Appy​Living

This website is an amazing interactive infographic that reveals when select foods are most purchased each month over 12 years. Scroll and click around the charts to explore the food trends. Fascinating!

Look for bright, fresh leaves on produce and no cuts, bruises, or mold.

Many grocery stores now have their own bakeries on site. It can be challenging to avoid all the desserts if you just want bread. Plan your steps well.

Most large grocers now offer various gluten-free foods.

Most grocery delis carry several products that are low sodium or perhaps trimmed of fat. Often these items are hidden from view, but are available when asked. Most also have product nutrient analyses available.

Making choices from fruits and vegetables is what is meant by "Eat the Rainbow" with the goal of eating a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.

Many grocery stores now offer prepared foods for lunch and dinner to save time for those in a time crunch. Typically prepared foods cost a premium for the labor and convenience.

The selection of cheeses in large stores is amazing. Look to sample low fat versions of Havarti or Jarlsburg. Use part-skim ricotta and mozzarella in Italian dishes.

A few stores offer a selection of fresh pastas made on or off the premises. Pair with a fresh made sauce.

Cooked tomatoes are high in lycopene, a food nutrient found to inhibit prostate cancer cells.

Purchase only the food that you know you have room to properly store at home.

Read and compare food labels. Ingredients are listed in descending order of amount. Use the serving amount you plan to consume. The link below explains how to read a food label and rules for new labels in 2017.

Fresh meats, fish and poultry only last 2 to 3 days. Purchase 1/4 to 1/5 pound per person depending on bone and skin weight.

It is often said to shop only the outside rim of the store to avoid processed foods. That can be true, but don't forget to circle back for rice, beans, grains, nuts, popcorn, cereals, juices and water.

Use items that are high in sodium.