Grocery Shopping part 1

Here are a few groceries I typically always pick up from Aldi that help me to stay on track. I have a family of 5 and everyone eats real food- meaning that no one is on babyfood and everyone eats real portions. I predominantly shop at Aldi and Walmart. I also frequent Dominicks for the food items that Aldi doesn’t carry.  I used to think that it sucked sometimes (shopping for the family) because you don’t want to make them to feel “deprived” or that they are on a diet. However, it’s a lifestyle change and it starts at home. Your family will benefit from exposure to different foods and will reap the health benefits as well.  Later down the road, you can hope that they too adopt healthier eating habits in their adult lives.

You can still prepare and enjoy your mac & cheese, cheesecake or sweet potatoes. Just learn to modify the recipe a bit to make it healthier.

I am sharing with you a few items I picked up from Aldi the other day to give you an idea of some meals I plan to prepare this week. Then I will post them as they are prepared (or a little later).  This picture is mostly foods that need to be refrigerated. When I have the choice between low fat and full fat, I typically choose low fat foods. Usually there is really not a big difference in the taste.  Whenever fresh fruits and vegetables are on sale, I pick them up as well.  Eggs are not pictured but I purchase them often and boil about 6 eggs at the start of every week. They are great to add proteins to a great meal and also as a quick snack.

Starting from left...
Low fat Whipped Cream—Perfect with fruit or to top of your Shakeology

2% Cottage Cheese—Use for breakfast/lunch/snack  Pair with strawberries or in a salad

Strawberries – Love them on spinach salad, in smoothie, or with whipped cream

Blueberries—Love them alone but sometimes I treat myself to blueberries in oatmeal or cream of wheat. With a little brown sugar and whipped cream. Yum

Corn Tortillias—Wrap just about anything. Great warmed up, with cheese, lettuce, salsa

Bell Peppers- sauté and add to eggs, throw them in a tortillia

Bananas—Alone or in Shakeology. Found a great Banana icecream recipe that I may try this week

Top Left

Pasta Stuffed tortellini-  Its filling and I just warm up some tomato sauce and drizzle over the cooked pasta. I usually serve with asparagus and garlic bread for the family.

Whole Wheat Bread- This bread isn’t fancy. I love sandwiches but if its not on a gourmet like bread, Im reminded of the days I brought my lunch to school EVERYDAY as a child.  So this is a just in case type of thing.  For the days when  I really feel like having a sandwich. Otherwise, my husband uses it for his lunch.

Lemon Juice concentrate—Add a little bit to my water pitcher for hint of flavor. Marinate fish and poultry.

Pistachios- Healthy snack with healthy oil.  Don’t eat the whole bag though.  Count out a serving and put the rest up.

Spinach- Uncooked in salads or in wraps.  With dinner its usually sautéed in a little olive oil with dash of salt and garlic clove.

Vanilla Soy Milk- This is my first year really giving soy milk a chance.  Anyway, I use it in my cereal and in my Shakeology shakes.

Barbeque Popped Chips—Nice alternative to bbq chips. Not a big chip person but I had craving for them this week.

Continuing Bottom Left...

Canned Pineapple- There were no tropical frozen fruit so I will freeze the pineapples for smoothie purposes and maybe snack on them to right out the can.

Mushrooms—Breakfast in scrambled eggs, Lunch throw in a salad or wrap Dinner sauté with spinach

Cherry Tomatoes—They are one of my faves so I may just snack on them but they are good in salads. great cooked in eggs and in pasta dishes too.

Fit&Active Pretzal bar- On the go snack in between meals. I prefer a fruit or a cheese stick but these are easier to throw in the car or bag sometimes.

Starting at Top Left...

Packaged Zucchini- gonna do a stir fry (my family doesn’t care for it but they will eat it)

 Low fat Vanilla Yogurt- Smoothies, Shakes, Fruit Parfaits

Turkey Bacon- They should  call it something else since it doesn’t taste like bacon. But I can cook it til its crisp and add it to eggs or make sandwich or salad

Light Sour Cream- tacos, wraps etc

Smoked Turkey Lunch Meat- quick snack with a string cheese

Lettuce-  I chop it up and add to whatever

Low Fat 2% Shredded Cheddar- Great altenative to full fat cheddar.  Im a cheese head so I use it at breakfast, lunch and dinner.  However, when cooking for the family I do a half and half mixture of both fat and low fat cheese. No fat and low fat cheese lack that “cheesiness” about them when they are melted. So in macaroni, lasagna or nachos I mix them with regular cheese.

Cherries – Delightful right out the box

Beans- (from My garden) with some dressing or stir fry

Cucumbers-  Great snack for kids and me too

These are just a few things that I make sure I have at home on a weekly basis.  I will add meals prepared from these items and others that I keep on hand very soon.