Buy this, not that
Maybe you’re the person who buys the groceries for your family each week. Or maybe you and your partner do it together. Either way, you can play a key role in determining what food items show up when you open the refrigerator or pantry, and that can make or break your loved one’s Noom experience.
So we are here to provide you with a handy dandy guide of what to buy, and what to avoid, the next time you go to the grocery store.
Remember, these recommendations are based on the Noom model of green foods (the lowest caloric density and the highest concentration of healthy nutrients), yellow foods (with mid-level caloric density and nutrition), and orange foods (highest caloric density/least healthy nutrients). But no food is “off limits.” Instead, buying more of the items on the right – and less of the ones on the left – will make everyone in your family eat just a little bit healthier.
Proteins
| Instead of… | Buy…. |
| Bacon | Lean steak |
| Eggs | Egg whites |
| Fried chicken | Grilled chicken |
| Ham | Fresh turkey |
| Ground beef | Salmon |
| Tuna in oil | Tuna in water |
Dairy, soups and condiments
| Instead of… | Buy…. |
| Whole milk | 2% milk or almond milk |
| Full-fat yogurt | Low-fat or fat-free Greek yogurt |
| Cream-based soup (e.g. cream of mushroom soup) | Broth-based soup (e.g. chicken soup) |
| Pesto sauce | Marinara sauce |
| Mayonnaise | Mustard |
| Creamy salad dressing | Low-fat salad dressing |
| Dip | Salsa |
Breads, grains, and cereals
| Instead of… | Buy… |
|---|---|
| Granola | Oatmeal |
| White bread | Whole grain bread |
| White pasta | Whole grain pasta |
| White rice | Brown rice |
| Sugary cereal | Whole grain cereal |
| Taco shells | Whole grain tortillas |
Snacks and desserts
| Instead of… | Buy… |
|---|---|
| Potato chips | Whole grain crackers |
| Raisins | Grapes |
| Milk chocolate | Dark chocolate |
| Tortilla chips | Hummus |
| Trail mix | Rolled oats |
| Ice cream | Fruit cup |
Beverages
| Instead of… | Buy… |
|---|---|
| Soda | Unsweetened iced tea |
| Energy drink | Coffee |
| Fruit juice | Vegetable juice |
| Beer | Light beer |
| Coffee creamer | Skim milk or almond milk |
