We are eating healthier, saving calories and money on the Give-Back Diet, this 48th Day. Today, I want to encourage you to save at the grocery store or supermarket.<\/p>\n
Buying generic or store-brand groceries makes good sense. Did you know that they are often the exact same product as the known brand-name items, the only difference is that they are in different wrappers or packages?<\/p>\n
You can save up to half the cost of specific items, such as cereals, juice, coffee, canned or frozen vegetables, dried fruit, seltzer.<\/p>\n
The trick is to compare nutrition and ingredient labels side-by-side. Make sure they have similar ingredients. You may be surprised, they usually are exactly the same.<\/p>\n
Why are generic items cheaper? It’s all about advertising and marketing. Brand-name products get to be familiar to us because we’ve heard and seen about them a lot. We reach for them on the grocery shelves because we recognize them. Also, more is spent on design and printing of labels than on store-name products.<\/p>\n
You may also know that there are whole stores that specialize in generics, such as Trader Joes, Costco, and Sam’s Club, to only name a few.<\/p>\n
Generics may be found not only in supermarkets and groceries, you may also find them in pharmacies, discount superstores, and in boutique mall stores.<\/p>\n
As always, I recommend more fresh produce, instead of packaged goods. You may even find generics in the fresh aisles.<\/p>\n
ACTION PLAN:<\/p>\n
— Take some extra time to research store-brand and generic items on your grocery list. Look at labels. Compare ingredients and nutritional facts side-by-side.<\/p>\n
— Keep your Give-Back Diet journal going.<\/p>\n
— Keep limiting your consumption of sugar and fat. Keep eating smaller portions, and every 2-3 hours.<\/p>\n
— Don’t forget to drink a lot of water today and every day.<\/p>\n
— Pray, pray and pray. Give-Back your eating and activity problems to God (or your Higher Power).<\/p>\n