Hi, I’m Cam McIntosh-Rahn RD, CD (registered dietitian and certified dietitian) and nutrition is my game.  I love talking about food and nutrition and figured if I write here, I can share some of my knowledge because I love to teach.  What do I want to share in today’s blog?  Let’s talk nutrition basics.  What is the most important thing about nutrition in my eyes?  Grocery shopping effectively!  If you plan ahead it makes it a little easier to walk out with the healthy choices you intended to. 

What helps you grocery shop most effectively?  Planning, planning and more planning.  But who has time for such things?  I know I don’t so I have some ideas to help with the planning to make the best use of time.

Just as the old adage goes, “Let your fingers do the walking!”  The Internet is a wonderful resource for making meal plans, shopping lists, recipes and both programs and apps for the above three for your computer and smartphone.  See my list of favorites below.

Favorite online computer programs:

http://www.mealsmatter.org/MealPlanning/MealPlanner/        
--Great site that has a menu planner, sample recipes, shopping list and the ability to create your own eating pattern other than just breakfast, lunch and dinner!  Works wonderfully for small children who have to eat more often or for planned snack times!

http://www.foodonthetable.com/
--This is a free online budget meal planning service that matches sales from your local grocery store with your food preferences!

https://www.pepperplate.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/

--Here’s one I haven’t used but hear terrific things about from a friend who does.  She uses it to import recipes from her favorite sites, schedule her meals for the week, create shopping lists and even put her shopping lists in order for the store! 

http://allrecipes.com/
--This is one my favorite recipe sites out there.  You can find just about anything on this site and the reviews to tell you if it is really something you want to make.  Try something new today!

If you want to invest some money in some software for the computer, here’s a website with comparisons of 2012 software and features.

http://meal-planning-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

Favorite apps:

FoodPlanner for Android

Meal Planning by FoodOnTheTable for iPhone

Hopefully you’ll check out a few of the sites and find something to help get you started.  If not, feel free to email me for more ideas and watch for more tips soon!  Remember to learn new ways to look at old habits!