grocery store

Eating packaged foods is often the most economical option. The problem is, they’re also often the most unhealthy. On top of that, labels are confusing, and even intentionally misleading. You have terms like “50 percent less fat” or “reduced sodium.” But those phrases beg the questions: 50 percent less fat, but how much fat is left? And, reduced sodium… from what level? I realize that it’s simply a matter of reading the labels, but for the average person, the implication of something being healthier by subtraction seems to validate the product. Not so.

There’s help on the way.

The March issue of Prevention Magazine had a great article that will serve as a smart guide the next time you’re at the grocery store. All the marketing-speak and hundreds of choices can make choosing one food over another a difficult choice, especially when your goal is to be as healthy as possible. Here we share the good, better and best choice of 10 common grocery aisles.

Meat Counter

• Good – Lean Beef
• Better – Organic Beef
• Best – Grass-fed Beef

Egg Section

• Good – Packaged egg whites
• Better – Whole eggs
• Best – Omega-3-fortified eggs
  

Unless you live off the land, your health and well being is in the hands of your local supermarkets. Not all grocery stores are created equal. So it behooves you to know which offer you the healthiest foods, and thus the best choices.

The folks at Health.com asked six health experts to help choose the top 10 healthiest grocery stores out of the nation’s largest chains. Many of these I’ve heard of, since I’ve had the benefit of living on both coasts of the country. But like everyone, there are a couple in here I’ve never been to. Here are the top 10, and the regions of the U.S. that they service. For details on each, head over to MSN.com:

1. Whole Foods (279 stores in 38 states and Washington, D.C.)

2. Safeway (1,700-plus stores nationwide)