Not everything in the grocery store is as healthy as it seems. Plenty of foods labeled “natural” or “healthy” are hiding artificial additives, preservatives, and processed ingredients that aren’t doing your body any favors. If you’re not careful, you might be filling your cart with more harm than good. Here are 18 foods you should check before adding them to your basket.
Note: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice tailored to your individual circumstances.
Sausage
I love sausage, and I used to love making hot dogs! But, ever since I found out how harmful processed sausages can be, I don’t really want to spend my money on store-bought sausages. Instead, I switched to healthier alternatives and seriously thought about making sausage at home, where I could control the ingredients and quality. Always check the ingredients label before you buy them.
Juice
I used to be a big fan of store-bought juice until I realized you aren’t gaining anything but loads of processed sugar. Store-bought juice contains tons of added sugars and almost no fiber, the part of the fruit that is typically healthy.
Instead, making the juice at home is much healthier and tastier.
Flavored yogurt
There’s nothing tastier than fresh yogurt, but if you have no choice but to get store-bought, maybe you should skip out on the flavored ones. Flavored yogurt isn’t as healthy as it seems since it contains lots of added sugars that add a false sense of flavor. Mix fresh fruit in fresh yogurt, and you get a much tastier version.
Canned vegetables
Here’s why I don’t like canned vegetables: firstly, they’re stored in brine, so they soak up all the sodium, meaning they aren’t as healthy as you’d think. Plus, they are barely tasty after soaking in brine for too long. They lose that yummy fresh flavor! If you ask me, buying vegetables fresh off the market is much better than getting them out of the can.
Bread
I know bread is a major staple, and simply cutting it out of your next grocery trip is a big step, but hear me out. Once you begin baking bread at home, you’ll forget about the stiff versions sold at the market.
Sure, baking bread isn’t everyone’s forte, and it takes a lot of time to master it. But trust me, homemade bread is worth every morsel, and you’ll be baking many more long before you even realize it.
Tortillas
I know pre-made store-bought tortillas are easier to cook. But if you get the hang of the general recipe, you’ll be able to whip up some good tortillas in no time. Plus, freshly cooked tortillas are just so much better in taste and quality that they’ll make you forget store-bought ever existed.
Chicken broth
I don’t get why we’re spending money on something so simple and easy; you could literally make it at home. Chicken broth is one of the easiest things to make at home. All you must do is boil boned chicken pieces in water with salt and pepper. You can freeze the broth in batches and use it whenever you want without needing to buy some at the grocery store.
Mushrooms
I know mushrooms are literally fungi, but store-bought mushrooms have a higher chance of birthing bacteria than others. This is mainly because mushrooms aren’t properly cleaned or stored, so they rack up germs.
Of course, growing mushrooms isn’t hard either since they sprout up quickly. And once you begin eating homegrown mushrooms, you realize how great the quality is.
Pizza sauce
Do you know why Italian homemade pizzas are every bit better than anything you’ll ever eat at a restaurant? Because Italian pizza sauce recipes are passed down from generation to generation, and everyone makes it at home. You can make an authentic pizza sauce at home, store it for months, and enjoy fresh oven-bake pizza any time you, please.
If you choose to spend money on pizza sauce, sure, you save time, but you’ll miss out on the heavenly goodness that’s available in homemade pizza sauce.
Muffins
The muffins you find in the grocery store are not nearly as good as homemade muffins. They are made with unhealthy preservatives, awful corn syrup, and artificial flavorings. Muffins are not hard to make (find some easy muffin recipes here!), so you really should never buy them. Start making your own muffins, and you will be a much happier eater!
Pasta sauce
Spending several bucks on pasta sauce carries the same emotions as spending it on pizza sauce. If you're willing to put in a little extra effort, you can easily make pasta sauce at home. Even if you don’t have the time, you can freeze a big batch at home. Homemade sauce tastes so much better.
Pancake mix
I know I’m a baker, but I’m always a little surprised when I find out people are buying pancake mixes. Yes, they save a little time, but are you really willing to sacrifice that for the taste? I’m not.
Making pancakes from scratch takes only a few ingredients and less than 15 minutes. And guess what? They’re much tastier than anything you’d get at the store.
Jam
I know it takes a lot of time to make jam from scratch. But once you apply that delicious spread on a slice, you’ll know it’s worth every minute. Sure, most store-bought jams are extremely delicious, but they’re filled to the brim with harmful chemicals and preservatives. Most of them also don’t contain real fruit, just chunks of jello. Are we really taking a risk with that?
Chicken Nuggets
Frozen chicken nuggets are a staple in many homes, especially those with kids. But did you know that that box of nuggets is not always made with pure chicken? The meat inside chicken nuggets is typically made from chicken byproducts. The random mix of meat and cartridge is mashed up and then shaped into a nugget, breaded, and fried. You should never eat mystery meat, which means those nuggets in your freezer need to go into the trash.
Cupcakes
Grocery store cupcakes are among the worst things you can buy. They taste terrible, look fake, and are made with so many artificial ingredients and preservatives that they are almost unreal. Do not spend a single penny on grocery store cupcakes, especially when you can make your own at home so easily. Try these super easy cupcake recipes instead, and you will be able to enjoy a real cupcake.
Meatballs
Grocery store meatballs may seem like a convenient option. However, they are typically over-seasoned and packed with fillers. You will probably get more breadcrumbs than meat. Plus, homemade meatballs are pretty easy to make, and they will taste way better than any store-made meatballs. Stop buying the pre-made stuff and start making the real thing! You will definitely taste the difference.
Pre Cut Fruit
Those containers of pre-cut fruit may look convenient, but they are actually an awful deal. Grocery stores raise the price of melon significantly when they cut it up for you. Not only will that cup of fruit be insanely expensive, but it can also be dangerous.
Melon can go bad quite quickly if it is left to sit out too long. Don't take the risk and eat a potentially contaminated cup of melon. It is not worth the convenience or the price!
Fresh Seafood
The fresh seafood in the grocery store has a little secret - it has probably been previously frozen. In most grocery stores, "fresh" fish is just thawed frozen fish. Grocery stores jack up the price and market it as fresh when you can really go to the frozen food section and get the same exact fish at a lower cost. Skip the fresh fish and save your money!
Leave a Reply