Gotta make the list!

I always run into problems with my eating when I am not fully stocked with the good stuff in the kitchen. When the fridge is bare, I don't want to make a meal out of the few eggs I have left, and some dull veggies (usually frozen because the fresh is used first.) When I am all out of veggie burgers, fresh fruits and veggies, and the good whole grains, I grab the junk. Which means I stop and grab chips, cookies, candy or even fast food. Ugh!

Clean foods is the goal, which means shopping the perimeter of the store mostly. Only time I go through the aisles is for things like tea, cooking spray or oil, and maybe some condiments. Here's a quick list of items you can include on your next grocery lists.

Whole grain products:

sprouted grain bread

oatmeal

brown rice

whole grain pasta

quinoa whole

wheat pita bread

whole wheat tortilla

Meat/protein:

dry beans

tofu

vegetarian burgers

tempeh

seiten

raw nuts

edamame

Fruits and veggies

fresh fruit (whatever you like, my faves are apples, oranges, bananas, grapes cherries, watermelon, peaches, strawberries, and pineapple)

frozen fruit (frozen pineapple, strawberries and berries are the best for smoothies)

fresh vegetables (green beans, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, cabbage--I love the cole slaw mixes, cucumbers, bell peppers, salad mixes, tomatoes, onions, eggplant)

frozen vegetables (frozen corn--limit this, peas, broccoli, okra, mixed peas and carrots)

Condiments:

olive oil

cooking spray

mustard (any variety you like, I like the spicy kind

hot pepper sauce (I like spicy food!)

low-carb ketchup (this is not technically clean, but I can't resist myself)

salsa

natural peanut butter

real fruit jam

Dairy:

fat free milk

plain, nonfat yogurt

low fat cheese

low fat cottage cheese

eggs or egg substitute

Pretty simple.

Here's what my meals looked like today:

Breakfast:

1/2 cup brown rice

4 scrambled egg whites

1 slice fat free cheese

2 strips Morningstar veggie bacon

Snack 1:

1 cup mandarin oranges

1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese

crushed raw cashews

(See the pic! This is my fave snack of all times. I love the way the raw cashews taste slightly buttery, a little sweet and just perfect paired with the cottage cheese and oranges.)

Lunch:

Trader Joes soy nuggets (4)

frozen okra

2 rice cakes

Snack 2

apple

1 string cheese

Dinner;

1/4 serving tempeh

bbq sauce

sauteed spinach