A healthy plan

A trip to the grocery store is easier, faster and cheaper if you plan ahead.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is also hoping the trip will mean healthier eating for shoppers in the city. The Health Unit kicked off national Nutrition Month Wednesday with a scavenger hunt as familiar faces like mayor Keith Hobbs were tasked with finding healthy items at Westfort Foods.

Dietician Karling Zaporzan said with a busy schedule, people want to get in and out of the grocery store as quickly as possible. That can sometimes lead to an unhealthy choice finding its way into the cart. Then there are the countless options shoppers face in the aisle.

“Sometimes it’s confusing or difficult to make those choices,” she said.

Planning meals for the week and making a shopping list can help. The theme of this year’s nutrition month is Plan, Shop, Cook, Enjoy.

“So you know what you’re looking for when you get there,” Zaporzan said.

While some may argue that unhealthy options are sometimes cheaper, there are plenty of ways to stretch food dollars. Buying in bulk can go a long way Zaporzan said. While that may not be feasible for fruits and vegetables, there are options for that too.

“Things like canned and frozen can be just as nutritious and often more economical as well,” she said