Today marks Day 4 of the 5-Day Healthier Eating Challenge. To begin from the start, click here. Up until now, these challenges have caused you to stay at home. You’ve looked over ingredient lists, tried some taste tests, and made some snacks more appealing — all without leaving your kitchen. But today, we’re going to a real grocery store to find ultraprocessed foods and their more wholesome alternatives. If that seems intimidating, don’t fret. I reached out to some experts for assistance. Marion Nestle, a retired professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, kindly visited my local supermarket so we could examine food labels together. I also spoke with two other experts to understand how they make decisions while shopping. For Challenge Day 4: Shop like a nutrition scientist. Start by identifying an ultraprocessed food you often purchase, such as frozen pizza or a packaged snack. Then, head to a grocery store and check the label for that item. Take note of the ingredients you don’t recognize. Spend a few minutes comparing it to similar products: If you’re examining strawberry yogurt, look at the ingredient list and compare it with that of other strawberry yogurts. Can you find a less processed option that fits your budget?
