Target Grocery Store Guide:

Here is some of my favorite delicious and nutritious foods from target! This is a place to start and get you thinking. The foods below are meant to be easy and healthy foods for those who may be short on time, busy, or just don't like cooking. This might also make meal prepping a lot less intimidating. Wherever you are, these foods take minimal prepeation and are delicious!

I will serrate each section by protein, carbs, fats, and beverages!

Proteins:

These are some of my favorite protein options to get from target. As a college student, currently living in the dorms, I know the value of have easy and ready to eat options while still be nutritious and satiating. Each of the foods above contain mostly protein in their content.

Each of these protein options, have a solid macronutrient balance. Macronutrients are carbs, fats, and protein and are listed on the label of each food item. When choosing a protein, make sure the fat content is not larger than the protein content. This typically means the food contains a high amount of saturated fat or oils. High amounts of saturated fats can cause an increase in LDL (bad cholesterol) which can lead to heart disease. Many processed foods can also contain a high amount of saturated fats or possibly trans due to the oils they use during the processing. If you are a vegan, you may find that some of the vegan "protein" sources are mostly carbohydrates, it is not a bad thing but something to be aware of in order to get adequate protein throughout the day.

I know you have probably heard this many times before but try and get the products with the least amount of ingredients. This ensuring the food is high quality and nutritious!

Carbs:

These are some of my favorite carbohydrates from target!

Yes, fruits and vegetables are carbs and that is okay! I prefer to get precut fruit right now, this takes away the mess and added time of cutting fruit and washing it and it still contains the same vitamins, minerals, and nutrients! Frozen, microwaveable vegetables are also my go to right now, they are easy, low prep, and nutritious. Emily Willingham, a Clinical Dietician at Houston Methodist, has said "Freezing is like nature's pause button. Since frozen veggies are flash-frozen at the peak of their nutrient density, they can actually have higher nutrient profiles than fresh veggies that have sat around in the grocery store for a while," adds Willingham. "And keeping a few bags of frozen veggies in your freezer is a great way to have whole vegetables on hand without having to worry about cooking them before they go bad." Meaning they are just as nutritious (maybe even more) than fresh veggies!

Whole grains a super important to eat whole grains. According to Kerry-Ann Jennings, a registered dietician, eating whole grains can lower your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Whole grains have 3 parts to their kernel, bran (the hard shell on the outside), endosperm (middle layer of carbs), and germ (inside full of nutrients).Whole grains are going to provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and protein. My favorite whole grains to get from target in whole wheat bread and quinoa!

As for the rest, it is all delicious and contains high quality ingredients to keep you feeling amazing!

Fats:

Here are some delicious and nutritious fats!

Fats are crucial for hormonal health, give energy, and support cellular function and many other crucial functions! It is important to consume adequate amounts of fat and high quality fat sources.

Cheese is a great fat to add to any meal or snack. Avocados and guacamole are also healthy and delicious fat sources and this guac is amazing! Of course mixed nuts and nut butter are going to be a delicious fat choice and have tremendous health benefits. The Perfect Bar, is seen on the protein and fat section because it contains both of those macronutrients in larger quantities. Lastly, chocolate, especially dark, contains mostly fats. There is of course carbs and sugar in chocolate as well but is typically mostly fats. These are great foods to add to your diet to not only promote balance but healthy fats!

Seriously, the KIND frozen bars are my ultimate favorite and are a must to pick up next time you re at target!

Beverages:

Zevia is my favorite soda alternative as it gives a very similar taste without all the added sugar! It uses Stevia to sweeten the drink instead of sugar which is a 0 calorie alternative.

Liquid IV is amazing and hydrates you much faster than normal water. This is amazing for preventing dehydration or curing dehydration!

The rest are really delicious low calorie and high quality beverages!

Conclusion:

Of course, these are not the only foods you should buy from target or the only healthy options there but I hope this got you thinking and gave you a start to your grocery list. All of these options are easy and take hardly anytime to think about or prepare and are nutritious! I hope you give some of these delicious food options and try and let me know what you think!

Regan Erdmann