Or some may ask, how does a Nutritionist shop this site?
Here’s my step by step guide to finding the best foods for you while also prioritizing convenience and taste. The best secret for eating healthy is to find foods that are delicious and easy to make!
Step One: Always start with fruits and veggies. Pick produce that is flavorful and in season and make it the cornerstone of your meals. Try this: as a family, commit to trying a new fruit or vegetable each week during National Nutrition Month®. My family has signed up for artichokes, hedgehog mushrooms, tomatillos and star fruit. For routine shopping, I always start with the Fresh Deals page. This weekly rotation highlights the freshest seasonal items that are also on sale (score!). Then, I navigate to the Fruit department to check the Season’s Best Top Rated Fruit & then Veggie Department to do the same. I always aim to try 1-2 non-routine veggies in every order.
Step Two: Make sure your pantry is stocked with whole grains. Check our “Rice, Beans & Grains” category in the Grocery department, Pantry category. Once you have navigated there, use the left navigation bar to check off “Whole Grain” to filter for all the greats: quinoa, brown rice, bulgur and more! Click here for that view. We also have a complete selection of whole wheat and brown rice pastas in our Pasta & Sauce category. Filter for “Whole Grain” in that category to keep your pantry full of quick nutritious dinner options that anyone in the family can cook up.
If you’re shopping on the iPhone app…here’s a visual on how to filter for whole grains that way:
Step Three: Eat up the benefits of meat and seafood. We have the highest quality meats and the freshest seafood, focused on organic, sustainable and antibiotic free products as much as possible. For the Meat department, utilize our Nutrition Sort functionality at the top of each category page to sort by “Saturated Fat”. Our sorter is smart, so it knows to bring those lowest in sat fat to the top of the search page because it is an unhealthy nutrient. If you’re more interested in protein, it will sort by the highest protein first. Also, we’re excited to announce that all of the chicken we sell in the Poultry Department is now GMO Free and Raised Without Antibiotics.
For Seafood, just like produce you can’t go wrong in this department – shop for the season’s top rated and you’ll be sure to find a wholesome pick. I recommend you add seafood into your diet at least two times per week to mix up your protein, increase your healthy fat intake and vary the vitamins and minerals you are getting from different types of animal food products. We also have a great frozen seafood section, to always have your freezer stocked in case you don’t have time to place an order. Continuing on the topic of varying your proteins, non-meat proteins like tofu, tempeh & soy products can be found in our Dairy Department – Category: Plant Based & Vegetarian. If you are interested in cutting back on animal products for ethical or health reasons, we’ve got a lot of products for you. This is a great way to reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet as well. Beans, nuts & seeds are also other great products for plant-based protein and you can’t go wrong incorporating these foods into your diet as often as you want them. Check out our great FreshDirect Brand selection of nuts and seeds here.
Step Four: We know that cooking from scratch is not always an option. Luckily we have a fabulous selection of over 400 Prepared Food items to fill your fridge for the week. As a working mom of a toddler, I know firsthand how tough it is to get dinner on the table. Not to mention remembering to pack a healthy lunch for the next day! But our Meals department has got you covered! Depending what you’re looking for, we have a great selection to fit your needs for all meals. Breakfast: egg cups, parfaits and pre-made oatmeal are all easy grab and go options. Lunch: fresh green salads and soups are your best bet to fit a bunch of vegetables and protein in for your midday boost. And for dinner, we have a lot of healthier options to choose from and a lot of filters to sort with for your specific needs, both on the desktop and in app. Starting with our Smart & Simple line of meal kits, which are all built to specific nutrition parameters, and are all easy to make in under 30 minutes. Simply navigate to our Meal Kits page and filter for the Smart & Simple brand:
The Entrees
category is another great place to find dinners that fit your dietary and
palate preferences. Filter for the number of people you want to serve, and then
use the nutrition sort on the top right of the category page to sort for the
parameter that sparks your interest – calories, fiber, fat, etc. To sort on the
FreshDirect iPhone app:
And to round out dinner, the sides category has a variety of vegetables and grains to choose from, all ready to serve in under 5 minutes.
Step Five: Lastly, the FreshDirect homepage has a “Shop by Lifestyles” section to address some of the many dietary concerns of our customers. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage on the desktop version of the site, and you’ll find these options:
We’re always open to feedback, so feel free to email our customer service team if you have other ways to shop for nutrition that would interest you in the future. I hope that no matter what your dietary preferences are, you can find some new items on our site to enjoy and keep you fueled for your busy life. Whether you are shopping for your family or for stashing your office, we are constantly working to have the healthiest, tastiest, freshest and most convenient offerings for your needs.