Food shopping, whether we do it in an actual food shop or supermarket, or we do it online, can be a bit of a headache. We might be rushing to get it done and forget things (or buy things we neither need nor really want) or we might have the kids in tow, asking for all sorts of treats. It’s also, well, just a bit of a chore, even if we shop online. 

Whatever you’re doing, trust us, you’re doing great. But are there things we could be doing that would help us make healthy choices so that we have our fridges and food cupboards stocked with healthy, nutritious foods? Sure there is! Here’s our top tips…

• Number one rule - avoid food shopping when you’re hungry! It only serves to make us buy things that will fill our bellies right now, and generally that means snack food, that’s usually high in calories and low in beneficial nutrients. Instead, food shop after a nourishing meal to inspire you to make healthy choices.
• Have set items on your weekly shopping list that are your go-to, long-lasting foods to make healthy meals. These include tinned beans and pulses such as chickpeas and butter beans that make filling, healthy meals as well as tinned fish such as tuna and sardines. Also, don’t disregard frozen fruit and veg. They can be used to make smoothies and healthy last minute additions to stews and casseroles. Frozen herbs are a great idea too - pop frozen basil into tinned tomato soup or frozen coriander to a curry for instant flavour! 
• Did you know you could buy frozen, precooked brown rice and grains such as quinoa too? Brown rice can be off-putting because it can take 40 minutes to cook. Seek out frozen versions and you’re good to go, faster than you can say, “put the 10 minute white rice on”! 
• Pre chopped vegetables save time, but sometimes get a bad reputation because of the plastic packaging they often come in. However, weigh things up a little, if a whole cauliflower is wrapped in a plastic bag at your supermarket, then buying a plastic bag of pre-prepared cauliflower isn’t going to be any different. 
• Know your supermarket, and avoid the aisles full of sweets, biscuits and crisps if the temptation is just too great. Walk past, head in the air thinking, “nope, you don’t exist to me, sorry!”
• Seek out yellow sticker deals that are quite often plentiful towards the end of the day when best before dates are looming. They mean you can buy fresh produce at a lower cost, and having to use it up quickly will mean that you’ll be more likely to be inspired to cook fresh that day. (Just avoid food waste by buying food you know you won’t use.)
• On the same note, avoid BOGOF bargains on items that you know you won't get through or that are on typically unhealthy foods. Your money and time are much better served on food items that are packed with beneficial nutrients!