The grocery market in Australia is supersaturated with retailers, big or small players that supply shoppers all around the country with a variety of products and foods, from in-store made to Australian made or sourced.
We’re talking about supermarkets that sell anything from hardware to milk but also about independent grocers that make up the neighborhood-style stores in the country. These supermarkets may not have a selection as big as the likes of Woolworths or Coles, but you will always be able to find good foods here too.
Advertisement:
“Good foods” means different things to different people. To people who eat healthily and watch for fat content in their meals, good foods are no-fat foods. But instead of going for the so-called low-fat or fat-free foods that the food industry sells, how about starting to manage your cholesterol levels in a different way and source naturally fat-free foods that are indeed healthy? And they’re to be found at any supermarket or store, big or small.
Fresh fruits and veggies
Most produce is naturally fat-free, but even with coconut and avocado as exceptions, you’d still benefit from these fruits because they are what’s considered the good kind of fat that actually benefit the body. Example – avocado lowers bad cholesterol levels.
Eat fruits and veggies in their purest form for fat-free benefits. Adding toppings like cream cheese and sweet cream to fruits brings fat content to the table. Seasonal fruits and vegetables available now in Australia are cherries, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, kiwis, strawberries, watermelons, avocados, cucumbers, eggplants, celery and asparagus among others.
Whole-wheat pita bread
Or in case the local store doesn’t sell whole-wheat pita bread – whole-grain bread. It is important however to check for any ingredients added to your bread that may be harmful.
In-store breads tend to come pack-full of additives and preservatives as do breads from various producers. Manufacturers add fats to grain-made products for more flavor, so be on the look-out for that, especially when buying your morning bagels.
Beans
Black beans, white beans, pinto beans, Garbanzo beans, Fava beans or kidney beans – considering the many kinds of beans harvested everywhere in the world including Australia, it’s impossible not to find at least one variety at your local store.
If possible, buy dry beans instead of canned beans. You might be paying extra and investing more time in cooking, but you’ll be adding to flavor and healthy benefits.
Peas
Green peas are widely available in season and given it’s the summer season right now you should take advantage and select these as a healthier and more nutritious option.
Otherwise, peas are just as fat-free and still nutritional in their dry form too. When without fresh options, frozen and pre-shelled peas are always a better choice to canned peas that may come with lower nutritional content and extra not-so-good ingredients like sugar and sodium.
Lentils
Raw lentils are an excellent fat-free food that is loaded with fiber and other good stuff like copper, manganese, folate, and let’s not forget protein, a must in daily diets.
Advertisement:
Lentils are easy to cook and versatile, low in calories and best to buy in bulk. What’s even better is that they’re reasonably priced and even organic they are affordable.