One key to eating healthier is making the most out of your trip to the grocery store. And you might want to consider this popular grocery store hack that Hunter Stoler, a nutrition and health coach, swears by.
“I try to shop the perimeter of the grocery store,” says Stoler, who goes by “Health with Hunter” on social media. “That’s where most of the produce, the fruits and vegetables and the proteins are.”
Stoler says he still grabs a few items like nut butters and healthy cereals from the inner aisles where shelf-stable foods are typically kept. But only after shopping along the perimeter of the store first.
“This is where you’ll find the freshest foods,” Katie Johnson, a nutrition educator, said in a video about shopping the perimeter for Mayo Clinic Health System.
“Fresh foods are generally healthier than ready-to-eat foods found in the inside aisles. Because the foods on the perimeter are fresh, eating these items can help you better control the fat and sodium in your diet.”
I try to shop the perimeter of the grocery store.
Hunter Stoler
Nutrition and health coach
If you try this hack, the American Heart Association suggests reaching for produce that’s in season or healthy items that are on sale.
Longevity expert Dr. Simon Feldhaus told CNBC Make It last month that he only eats fruits and vegetables that are in season for optimal health outcomes.
It turns out that as more time passes between when produce is harvested and when people consume it, the higher the risk of its nutritional content decreasing, Wendy Lopez, a registered dietitian nutritionist, told the American Heart Association in 2024.
To see a full list of seasonal produce throughout the year, take a look at the SNAP-Ed Connection Seasonal Produce Guide via the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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