Empty CaloriesNot too many empty calories One of the basic principles of healthy eating is to make the calories you consume count towards your nutrient requriements. So, what makes calories qualify as empty? The best criteria for judging the value of the calories you are consuming is to ask yourself, does the food supply a variety of vitamins, minerals, high quality protein, good fats and good carbohydrates. As a rule, empty calories are deficient in nutrients, particularly vitamins and minerals. Another way of saying this is that when a food’s caloric value far outweighs its nutrient value, it is not the best choice for a healthy diet. For more information on the five major nutrients click on the links provided for each nutrient.
Here is a list of foods that you should consider limiting or eliminating from your diet. Click here for a printable copy of this list. 
Strategies for healthy food shopping Since most of us don't grow our own food these days, grocery shopping is one of those activities that is a necessary part of our lives. I don't know many people who enjoy this chore, but there are some ways to make it easier and to insure that you buy the best foods for yourself and your family. *Eat before you go shopping, so that you aren't tempted to buy sugary or salty junk foods. An empty stomach is directly correlated to weak will power. The store has all kinds of strategies to encourage you to buy more. Everything from the background music, to store layout, attractive displays, and signs telling you about "specials" is designed to get you to stray from your planned purchases. Don't let hunger make you easier to manipulate! *Make a list of the foods you need based on the meals you have planned. Keep a pad of paper and pencil in the kitchen to jot down items that you use up or that you think of as you are cooking or planning. *Don't buy coupon items unless they are healthy products you would normally choose. In spite of what all the frugality experts say, it isnft saving money to buy a product that you would not normally use, especially if it is overly processed or junk food that should never find its way into your cart,in any case. My experience is that most whole, unadulterated foods rarely show up as coupon items, unless they are local store promotions. *Stick to the perimeter of the store. When you shop at the supermarket, do most of your shopping on the outside aisles. This is where you will find much of the whole, unprocessed foods. The inner aisles are where most processed and junk foods reside. If you mostly avoid those aisles (Okay, you have to venture there to get your brown rice and lentils!), you won't be tempted by the bright packages. *Read labels on food packages and choose the products made from real food. The rule is that if you can't pronounce the ingredients, leave it on the shelf. Also look for excessive sugar (by all its names) and high sodium content and skip those foods that have either. What you put in your mouth is up to you. By choosing healthy, nutrient dense foods more often than not, you are taking a major step toward feeling well and living a long, happy and productive life. Click here to go from Empty Calories List page to Healthy Eating Support home page. How to Use This Site
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