Three years ago I put together the first Grocery Labels/Ingredients Guide and it’s been one of the most popular pages I’ve published. Similarly, people have liked Making Better Choices and Grocery Shopping: Looking at Labels so I decided it was time for a sequel…

Grocery Labels/Ingredients Guide 2

Shopping for food can be tricky if you don’t have a plan. It can be a lot of fun and rewarding if you do.

Here are some examples of how I look at labels/ingredients when shopping for food products. Although I focus on buying real, whole food, getting some food products from time to time is inevitable for most people. The key is to make smart choices. Like outlined in part 1 of the What Should I Eat Then? series, look for limited ingredients, trying to limit or avoid wheat, excess or non natural sweeteners (particularly high fructose corn syrup), soy products, vegetable and seed oils, flavorings (artificial or natural), dyes/colorings, food starches, preservatives and any other additives. If you don’t know what it is, avoid it until you figure it out.

Some examples…

Siggis Yogurt– simple, natural ingredients

Brunswick Sardines – just sardines, no salt, vegetable oil or other flavorings

Quinoa Chips – a simpler version of a chip, based on a more nutrient dense food

Multi Grain Crackers – Gluten free and basic ingredients