I have decided what I believe to be the biggest mistake people make with regards to their nutrition and health:
Buying crap at the supermarket.
Simple, but true. Of course I could blame society, your parents, government legislation, but you buying crap at the supermarket is probably the single biggest determinant of your (worse than it could be) health and body composition.
Next time you are at the supermarket look at the trolley of the person in front of and behind you in the line and judge them. Judge them not for their body type or apparent health or athletic ability – judge them on what they have in their trolley. Imagine all of their food out on the table like the Time article mentioned previously.
Now look in your own trolley.
The problem is that people tend to try and justify buying crap to themselves – almost as if they are not going to eat it. But there is nothing surer than if you buy it, it will be eaten by you or someone you know. Have you ever caught yourself saying:
- I’ll buy these biscuits for my partner/friend
- I have worked out today (variations include: ‘yesterday’, or ‘will work out tomorrow’)
- I’ll buy it just in case we have friends around
- You have to treat yourself every now and then
- I like having treats in the cupboard ‘just in case’
If you said yes to any of those then chances are you routinely buy crap. Now don’t get me wrong, I am a firm believer in moderation. If your life and income depended on your body composition (ie bodybuilers or professional athletes) then I may tell you something else, but for Joe or Joanne average being exposed to the odd food that is not the best for you in society is simply realistic. All I would like is for buying two liters of ice cream and three packets of biscuits every time you go to the supermarket to become a habit of the past.
Now imagine yourself with your trolley at the supermarket again. How do you think the people in front of and behind you would judge you? Would you be proud having your photo taken standing next to all that food? If not, then are you happy with your level of health, athletic performance and/or body composition? If the answer is no to these too, then here are two simple things you can do about it:
- Plan your meals before you go shopping – every breakfast, lunch and dinner meals plus snacks for the week. Buy only this food when you go to the supermarket.
- Don’t shop on an empty stomach.
This advice is based on a simple observation from looking in peoples cupboards and talking to them about what they eat – and there is a very strong correlation between the two!
If the food is there you will eat it. If it isn’t you won’t. Go to the supermarket motivated to eat healthy, and buy only what you know is good for you.
Benjamin Franklin once famously said:
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
I don’t think he ever analysed nutritional habits. If he had done he would have said; “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death, eating what ever is in the cupboards, and taxes.”
If you are the person doing the grocery shopping and want to help you and your family be lean and healthy then make these habits a routine.
October 8, 2007 at 4:26 pm |
Life never works as its planned. I use tools like coolers to help me execute my food plans with my busy life. The problem is that no one set of rules will work for everyone. What people eat is as personal as their voice or fingerprints.
November 19, 2008 at 7:42 pm |
[...] Remove the food you don’t eat (or, more importantly, don’t want to eat) from your fridge/pantry and even more importantly from your cart at the supermarket. [...]
October 23, 2009 at 9:00 am |
[...] you don’t want it in your cupboard, don’t put it in your trolley at the [...]
December 16, 2009 at 10:10 pm |
Hello Guru, what entice you to post an article. This article was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last week.