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Bite Before You Buy

Eat a pre-shopping healthy snack to curb impulse food choices


A woman taking a bite into an apple
Stockbyte/Getty Images

Quick Win

Nourishing your body with fruits and vegetables can impact grocery shopping and support brain function.

Try This Today

  • Before you go to the grocery store, eat a small, healthy snack like an apple, banana or carrot sticks.
  • It’s OK to start with the familiar, perhaps with various shades of peppers or grapes.
  • Over time, branch out into new fruits and vegetables you haven’t tried.
  • Before you start grocery shopping, try any healthy samples at the store!

Why

Researchers have discovered a trend in grocery shoppers: Sampling healthy snacks at a grocery store may lead to more nutritious purchases. In a review of research on grocery shopping published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2022, participants who tried an apple sample purchased more fruits and vegetables than those who received a cookie or no sample. 

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