The Three Things I Never Leave the Store Without

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If you’re in the market for some healthy goodies, check out Dr. Mark Hyman’s (@markhymanmd) contest on Instagram. All you have to do is make a list like this of your top 10 healthy grocery essentials, upload it to Instagram and label it #BSSCookbook. If yours is chosen, you’ll get a set of Dr. Hyman’s own healthy staples. I’d be willing to bet there are some high value items in there definitely worth the few minutes to post. Chia seeds ain’t cheap, folks.

Here’s my entry… This is actually pretty true to form for my Sunday shopping list. Some weeks end up being heftier, when I stock up on oils, nuts or other items I usually buy in bulk. But these few items, especially the first five, end up in my cart every single time. Why? I’ll break it down for the top three:

Dark leafy greens – where to begin… Greens are simply one of the best thing you can put in your body. You name it, greens have it, help it, prevent it. I won’t bore you with the laundry list of vitamins and minerals, but I will go on about how greens can help purify your blood, deliver oxygen to your cells and lift your spirit. Yes, you can really get all that in the produce section. Pretty amazing, right?

Onions – my favorite way to think about onions (and garlic too) is as a scrub brush for your insides. Onions get in there with their potent antiviral and antibacterial properties to keep foreign invaders at bay and your immune system in fighting condition. Plus they add a ton of flavor to the simplest of dishes.

Lemons – lemons are the secret in the kitchen. I add a squeeze of lemon to just about everything – salads, stir fries, smoothies… It really does make anything taste better. Not only does it brighten and bring flavors together, it is a strong detoxifier. Even though lemon’s sour taste seems acidic, they’re actually alkalizing in the body so adding lemon is a great way to balance out acidic meats and other foods.

What are your shopping cart staples? Share them in the comments. And don’t forget to post on Instagram too – #BSSCookbook.

  • Our top ten is pretty similar:
    Leafy greens – me too for the same reasons above
    Sweet potatoes – I love ’em and mu kids love ’em
    Apples – I use them for juicing and my kid eats them all day long
    Lemons – for juicing and for cooking and cleaning
    Whole grain pasta – again this is a kid friendly list
    Olive oil – I use it for everything
    Raw almond butter – good for me and the kids too
    Organic whole milk – two kids under 6 means milk and I use it in coffee
    Coffee – I’m an addict
    Salmon – I love it so much

  • Just discovered your blog through Houzz! Perfect timing as I’m trying to cook healthier dishes and am always looking for inspiration. My top ten would be:
    Leafy greens (love Kale & Spinach)
    Quinoa (yum!)
    Broccoli
    Onions
    Lemons
    White & Black beans
    Greek Yogurt
    Mixed berries
    Granola
    White wine (cause hey a girls got to have a little vice!)

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