Grocery Shopping as a fat girl... The RULES of Shopping :)

After cycling class today I ran over to Lucky's to get some eats.  Grocery shopping for this fat girl used to be such a treat, but now it is a huge temptation.  So, I decided to develop some rules before I head to the store so I don't get off track.  Here they are:

1. Drink 16oz of water and eat something to prevent over shopping or impulse buys.  People usually rush and buy more food when hungry resulting in poor food choices and food waste.
2. Make a list.  This helps me stay focused on what I NEED and within my budget.
3. Set enough time aside at the store to really look at labels and I'm not just talking about calories.  Look at the fiber and protein content, the vitamins, and ingredients as well.  You'd be surprised what you find out. 

Here is what was on my list:

• Greens (Spring mixed with spinach)
• Blueberries
• Bananas (to add to my Protein shake)
• Sweet Potatoes (they're better for ya!  http://www.livestrong.com/article/257046-sweet-potato-vs-yam-nutrition/)
• Cherry tomatoes
• Rice (I opted for rice pilaf made by Kashi which has 6 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber in .5c)
• Cheese  (my all time weakness. I love cheese!  I did get some blue cheese crumbles to top my salads sometimes and for the Sargento reduced fat slices) 
• Greek Yogurt (a must have!)
• Granola  (organic granola, don't be fooled by over processed cereals.  ALWAYS measure it out!)
• Snacks - Kashi TLC bars (for when I do crave chocolate, which will be in just a few day, lol) and Stacy's Multi grain Pita chips (Cindy, my life coach would probably say "NO", but I love chips and this small bag with my Athenos 3 pepper hummus is a treat.)
• Oatmeal (I prefer the steal oats at Trader Joes, but I'm on a budget this week and opted for Quaker Oats extra fiber, 10 g of fiber!)
• Dressing (Ken's Steakhouse reduced fat balsamic vinaigrette.  I prefer Newman's light vinaigrette, though.  Ken's was on sale)

The key here is measuring EVERYTHING, EVERY TIME.  I know it's hard and it can take a few weeks to get used to it, but measure your food!  It's been helping me and I know it will help you too.