I want to share a shopping experience with my dear friend Cristina, in the hope of teaching you something new that you might not know.

An Unusual Request...

At the office, I always try to convey my passion for well-being to my colleagues: the importance of exercising, planning meals, and above all, eating healthy. Cristina, intrigued by Weekly Menu, planned some of our recipes from the app and came to me with a special request:

“I would like you to teach me how to do my grocery.”

Cristina was eager to learn some tricks for making more informed choices at the supermarket. In fact, planning your meals in advance to make a targeted shopping trip is already a great step, but... that's not all! Knowing how to distinguish between good quality products and those to avoid can have a significant impact on our well-being. Ignoring the importance of mindful grocery shopping can have negative effects on our health, such as an increased risk of disease, a general feeling of tiredness and malaise. Choosing healthier foods not only improves physical health but can also contribute to a better mood and more energy throughout the day. So I took on the “challenge” and shared what I have learned through study and experience. And today I will share some practical tips with you!

Let's Start with the Basics

The foundation of a good grocery shopping trip is knowing how to read product labels carefully, focusing on a few key aspects: Hidden sugars: Did you know that even canned peas can contain added sugars? Opting for products without added sugars is a more natural and healthy choice. We talked about the negative effects of sugars in our latest May newsletter. If you missed it, we invite you to read it by clicking here https://weeklymenu.cloud/en/. Amount of salt: Dietary guidelines recommend not exceeding 5 grams per day. If you want a more practical guideline, just know that the Ministry of Health suggests choosing foods with a level less than or equal to 0.3 grams of salt per 100 grams of product https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/stiliVita/dettaglioContenutiStiliVita.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=4950&area=stiliVita&menu=alimentazione. Organic and whole-grain products: Whenever possible, choose organic and whole-grain foods because, being less processed, they retain more nutrients than refined foods. Alternative protein sources: Cristina discovered new products like tofu and tempeh, which are great alternative protein sources to meat. Tofu is one of the ingredients in the recipes Cristina wanted to try: Creamy Tofu with Curry, Apple and Red Onion Click here to open the recipe in the app. Have you ever tried tofu? If you haven't yet, I recommend trying it! It is a truly versatile food and rich in beneficial properties. Tofu is obtained by curdling soy milk, just like cheese, but unlike the latter, it does not contain cholesterol and is low in saturated fat. It is also rich in potassium, low in sodium and calories, making it an excellent substitute for cheese.

Simple Tips That Make a Difference

Now Cristina, with some simple guidelines, has a clearer idea of how to shop and has found a great tool to try new things! It was a truly enjoyable experience that I was happy to do! As you know, we at Weekly Menu love to share :)