Grocery Items That Aren't Worth Your Money
What ends up in your cart when you go on your grocery run? Is it the healthier stuff, like veggies and fruits, or do you also bring home sugary cereals, instant oatmeal packets, and flavored yogurt? If your pantry often gets crowded with some not-so-healthy snacks, you might want to start changing your habits and how you shop. Here are 20 grocery items you should always leave on the shelf.
1. Breakfast Cereals
Whether it's Lucky Charms or Froot Loops, you might have enjoyed these as a kid, but sugary breakfast cereals are something you should never take home from the grocery store. Not only are they tooth-achingly sweet, but they also often contain unhealthy additives, including artificial colors and flavors.
2. Soda
You likely already know you shouldn't buy soda, but we don't blame you if it's too addictive to stop. Loaded with sugar and caffeine, these fizzy drinks light up the brain's reward system, leading to surges of dopamine, which only make you crave more. The best thing to do? Make it a goal to keep it out of your pantry and swap for healthier beverages, like plain water.
3. White Bread
White bread might be the easiest choice to reach for when you're thinking of a quick, easy breakfast to make in the morning, but unless you're allergic to gluten, you should swap it for healthier options, like whole wheat. Make a point to scan through the ingredient list, too, to avoid harmful ingredients (refined white flour and sugar are the culprits in white bread) and have more nutritious ones, like flax seeds.
4. Instant Oatmeal Packets
Instant oatmeal has an immediate appeal: like bread, it makes for an easy breakfast you can make in a jiffy. But without scanning the nutrition facts and ingredient list, you could be filling yourself up on sugar and artificial flavors, both of which you should avoid. The better choice? Choose plain rolled oats that you fix up and flavor yourself.
5. Frozen Dinners
Frozen dinners, like pasta, pizza pockets, and other options, should be left where they belong: in the freezer at the grocery store. Why shouldn't they come home with you? Because they're often loaded with preservatives, sodium, and fat, and contain little to no nutritional benefits.
6. Packaged Cookies
Sure, those boxes of cookies might look appetizing on the shelf, but take a peek at the ingredient list and nutrition facts, and you'll find that they're loaded with sugar, artificial flavors, refined flour, and more not-so-great things. Grab a bag of chocolate chips and bake yourself a homemade batch instead.
7. Packaged Cakes
Just like packaged cookies, you should avoid store-made cakes, too. Even if these look freshly baked and delicious, they definitely won't be better than what you can whip up at home, with better, healthier ingredients. Leave them on the shelf.
8. Instant Ramen
Instant ramen might be the meal of choice when you're a college student, but you should know that these packets are probably one of the unhealthiest things to be putting in your body, especially when you're already stressed. Loaded with sodium and fat, yet low in fiber and protein, instant noodles may satisfy your cravings, but they won't do much more beyond that.
9. Canned Fruit
Unless a recipe calls for canned fruit, which is unusual on its own, you should be reaching for fresh ones instead. Canned fruit usually comes soaked in sweetened syrup, which only adds more sugar to your daily total—something you definitely don't want.
10. Flavored Coffee Creamers
It's one thing to want to make your coffee at home, but it's another thing to choose the wrong ingredients to add to your cup of Joe. Even if you can't take it plain, flavored coffee creamers—which are loaded with sugar, hydrogenated oils, and artificial flavors—might make it taste palatable, but will wreak havoc on your health.
11. Frozen Pizzas
Just as you shouldn't put frozen dinners into your shopping cart, you should leave the frozen pizzas, too. Even if these pies look healthy with their assortment of veggies, they're often loaded with refined carbs, sodium, and a mountain of processed ingredients. A better bet would be to make your own healthier version at home.
12. Canned Soup
Anything in a can is probably not the best thing to put into your body, and canned soup is no exception. Loaded with sodium yet with little to none of the nutrition you want—fiber and protein—these soups should always be left on the shelf.
13. Flavored Yogurt
Yup—you may think yogurt is healthy, and it is, but just not the varieties that are loaded with sugar and artificial flavors. Always make sure to check the nutrition facts and ingredient list before you buy to ensure you're not potentially spiking your glucose levels when you think you're snacking on something nutritious.
14. Bottled Salad Dressings
Bottled salad dressings should also never come home with you from the grocery store; these condiments are often loaded with salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, and other preservatives. Stick to simple dressings you might have lying around at home, like extra virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar.
15. Crackers
It's not just packaged cookies you should avoid buying—you should stay away from the crackers, too. These might seem like a "healthier" snack, but they're often packed with salt, unhealthy oils, and are high in saturated fat. Even if you're topping your crackers with nutritious ingredients, you're still better off swapping for a healthier base.
16. Energy Drinks
Just like sodas, energy drinks may boost your energy and keep you up when you need to, but the high amounts of caffeine and sugar in them won't do you any favors in the long run (or in the short run). For healthier alternatives, swap for plain black coffee or unsweetened tea.
17. Sugary Nut Butters
Nut butters can add a nutritional punch to your toast or bowl, but you should steer clear of varieties that contain unhealthy ingredients or are loaded with sugar. Again, always make sure to check the ingredient list and nutrition facts before purchasing.
18. Salad Kits
Sure, salad kits might seem like an easy way to get your veggies in, but if you don't carefully examine what's included in each box, you might be loading up on some unhealthy ingredients without knowing. It's better to make your own bowl of greens at home.
19. Chips
You should already know that chips should never be on your grocery list, and that's because they're often loaded with sodium, sugar, artificial flavors, and lots of fat. Even veggie chips should be avoided—you're far better off sticking to real veggies.
Esperanza Doronila on Unsplash
20. Packaged Muffins
Similar to packaged cookies and cakes, store-made muffins might look tasty, but they're one of the worst things you can probably put in your body, especially for breakfast. Why? You likely already know: they're loaded with sugar, preservatives, unhealthy fats, and lots of processed ingredients. If you're craving muffins, it's better to bake some homemade ones.
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