Starts with having the right -healthy foods in your kitchen. They help and keep your in check. If you aren't sure which foods to buy, print this list to take to the supermarket.
Refrigerator Essentials
Fresh : Loaded with, minerals, and other, fruits and veggies also have fiber, which lowers and improves . Pull them out first when you want something to eat. Remember, you need 5 cups of a day.
- Apples
- Berries
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Dark leafy greens
- Eggplant
- Grapes
- Kale
- Oranges
- Pears
- Squash
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
Dairy and Dairy Alternatives: Dairy is a great source of calcium. Just skip the cream, and choose low-fat or nonfat options.
- Buttermilk, low-fat or nonfat
- Cheese, nonfat or reduced-fat
- Cottage cheese or ricotta cheese, nonfat or 1%
- Cream cheese, nonfat or light
- Creamers, nonfat
- Milk, skim or 1%
- Sour cream, nonfat
- Yogurt, nonfat or 1%
Soy milk, almond milk, and other non-dairy products may also be options. Check to see if they're fortified with and other . When shopping for these drinks, choose the unsweetened products to avoid added sugar.
Meat, Poultry, Fish, and Meat Substitutes: The American Association suggests two servings of fish a week. Eat more heart-healthy tofu and other soy protein, too. Limit fatty cuts of meat.
- Beef, lean cuts and lean ground round or sirloin
- Chicken or turkey and tenders, skinless, boneless
- Chicken or turkey, ground
- Fish, high in omega-3s, such as herring, mackerel, salmon, trout, tuna
- Pork tenderloin, trimmed of fat
- Seitan
- Tempeh
- Tofu
Frozen Foods: When your favorite fruits and veggies are out of season, choose frozen ones for nutritious desserts, side dishes, and snacks.
- Fruits without added sugar (for example, frozen blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries)
- Soybeans (edamame)
- Vegetables and vegetable blends without added sauce, gravy, or sodium
Pantry Essentials
Beans, Grains, Soups, and Sauces: Beans and whole grains offer fiber to help lower your .
- Barley
- Beans, canned, reduced-sodium: assorted cans of beans such as black, garbanzo, , navy, and pinto
- Beans, dried: Choose your favorite beans.
- Broth, reduced-sodium chicken, beef, or vegetable
- Cereals, whole-grain (Note: Choose cereals that have 5 or more grams of and fewer than 8 grams of sugar per serving.)
- Cornmeal
- Pasta, whole wheat, spelt, or kamut (Note: These whole-grain pastas come in bowtie, fettuccini, lasagna, spaghetti, fusilli, spiral, elbow macaroni, and ravioli varieties.)
- Rice: brown, wild, and brown basmati
- Soups, low-sodium, and 98% fat-free cream of mushroom
- Soy flour
- Tomato paste
- Tomatoes, whole or diced, reduced-sodium