Welcome to the "Whole Minds Healthy Bodies" podcast, a 360 Health initiative from Aetna exclusively for you, the MTA. Our goal is to improve your total health and wellbeing.

In this episode, we discuss strategies to navigate the grocery with Jamie Kaplan, an Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach that specializes in helping individuals implement diet and lifestyle changes tailored to their unique goals and needs. From planning your shopping trip to sticking to the store's perimeter, we cover essential tips to help you avoid unnecessary purchases and how you can commit to meal planning.

Key Topics Covered:

• Making a Plan:
• Importance of creating a shopping list.
• Benefits of planning meals ahead of time.
• How to avoid impulse buys.
• Shopping the Perimeters:
• Understanding the layout of grocery stores.
• Focusing on fresh produce, dairy, and lean proteins found on the store’s edges.
• Minimizing trips to the center aisles where processed foods are located.
• Avoid Wandering:
• Sticking to your shopping list.
• How to navigate the store efficiently.
• Tips for avoiding distractions and unhealthy temptations.
• Committing to Meal Planning:
• Steps to create a weekly meal plan.
• Benefits of meal prepping for health and budget.
• Resources and tools to help you get started.

Resources Mentioned:

• City Harvest https://www.cityharvest.org/
• Grow NYC https://www.grownyc.org/
• Sharing Excess https://www.sharingexcess.com/
• SNAP Program (supplemental nutrition assistance program) via NYC.gov 
• NY Common Pantry https://nycommonpantry.org/
• Harlem Grown https://www.harlemgrown.org/
• Local CSA's