Top 3 Free Resources for Choosing the BEST in Produce, Local Goods, and Nutritious Foods!

Welcome to our Exclusive Insider Guide to Healthy Shopping! Explore our free resources, including the 'Dirty Dozen vs. Clean 15' guide. Learn to shop like a pro with our helpful food scanning apps, and easily locate your nearest farmer's market.

Plus, benefit from our quick, healthy shopping tips, designed to easily fit into your busy schedule!

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Dirty Dozen vs Clean 15

Learn Which Produce to Buy Organic and Avoid Pesticides with Our Quick Guide.

Fresh Fruits and vegetables are a staple in any health-conscious diet, however the number of pesticides used today to make produce “visually appealing” or “pretty” is increasing.

Foods heavy with pesticides have been found to cause numerous health issues, so it is recommended that these “dirty” foods be purchased organic when possible.

Every Year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases a list detailing the foods with the highest (Dirty) and the lowest (Clean) pesticide residue.

This list provides communities with information on the most and least pesticide contaminated produce.

The EWG analyzes 47 produce varieties using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Program.

2024 Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 infographic showing a list of fruits and vegetables. The Dirty Dozen lists produce with high pesticide levels recommended to buy organic, including strawberries, spinach, and apples. The Clean 15 lists produce safe to buy conventionally due to low pesticide levels, including carrots, sweet potatoes, and avocados. Presented by SHCollective.org.

Healthy Shopping Like a PRO!

Have you ever set out on a mission to fill your fridge and your panty with healthy foods and snacks, only to get to the market and not know what to buy?

Grocery store aisle with shelves of teas and coffees on the left and refrigerated dairy products on the right, under signs for related products and categories.

Nutrition labels can be confusing, misleading, and downright false!

So how do we know what packaged foods are the most nutritious and delicious?

Well, you can spend time decoding the ingredients, or just click and scan.

These apps below are just a few of the free resources available to help you make the best decisions when at the store.

SHCollective is not affiliated with the mentioned brands, apps, or agencies.

We're simply sharing free resources we find helpful.

The image is a simple app icon featuring an orange carrot with a green top, centered on a white background. This icon is likely used for a health or diet-related application named Yuka

Yuka

Yuka is a 100% independent project, so there is no influence on the scores or recommendations offered. They rate and review food and personal care products.

The image shows a simple app icon with a white spiral design centered on a solid green background. This design is minimalistic and could represent an app related to navigation, mindfulness, or some form of tracking or organization named EWG app

EWG

EWG’s Healthy Living App aims to make healthy living easy.

It contains ratings for more than 120,000 food and personal care products.

The image features an app icon with a green shopping cart containing a green circle, set against a white background. This icon likely represents a shopping or retail-related application named ShopWell

ShopWell

Shopwell helps you Know Your Food. Offering personalized nutrition scores with your dietary goals, health concerns, allergies, and dislikes.

Find a Farmers Market and Connect with Local Food Heroes!

Superman and Batman engaging with local residents at a farmers market, surrounded by fresh produce and market stalls.

One of the best ways to eat fresh is to shop at your local Farmer’s Markets. Farmer’s Markets are a great place to learn about seasonal produce, meet your local farmers, engage with the community, and of course there’s the free samples 😊

Whether you’re new to the health and wellness world, or well-versed in all thing’s health-related visiting a local Farmers Market can be a fun, educational, and a fulfilling experience.

If you’re in the US:

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has a Local Food Directory that allows you to search for local Farmer’s Markets, Food Hub’s, and more.

Tap here for the Local Food Directory

If you’re in California, the great people at the Ecology Center, a nonprofit organization located in Berkeley, put together an amazing Farmers Market Finder that lists local Farmers Markets and the food assistance programs they accept.

Tap here for the Farmers Market Finder

Here are a few Health Tips for Shopping at Farmers Markets!

Go Early

Arrive early for the best selection of fresh produce. Early hours often offer the highest quality and the largest variety of fruits and vegetables.

Seasonal Shopping

Focus on buying what’s in season. Seasonal produce is not only fresher but usually has the optimum flavor and nutritional value.

Ask Questions

Don’t hesitate to ask the farmers about their farming practices. Learn whether they use pesticides, if their products are organic, or if there are any unique qualities about their produce.

Plan Meals

Before you go, think about the meals you’ll be making for the week. This helps you buy what you need, reduce waste, and incorporate a variety of nutrients into your diet.

Try New Things

Each visit, try to buy a new fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried before. It’s a fun way to discover new favorites and diversify your diet.

Bring Your Own Bags

Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it also makes it easier to manage and organize your purchases.

Quick Healthy Shopping Tips for the Busy Lifestyle

Here are some practical, quick healthy shopping tips that can easily fit into a busy schedule, helping you make smarter, healthier choices without spending too much time or effort:

Make a List

Before heading to the store, create a shopping list based on your meal plan for the week. This helps you stay focused, save time, and avoid impulse purchases.

Shop the Perimeter

Most grocery stores are designed with fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meats along the outer edges. Shopping the perimeter helps you fill your cart with whole foods and avoid the processed foods often found in the center aisles.

Shop Smart and Faster

Use apps and technology to effortlessly compare prices, find deals before leaving home, and order groceries for pickup or delivery. This approach saves time and often cuts costs, making your shopping both efficient and economical

Bulk Buys and Pre-Cut

Purchase staples like whole grains, nuts, and spices in bulk. It's cost-effective and reduces trips to the store. Also, if time is really tight, pre-cut fresh vegetables and fruits can save prep time and still provide the same nutritional benefits.

Avoid Shopping Hungry

Eat a healthy snack before you go shopping. Shopping on an empty stomach can lead to poor choices driven by hunger.

Label Lowdown for Cleaner Eating

When shopping, check labels for sugars, fats, and sodium, and opt for items with fewer ingredients for a healthier, less processed diet. This helps you avoid unwanted additives and promotes better eating habits. Try using apps that scan and break down nutritional facts and ingredients, making it super easy to pick the best stuff!

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