Eight Healthy Grocery Store Swaps For A Less Depressing Pantry

COVID-19 has been hard on the heart — emotionally and arterially. Exhibits A through C? Our pantries, freezers, and refrigerators, especially when each shelf is a display to dubious decision-making, if not utter dereliction of "diet." 

If I know anything about Erie, I know we'll eat our way out of this one yet. It's how we do it that's important. Replace the word plague with plaque and you'll reveal the most prolific killer in American history. Heart disease is responsible for 647,000 deaths a year, or one in every four annually. So while we should be cognizant of coronavirus, let us not forget about our coronaries. 

In continuing to educate folks in our community about living a healthier and fitter lifestyle, personal trainer and Level Red Boxing and iRock Fitness vice president Matt Pribonic feels an "obligation" to advise consumers on making better choices at the grocery store. Not every gift to ourselves should come wrapped in bacon.

Recounts Pribonic:

I noticed through shopping for my news segment and regular shopping trips for my needs at home that the "staple foods" on most people's shopping lists are white bread, meat, and high-fat toppings and dressings such as mayonnaise and ranch dressing.  Much to my surprise, fresh produce, potatoes, and canned goods were available in almost full variety.  Some products were even marked down on special to avoid spoilage.  

It's amazing to me that foods such as milk, eggs, bread, and red meat were more widely chosen over and above cheaper, more nutritious choices like beans, lentils, produce, almond milk, and turkey- and chicken-based breakfast and dinner choices. Natural healthy choice frozen dinner entrees like burritos, frozen whole wheat waffles, Whole turkeys, frozen vegetables and microwavable edamame were almost untouched.  

Recent studies have shown that meat and foods high in sugar, gluten, and processed carbohydrates cause increased inflammation in the body as well as health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.  I was expecting my shopping list of healthy and fresh foods to skyrocket in price but saw only consistency in price, if not deals and sales.

In light of this, Pribonic offers eight healthy swaps that may actually save you money this week, if not your waistline.