I was asked to share my shopping list for my Depression Diet, so here it is! Of course, it may vary from time-to-time depending on what is available, prices, etc. A few things that may be staples for other kitchens, like red meat, cheese, and other fruits and veggies, are missing from the list. That’s just because I don’t happen to eat red meat very often, I’m trying to cut down on the cheese (I have a mild obsession), and I tend to switch up my fruits and veggies anyway depending on what I find at the farmer’s market. These are just what I want to have on hand most often.
THE DEPRESSION DIET SHOPPING LIST:
Whole wheat bread
Tortilla wraps
Rice
Couscous
Pasta
Oatmeal
Almond milk
Coffee
Cranberry juice
Green tea
Almonds or walnuts
Eggs
Dark chocolate
Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Beans
Spinach
Jalapenos
Broccoli
Avocados
Tomatoes
Garlic
Kale
Onions
Mushrooms
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Sprouts
Beets
Limes
Lemons
Grapefruit
Bananas
Apples
Smoked salmon
Deli turkey
Frozen chicken breasts
Greek yogurt
Half and half
Mint leaves
Cilantro
It may not look like too much, but when you have spices, condiments, and other herbs already on hand at home, there are a lot of options. In my freezer, I already had some frozen fruits and veggies (which I generally use for smoothies), as well as the chicken breasts (which I buy in bulk at Sam’s), and I have various other healthy items (like granola, local honey, dried lentils, etc) in my pantry. With all of these things on hand, I have been able to create some really tasty meals without having to work or think too hard to come up with them!
I highly recommend shopping this way. It is much faster and easier to come up with a grocery list that you simply “refill” rather than starting from scratch each week. It helps cut down on temptation in the first place, but then even when you give in to temptation, you are far less likely to splurge and wind up with a cart full of unnecessary items! You’ll have a cart full of items that pair well together…and maybe a few fun extras. Like I say, this is just my “base” list. Sometimes I might substitute certain items if I feel like mixing it up, or I may add a few extra things in order to create certain recipes.
If you try shopping like this, let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear your suggestions and if this works well for you, too!
