Do our shopping habits make us fat?
By hvedra
@hvedra (1619)
May 5, 2010 9:02am CST
I am thinking about not storing much food in the house and shopping daily for the lunches and evening meals. I think I am better when I shop alone and there is no-one else to put sinful foods into the cart.
Also, because I won't have the car there is only so much food I can buy at a time. I can carry enough to feed us easily but if I start buying stuff that isn't on the menu then I won't be able to bring it home anyway.
A lof of purchases when we are shopping are unplanned. If we have a strict list and the capacity to only carry a small amount that should cut down on the impulse buys of "treats".
What do you guys think? Is this kind of shopping beneficial to someone on a diet?
4 people like this
13 responses
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
3 Jun 10
Planning and small amounts sounds good. Shopping every day. Not so great. Exercising every day, that sounds great. Stick to fruits and veggies-esp for snacks, meat you have to cook/prepare or proteins. Stay away from salt, that makes for water retention. Take care.
1 person likes this
@maezee (41988)
• United States
9 May 10
Good point! I never thought about that. I wouldn't walk to the grocery store.. Because I have a car. So I'm relying on my good ole' fashioned will power (lol - we'll see where THAT takes me.) My biggest thing that helps me is going to be my lack of funds to buy groceries. I usually buy cheaper stuff, which usually ends up being produce that's in season, and frozen veggie mixes. I can't afford a lot of things like pizzas, cake, snacks, etc - so I have to stick with the basics. lol.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
6 May 10
i think so... that's why i always try to discipline myself just to buy the stuffs that i need and i don't spend more than 30 minutes in the supermarket... this way, i won't be tempted to buy things that i won't need and it saves me lots of money as well this way... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
5 May 10
I think it might be helpful, but I know- for myself- that I can't shop like that because it would occupy too much of my time and I simply don't have that to spend. I, have, however opted to attend the farmer's market each Tuesday. This will increase my access to local, healthy food, and I can even spend my food stamps there!
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
6 May 10
It might be beneficail to do that but i don't or can't do that. I don't go to the store but a couple of times a month. It is a big job for me & one i wouldn't do every day if felt like it. If i went every day i'd still end up buying too much, lol.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
5 May 10
I think that might be a really good idea. I live within walking distance of the grocery store (don't know if I could walk back, though!). It would be smart for me to walk there and shop more often for fewer things. For one, I could buy more fresh produce and another, like you said, it would cut down on impulse buys because I couldn't carry it home.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161833)
• United States
5 May 10
Until my son came to live with us, I was not having a lot of the unhealthy foods on hand to munch on. We, for instance, only buy chips for a specific meal, not to have on hand all the time. Chips are a big downfall for me. If I send hubby shopping we are more likely to get a bunch of things like that. The shopping plan you describe would work for me in a different way than what you are describing. I do not get enough exercise. If I had to walk to the store I would be burning off the food I eat, so that is another plus. Something else I have done is to move my computer upstairs and as far away from the kitchen as possible. Then I do not run down for snacks.
@derek_a (10873)
•
5 May 10
Yes, we have shopped this way for several years now. We just used to go to the supermarket once a week, but now I go alone whilst my wife is in work and only buy what's on the list. I could carry more home if I wanted because I have my car with me, but I just go in to the store, quickly get what I want and straight back out again. I never browser through the shelves as I used to do when we went together. The result is that we eat more healthily and our shopping bill has come way down. 
_Derek
_Derek1 person likes this
@celticeagle (170433)
• Boise, Idaho
5 May 10
I think you are right. I think we should not go shopping when we are hungry. I pay for that big time! We do have to play tricks on ourselves to be disciplined. It is not always easy. I have to have my treats. Too old to worry about it anymore. Life is short and we have to have some enjoyments.
1 person likes this
@Cutie18f (9546)
• Philippines
5 May 10
I think so too. In shopping there is that kind of freedom that people enjoy while going around filling the cart with a variety of food that would last for a lifetime. Come to think of it, a lot of those food items never get to be eaten and are thrown away. Those that do get eaten are the junk foods that do not need much preparation and those that get thrown out are the vegetables and fruits that get spoiled after long periods of storage. See? Wrong shopping habits do make us fat.
@Andyvil (793)
• Philippines
5 May 10
I think changing your shopping habits will surely help you reduce weight. I am currently on a healthy diet for the past few weeks and I still do my regular shopping for food but I am very much conscious on what food I pick. I always check how many calories there are in each serving and how healthy the food is.
1 person likes this
@umit_umit (1984)
• India
5 May 10
well friend when i go for shopping i eat alot here and there with sometime my friends or with the family so now i have started avoiding it and having what is the best i see in the market!!i have put a control on my some ill habits of eating and trying all the fatty stuffs!!as the age factors comes in between!!
1 person likes this
