Shopping, shopping and more shopping....

Shopping after your surgery sucks.

It does.

You're not sure WHAT you can eat and if you're like me, don't have the yen to go buying everything in the store just to try it once and then throw it away. So, I have some tips to help with your first and 51st shopping trip.

1. Shop on the outside aisles.

Think about it. Everything on the perimeter of the store is fresh and usually good for you. Fruits, meats, dairy, veggies...etc.

2. Don't go down the chip aisle.

Don't do it. You'll want it. You know you will. Just stop now. Make your own healthy chips/snacks if you simply must have them, but don't buy anything prepackaged and fat infused for yourself. It's only sabotage.

3. Avoid the ice cream.

Ice cream is so very tempting. It's soft, cold and feels great on the pouch. I totally understand this thinking and tried it myself. All I got from it was the sweats and a night on the toilet.

4. Get the fresh, organic stuff.

Now, I know this is expensive, but in the long run you'll thank me. We absorb so little nutrients that having the good stuff really does count.

5. Your grocery bill will double, sometimes triple.

Deal with it. You have to have nutrition. The days of Del Taco for every meal are OVER. Thank GOD! Remember, death comes 99 cents at a time.

So, on to my grocery list.

Remember, I work from the outside aisles.


SHOPPING LIST FOR MARCH 8, 2009

Bread- I love Ezekiel bread. It freezes beautifully and is WHOLE GRAIN
Salsa- I buy roasted salsa from Romo's. On cottage cheese, it's a beautiful thing.
Cheese- I buy tons and tons of cheese, it's a great source of protein.
Milk- Low or non-fat is my favorite.
Sour cream- this adds protein and creaminess to any sauce or soup.
Yogurt- I could buy stock in Yoplait. I eat at least 2 a day. That's 12 grams of protein right there.
Mushrooms- I love um' especially in quiche.
cilantro- I could put this in anything. YUMMO.
scallions- Same as above. Especially on egg souffles.
Celery- for snacking, duh!
cucumbers- paired with a low fat cilantro-dill dip. DOUBLE YUMMMO!
bananas- Half of one of these in a smoothie!! Potassium and good sugar.
oranges- I usually eat a few pieces, then squeeze the rest.
berries- again with the smoothie makings.

THE INSIDE AISLES...DUH, DUH, DUH!

Pudding- I buy the non-fat pistachio, tapioca, butterscotch, chocolate.
Jello- I love strawberry/banana, lime and peach. Frozen, these are heaven.
Soups- I love tomato, cream of potato and broccoli cheese. YUM.
Popsicles- Also, another item that I can't live without. I LOVE SUGAR-FREE.
Frozen dinners- I always keep Smart Ones in my freezer. They are the freshest of the bunch.


Another item to invest in is Deli cheese. For me, this is a staple. I don't eat a lot of meat, so I get my proteins from beans and dairy. I've found some GREAT cheeses at Vons and Stater Bros.

Vons--

Horseradish American. Yum dude. That's all I can say. Half a grilled cheese with this and some tomato. Dang dude. So good.

Stater Bros.

Muenster- Melted over Onion soup. YUM.


Anyway, I hope this helps. Let me know if you guys find any great items!