Hi Sunshines! The past couple of days I have been shooting PGA Golf apparel with Perry Ellis. Every time I am at the P.E. headquarters – our conversations are about health and fitness and what I/we eat on a daily basis. Then it always turns to how easy it is to give up on our health and fitness goals. Unlike many other photoshoot sets, food is not provided by Perry, which is great because I can either bring my own lunch from home or go to the organic restaurant/juice bar right across the street. Not having a craft service area (which is an area on set that is filled with food and snacks) helps me stay on track and make healthier choices throughout the day.
We got to talking about Trader Joes; the affordable grocery store. We do not have one in my are so I decided to make the trek over to one after I was released from work an hour early. It was well worth the reward! TJ offers a ton of affordable organic products and some of my favorite childhood snacks (Spanakopita) and tea (Green-Jasmine) come from Trader Joes. I have been home for the past week or so, and it has really been so nice to get back to a routine! I am such a homebody, so it really hits my system hard when I am on the road and off my routine
for long periods at a time.
For $131.55 I was able to get my food shopping done for the next few weeks! Of course, if I want to make something special or we have a group of friends over then I will have to run to the store, but here is what a typical trip to the grocery store looks like for us. I can whip up meals and snacks in no-time flat, and I always have healthy options to choose from. While shopping, make sure to read labels! Check the ingredient list and watch out for low-fat or diet options. They tend to load up on the sugar, fat and preservatives to help keep products shelf stable.
Produce
This List May Change by the Season
- Greens: Kale, Spinach, Arugula (for salads, smoothies and sauté-ing)
- Veggies: Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Asparagus, Cucumber, Mushrooms, Peppers
- Fruits: Banana, Apple, Strawberries, , Lemon, Lime, Cherry Tomatoes
- Tuber: Sweet/Red potatoes, White, Yellow, Red and green Onion, Garlic, Carrot, Ginger
- Herbs: Basil, Rosemary, Cilantro, Dill
Protein
- Skinless, boneless chicken breast
- Wild Caught Salmon (From Costco)
- 1 lb Grassfed Beef
- 1 Package Chicken Sausage [make sure to read labels. You should be able to read all ingredients]
- 1 lb Ground Turkey
Whole Grains
- Brown Rice
- Quinoa
- Ezekiel Bread
- Oats
- Whole Wheat Pasta or Buckwheat Noodles
Fats
- Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
- Organic Olive Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Seeds (Chia, Flax, Pumpkin or Sunflower)
- Natural Peanut or Almond Butter
- Nuts (Unsalted Cashew, Almonds, Walnuts)
Dairy
- Cheese (Goat & Feta)
- Organic Free-Range Brown Eggs (They were $2.99 vs. $5.00 in Winn Dixie)
- Kefir (plain)
- Grass-Fed Butter for my Bulletproof Coffee
Beverages
- Water
- Green Tea With Jasmine
- Coconut Water
- La Croix Sparkling Water or Perrier
- Coffee
Pantry Staples
- Honey
- Himalayan Pink Salt
- Red and Black Pepper
- Chalula Hot Sauce
- Dijon Mustard
- Vinegar (All kinds including flavors)
Canned Goods
- Coconut Milk
- Pickles and Fermented Veggies [Sauerkraut , pickles, onions]
- Low Sodium Garbanzo Beans
- Low Sodium Stock in Chicken or Veggies
Frozen
- Organic Berries
- Spinach
- Steam Fresh Organic Veggies (Broccoli, Cauliflower, Butternut Squash)
Junk Food
I always like to buy a few treats when those pesky cravings hit. Here are a few of my guilty pleasures:
- Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream
- Kettle Chips
- Milk Chocolate Lindt Truffles
