For many of us, it has been a long snowy slog this winter. But the end is near, and spring is just around the corner. While it may not match the annual New Year’s resolution everyone makes, spring is also a time of renewal. The scent of flowers begins to fill the air, and we start shedding our layers of clothing… which reminds us that by hibernating for the winter, we now have a few extra unwanted pounds.

Do you have some extra weight that you need to shed before bathing suit season arrives? Then, it’s time to do some spring cleaning in your kitchen. Here are five ways that will shape up your eating habits, and your waistline:

1. Grocery Shop Wisely

If it’s not in your kitchen, you won’t eat it. That may be a simple mantra, but its importance is profound. If you are even the least bit weak when buying snack foods, don’t shop for food when you are hungry. Better yet, go grocery shopping right after a meal. That may be a little difficult – who wants to grocery shop at 7 p.m. after a long day of work? But if you can do it, you may cut thousand of calories a month.
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Tune in this Friday, February 19 to The Dr. Oz Show when Dr. Oz goes undercover in a grocery store and tells you what five things that should never land in your grocery cart.

As Dr. Oz made his way through grocery store aisles and poked around shoppers’ grocery carts, he pointed out these five foods that might be taking years off of your life and adding inches to your waistline. 

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One of the biggest complaints about eating healthy is that it costs a lot of money. While there is an element of truth to that, if you are going organic, it is a misnomer to think that you have to shed zeros on your account balance to shed weight around your waist.

First, you need a basic “hunting and gathering” strategy when you enter your local grocery store. Experts have long pointed out that the best strategy is to stick to the periphery of the store, where most of the healthy items reside. If you’re trying to save money, and who isn’t in these lean economic times, here are a few healthy food suggestions that won’t break the bank:

Beans - I love black beans and rice. And if you pair them up with whole-grain brown rice, you have yourself a healthy and cheap side dish.

Bananas - I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who thinks bananas aren’t a tasty snack. And, you don’t have to wait for them to be in season. At about 70 cents a pound, you have a great source of fiber and potassium. And, a diet rich in potassium is believed to reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke. Extra savings tip: use them before they go bad. Add ripening bananas to a smoothie or banana bread.
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We all get into a grocery shopping rut. We walk through the store, either with or without a shopping list, and toss the same items into the cart each shopping trip. They may or may not be the best choices for our bodies. Recently, I agreed to share my grocery list with Amy Crews, Holistic Health Counselor and editor of the Natural Health Newsletter here at DietsInReview.com.

I provided my grocery list in six areas: Fruit/Veggie, Bread, Frozen, Dry Goods, Meat, and Cold items (like dairy). As you will see, the list of foods that I buy could stand some improvement. Why not use this list as a springboard to make over your own grocery list, keeping in mind that the most important changes to your shopping list need to be both manageable, sustainable and will help you to be as efficient and healthy as possible – always a bonus for all of us!

See our Healthy Family Grocery Guide now. Download, print, and use to inspire your own grocery makeover!

It’s no secret that the economy stinks these days. According to a survey by a Chicago-based research firm, people are passing on the healthier options offered at fast food and casual dining restaurants in favor of a super-sized serving of comfort. Eighty-two percent of respondents say their better-for-you items are selling ‘lousy.” Customers are citing economic factors for their preferences.

More than half of consumers say they are more concerned about their eating habits than they were a year ago… yet:

• 70% say that healthful foods are harder to afford
• 53% say they buy less-healthful items because those items are cheaper (not necessarily, as I wrote about the price of salmon vs. hotdogs)
• 44% say their budget prevents them from eating healthful foods
• 34% of respondents say that they are choosing cheaper fast food over more-healthful options
• 9% are skipping breakfast and 3% are skipping lunch
  

To that, I say, this is totally unnecessary. People may think they are saving, but trust me, they are paying for it in their health. They’ll pay even more later whether it’s in some combination of weight gain, lower energy levels or poorer quality of life.

Instead, here are some tips to maximize your comfort with minimal strain on your pocketbook.
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