shopping list ideas please

hey you guys im going to restock the pantry with all healthy choices. so let me hear from you guys some must haves from all food groups, please. i need ideas as well as brands..dont hold back guys.

basically things that are always on your own shopping lists-

i tend to eat alot of chicken breast, salads, cold cuts,pasta, mexican food--

so i will be making all these things at home now so i need everything broke down.

thanks in advance-

My staples:

Grapes/Oranges/Cantaloup - I cut up, peel and clean when I get home and keep the fruit in a giant rubbermaid container for easy snacking

Lettuce/Celery/Carrots/Bell Peppers - Same as fruit - peel, cut and clean and into big rubbermaid

Laughing Cow Cheese, Salsa, Morningstar pizza burgers, Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, Ezekiel 4:9 Tortillas, Morningstar Breakfast Sausage, Newman's Own Dressing Spray, Smart Pop Popcorn, Refried Beans, Lowfat Sour Cream, Yogurt, Pizza Sauce, Part Skim Mozzarella and Part Skim Cheddar Cheese

I like to make bowls where I layer refried beans, lf Sour Cream, Cheese and salsa and eat at lunch with celery and bell peppers to dip.  I also hardboil eggs to have ready for breakfast with my sausage.

awesome-thank you..

I always shop so that each day I have 1 fruit, 1 veggie, 1 nut, 1 leaf and 1-2 other sources of protein. Basically I do this mini meal thing so my metabolism is always running and I get to eat all throughout the day which is so satisfying! (basically eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full). Basically anything that is raw is good if you really want to be healthy. Think about it hehe, wake up, have a boiled egg or a banana, 1-2 hrs later have some yogurt (get FAGE-its greek and comes in 0% fat which is AWESOME), then 1/2 through the day I'll have the fun meal (better than for dinner because dinner meals are bad when you're only a few hours away from falling asleep and slowing down), so yeah, around lunch time have that fun salad or, do what I do when it comes to mexican - mix some white rice, smushed up avocado, sliced chicken breast and a pinch of salsa - mmm mmm, then later have some walnuts and almonds and for dinner I always make sure to take in something with protein wether its fish or meat. But the real trick to the mini-meals are to eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full. Anywho, hope I could be of some help!!

PS If you do try the all natural thing out do one thing: when ya shop, before you go to the check-out, go through your basket and see how much greener it looks!! ;)

Frozen bags of broccoli (florets, generic), Hunts tomato sauce, whole wheat penne (cheapest), mushrooms (if on sale), whatever fruit is on sale, rice, Tyson chicken breasts, aunt millies light 5 grain bread (40 calories a slice and yummy), Ball Park fat free franks (high in sodium but taste good with a little mustar and catsup at 40 calories each) sauerkraut (hot dogs cut up in it), 1% milk, Athenos low fat feta, baby spinach, whole grain supreme pizza lean pocket (again high in sodium, but on 12 hour work days they work for 220 calories with a salad), boca burgers, morning star sausage links, dozen extra large eggs, yoplait fruit n yogurt (if on sale) Propel flavored water (soooo tastey for 25 calories).

btw, I just use a piece of the 40 cal bread instead of a bun for the hot dog.

Light lays plain chips (if you can't do olestra, the baked are good too).  I can't believe it's not butter spray, la tortilla factory wraps (I can't remember calories, but it's low and can make tortilla chips or use as wraps, what ever salsa looks good, Jif reduced fat PB, smuckers sugar free strawberry preserves, special K strawberry cerial bars, honey wheat twisty pretzels.  Pop secret mini bags of light kettle corn (100 calories and perfect amount).

Course I don't get this every week, but all of it is always in my kitchen!

QUINOA! seriously, you can do anything with this tasty, protein-packed, adorable little grain. eat it for breakfast with blueberries and almonds, make a tabouli out of it with tomatoes and cucumbers, use with marinara sauce in place of pasta, bake it into a muffin, even put it in a taco!

i also recommend apples, spinach (for salads, putting on sandwiches, etc.), celery and peanut butter, oatmeal, beans, vegetable broth (good for making lower-sodium soup than what you buy in the can), and luna bars. spices of every shape and size if you cook. good for a snack is a cup of air-popped popcorn (buy it in bulk, and make it yourself in the microwave) with tabasco sauce and nutritional yeast (i'm vegan, so if you're not, you could use parmesan cheese with an also delicious effect).

if you want to get really crazy, try making your own salsa. all you need is about 6-8 roma tomatoes, half an onion, a bell pepper, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, salt, pepper, and any crazy extras you want to throw in (jalapeno, mango, avocado, apple), pulse everything in a food processor or blender (or chop everything up real small if you don't have one), and season to taste. fresh, homemade salsa will really take your mexican food to the next level.

thanks a bucket!!

i coulfnt find this laughing cow cheese everyone talk sbout.my first healthy food shopping trip was a blast..took a long time..all the cal reading--but overall a blast..and in my favor..talipia and salmon were on sale, but not my chicken breast..but i still got some..i been eating oatmeal for breakfast and snacks so i stocked up on that..but keep em coming im learning my way to the healthy lifestyle. and im soooooooo proud of myself i didnt pick up any chips(my poison) but i did pick up some quaker mini snacks for my chocolate fever/

congratz on a fun shopping day! and hey, if you love chocolate, which I do, also try going into the candy aisle. they have bars of 65-70% pure chocolate!! really does the trick and is way better for you!! good luck and enjoy!!

ok sounds great ill look for it..thanks