In my last post, I wrote about healthy resolutions. Hopefully, you’ve already  started to make some simple changes. Here are some suggestions to help you  reach your goals.

1.  The next time you go grocery shopping, make it a nutritious outing. The healthier the foods in your kitchen, the more likely your family will eat healthily. Always make a list to avoid too much impulse buying. And, do some meal planning to help you with the list.
2. Start your shopping trip in the produce section and pick a few foods that are in season. Carrots, squash, cabbage, rutabagas, sweet potatoes and apples are foods that haven’t travelled a long way to get into your grocery cart. If you have young kids with you, let them pick out a vegetable and/or fruit that they’d like to try.
3. If you are at a loss for what to do with this produce, look through your favorite cookbook or go on line to find a recipe or two that appeals to you and your family. Look for interesting and easy soups, salads and side dishes. There are lots of good ideas at Foodland Ontario’s website  www.ontario.ca/foodland/foodland-ontario
4. If you don’t want to buy fresh vegetables, go to the frozen section but stick to those that are plain, not in a sauce. You will save money, there is no waste, you can put your own seasonings on the veggies and it won’t take any extra time to cook them.
5. Buy some oranges, apples or pears that you can take to the office to start to healthy-up your snacking habits.
6. If pasta or rice are on your list buy whole grain pasta or brown rice and buy them plain. Buying the pre-seasoned rice or other grains is more expensive and you will also end up with much more salt.  You can cook in quantity so you’ll have enough for meals later in the week.
7. Try a new grain such as bulgur, quinoa, barley, buckwheat, kamut or spelt to add new tastes to your family dinners. You’ll find lots of suggestions for whole grains at wholegrainscouncil.org/.
8. If you think that healthy eating is too expensive, consider how much you already spend on packaged or convenience food. It doesn’t mean you should never use convenience, but you should look for healthier versions and use less.

And finally, remember the value of the family meal. It provides important together times for all of you and is a great way to instill positive eating  attitudes and an appreciation of healthy foods into your kids.