preservatives and chemicals that may harm us if continuously consumed. Fresh and organic foods are known to be the purest and healthiest foods of today.
Choose lean meats and poultry. Lean meats and poultry are way better and healthier than other high-fat beefs we buy. White meat from the breast of a chicken without the skin, round, chuck, sirloin or tenderloin from lean cuts of beef, tenderloin and loin chops from lean pork are just some of the healthy lean meat and poultry you can buy.
Avoid buying preserved and processed foods. Not many people know but most processed products contain certain additives and chemicals that may bring harm to our bodies. They have a lot of saturated fat and nitrates that cause high blood cholesterol and sometimes may lead to cancer. It is important to avoid these as soon as possible to prevent diseases.
Choosing healthy foods must be taken seriously by most buyers because it concerns not only their health but also of their family’s health. Most of the time, we just choose the foods we want without considering how it will affect our body. It is always good that everyone is knowledgeable of the nutritional content of the foods they purchase. Moreover, all must be careful in choosing the right foods for it may either make or break their lives.