Many people find healthy eating to be the most challenging part of beginning a healthy lifestyle. This is mostly due to the fact that a starting place can often be confusing. When I began my weight loss journey, I had never eaten healthy before and I had rarely cooked for myself. I immediately researched healthy foods I could eat, and though I was eating at my college’s dining hall at the time, I learned which foods were healthiest and discovered the benefits of natural foods. Over time, I continued to find more and more information about clean eating. By reading food labels, I selected products without preservatives and with only natural ingredients. Today, I am confident that I know which foods are healthy for me and which aren’t. When I go to the grocery store, I’m accustomed to my routine and I feel that I’ve nearly perfected my standard shopping list.
I’ve decided to put together a quick list of healthy ingredients that I deem worthy of a clean eating lifestyle. You can pick and choose which ingredients you prefer, but always make sure to choose low-processed versions. In the simplest terms, if there’s an ingredient you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce, either look it up and make sure it’s not a preservative or just avoid it as a whole. Also, try to avoid foods with added sugars, which can be disguised by many deceiving names.
I’m working on a much more in-depth eBook on this subject that I will release in the near future. In the meantime, you can get your grocery list inspiration from this article! Subscribe to Bri Healthy emails to stay updated on when the eBook releases. Happy shopping and healthy eating!
Starches / Complex Carbohydrates
- Sweet potatoes
- 100% whole wheat bread (no sugar added)
- Ezekiel bread
- Whole grain oats
- Low-sugar granola (less than 4g per serving)
- Brown rice
- 100% whole wheat English muffins
- Quinoa
- Couscous
- Chickpeas
- Black beans
- Kidney beans
Proteins
- Boneless skinless chicken breast
- Lean ground turkey (99%)
- Fresh salmon
- Lean steak (round cut)
- Turkey bacon (low processed)
- Eggs
- Egg whites
- Canned tuna (low processed)
- Lean ground beef (96%)
- Shrimp
- Scallops
Fats
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Avocado
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Peanut butter (low sugar)
- Almond butter (low sugar)
- Cashew butter (low sugar)
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pepitas
Produce
- All unprocessed fruits and vegetables, fresh or frozen. My go-to’s will be listed in my eBook.
Dairy/Dairy Substitutes
- Unsweetened almond milk
- Unsweetened coconut milk
- Unsweetened cashew milk
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Reduced or full fat cheese, including:
- Mozzarella
- American
- Feta
- Gorgonzola
- Parmesan
- String cheese
Other
- Dark chocolate (60% cacao or above)
- Pure maple syrup
- Raw honey
- Hummus
- Dijon mustard
- Salsa
- Spices (without MSG or sugar)
- Herbs
- Hot sauce
Much more will be included in my eBook, so stay tuned!
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