michael s
(Michael S)
#1
before easing into the dicey inner aisles. The less time you spend in this
belly of the beast, the better.
NEW ABS DIET SHOPPING TIP #2:
Shop on a full stomach.
If you’re hungry, you’re more likely to reach for a bag of Oreos and start
snacking in aisle 7. Everyone knows that. But British scientists studying
eating and emotions say that lower serotonin levels in the brain caused
by an empty stomach may hamper your willpower. Their research shows
that low levels of this brain chemical make it more difficult to control
impulsive behavior.
NEW ABS DIET SHOPPING TIP #3:
Keep your head up (and down).
The food marketers know that both kids and adults tend to look at eye
level while shopping, so they pay a premium to the supermarkets (called
“slotting fees”) to have their foods on the middle shelves. What does
that mean to you? First, it means that if you buy off the middle shelves,
you’re paying extra for that real estate, too. Second, it means that the
major manufacturers—the ones who make most of the bland, low-
nutrient foods on the shelves—rule that lucrative middle ground. The
healthier foods tend to be stacked on the top and lower shelves. So, look
high and low when stalking the better choices.
NEW ABS DIET SHOPPING TIP #4:
Save trees.
As a general rule, the more packaging a food item requires, the less
nutritious it is. The closer you can get to whole foodstuffs, the better.
(One exception: frozen fruits and vegetables, which are often packed
minutes after picking and can actually be healthier for you.) In general,
packaging, processing, and shipping tend to suck the nutrition from
food and backfill it with chemical additives. Test yourself: Look in your
