If you liked my most recent article, “How to Last 2 Weeks on 1 Grocery Trip, ” then this list of must have groceries should help you out while food shopping! Here’s my favorite things to buy that are healthy and cost effective:
1. 100% Whole Wheat Bread Thins
I eat these babies instead of buying bread, and they're the most convenient thing ever! I use them for sandwiches, turkey burgers, toasting with cream cheese, mini pizzas and more. A bag comes with 8 pull apart bread thins.
2. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Keeping a bag of this in your fridge is always smart because it can be used in so many different recipes. I use shredded cheese in quesadillas, omelettes, and to make pretty much any Italian-style food.
3. Low-fat Vanilla Yogurt
I prefer to buy a tub of yogurt instead of individual cups, because it's cheaper and lasts longer. Make sure to buy low-fat instead of non-fat, because no fat usually translates into extra sugar. I like going for vanilla because it tastes great in smoothies! It also makes a great breakfast or snack to add some granola and fruit.
4. Almond Milk
I totally eat dairy, I just choose to purchase almond milk instead of classic milk because it tastes great in coffee (pro-tip for coffee lovers like me!) and I probably consume more than enough dairy in cheese.
5. Baby Spinach
I can't even reiterate enough just how wonderful spinach is. It's one of the healthiest veggies and I use it in at least one meal a day, because it goes in everything. Some examples are on top of a sandwich, in an omelette, in a smoothie, in a salad, in a lasagna -- the possibilities are endless!
6. Zucchini
The best part about zucchinis is they're great at disguising as other foods. If you put them in a spiralizer, you can make zucchini noodles or "zoodles" that are delicious and really satisfy the craving for pasta if covered in pesto or tomato sauce. Another option is to cut them in circles, add garlic salt, and bake them into zucchini chips!
7. Sweet Potatoes
I love chopping up sweet potatoes and making my own sweet potato fries in the oven. However, they also make a great side dish by themselves if you just add a little butter, or cinnamon... or both.
8. Frozen Edamame
This one is pretty self-explanatory. I don't know about you, but I can shove these down like nobody's business. Just heat em' up and add some salt!
9. Frozen Berry Medley
SMOOTHIES! Frozen fruit makes the texture even better than fresh fruit.
10. Frozen Dinners from Trader Joe's
As college students, we are crazy busy, and sometimes even just lazy. You're doing yourself a huge favor by stocking up on some meals you can just heat up in the microwave. I recommend the options at Trader Joe's because they taste like quality food and use healthier ingredients than frozen meals at other places!
11. Snap Pea Crisps
Sometimes we all need to mindlessly munch on something, so reach for these instead of potato chips!
12. Blue Corn Chips and Salsa
If you look at the nutrition facts for blue corn chips, the only ingredients in them are blue corn, sea salt, and vegetable oil. So much healthier than the tortilla chips you get at Mexican restaurants! Chips and salsa is a great snack to have around, for after school, after downtown, whatever floats your boat.
I guarantee that if you buy these things on your next grocery trip, you won't have to go back to the store for at least a week! These foods will stay in your fridge/pantry for a while and they'll make you feel clean.
