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Woman the Shopper
 STOCKING
UP
In trying to become and remain
healthy, it is important to be prepared. Stock up your cupboards,
refrigerator and freezer, so that you have a store of things you can
throw together to make good food fast. Don't feel guilty about sometimes
using frozen vegetables or tinned foods; they can play a supporting role
in your healthy lifestyle.
SHOP AROUND
If you have the time, try to stop
at individual shops greengrocers, fishmongers, butchers, bakers and
cheese shop. They can help you to choose different varieties and can
offer more local produce. I support the role of the individual shop in
society; it is such a pity that the multi-nationals are putting so many
of them out of business. The personal touch of the butcher who tells you
which cuts of meat are particularly good, or gives you ideas as to how
you can cook it. This is a special part of shopping, especially if you
need a little advice or inspiration, or want to know the origin of the
food. Small shops are not necessarily more expensive than super markets,
whose special offers often apply only to large packs or three for the
price of two deals. Another point to bear in mind is the inflated prices
we pay for the so-called healthy options in the supermarkets.
You
can often find a range of unusual foods and spices in shops run by
people.
 SHOP
MORE OFTEN AND BUY LESS
Try to do this if you can, as it
will give you the opportunity to pick up on special offers and
promotions of foods in season. Think about the amount of food you buy.
CHALLENGE THE WAY
YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD
Does cheese have to be Cheddar?
French Gruyere and Italian Parmesan are excellent for cooking, and there
are a host of other varieties, with different textures, from cows, and
goats milk, for cooking or for nibbling.
Seek out local or organic produce. For instance, several English
producers now make very good wines, as well as fantastic fruit and
flower wines such as gooseberry, blackberry and elderflower. A number of
small producers of specialist foods � dairies, bakeries, and
smokehouses � sell by mail order. This can be an excellent way of
stocking up on good ingredients.
Think about the type of food you really love and see whether you
could make it a little bit more exciting and healthier, simply by taking
a fresh look.
TRY EATING
SEASONALLY
If you eat fruits and vegetables when they are in season, you will find
that they have been picked at their best and not grown in glasshouses;
they will have more flavors and generally have more vitamins, minerals
and other nutrients than at other times of year. It is much better to
look forward to tasting the first new potatoes or crisp orange pippins,
rather than to eat the same boring food all year round.
Seasonal shopping can also help to keep the cost down, as prices
are frequently lower when there is a deluge of produce on the market.
 START LOOKING AT
RECIPE BOOKS INSTEAD OF
LEAVING THEM ON THE SHELVES
You�ll find ideas that will make
you think about trying different ingredients. Enjoy experimenting in the
kitchen and look forward to
trying new flavors in your meals; this is the way to develop a healthy
relationship with food.
TRY
NOT TO SHOP WHEN YOU�RE HUNGRY
This makes you dash around and make
inappropriate choices. If you�re tried, it may seem all too easy to
grab for a shop � prepared dish, even though there are so many quick
things you could cook.
SPECIAL DIETS
If you have a special nutritional
need such as diabetes, or food intolerance, you mustn�t see it as a
constraint. It�s not if you broaden your horizons.
I frequently see diabetics who think that they need to eat diabetic jam
or diabetic chocolate. They mislead foods, which is sad, as it does not
need to be the case. Instead of eating these specially packaged
products, start thinking about all the foods that naturally don�t
contain a lot of sugar. For example, converter chocolate (look in the
baking section of supermarkets) isn�t high in sugar and is delicious.
Whatever
your nutritional requirement, there�s always delicious normal food to
be found.
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