Do healthy grocery stores lead to weight gain?

Beware of the health halo that falls over healthy grocery store chains like Whole Foods. There's a distinct difference between healthy and gourmet. Gourmet can make it seem healthy to buy a pint of organic, fair trade ice cream and eat the entire container in one sitting. But this is never going to be a good idea for your weight, regardless of non-GMO, coconut milk or certified organic. 

All these new terms we've gotten quite used to whether it be extra-virgin, hormone-free, non-GMO, fair-trade and many others. Even further are the entire destinations deemed "healthy grocery stores" have become a staple in our culture. There are 300 Trader Joe's and 422 Whole Foods stores across the U.S. and let's be honest, it's not exactly cheap to shop at these locations.

But we'll spend more to invest in our health right? I think that's a great attitude. However, just because ice cream bars pop up in a health-food freezer section doesn't mean they're good for you. The truth is a chip is a chip and the same goes for other snack foods and dessert items like ice cream. 

You're heading down the aisle at a Whole Foods and around the corner is one of the product sample tables that you find in every specialty supermarket. This not only gets you eating in the story but convinces you to buy more food overall according to a study from Arizona State University. Research indicates that even the smell of cooking food might contribute to this effect. Instead of eating the snacks on display, find a good brand with healthy nutrients and ask an employee to let you sample it. Whole Foods has a company policy that allows customers to try anything in the store. 

The bulk problem is another concern in these healthy grocery destinations. Be cautious about what you buy in the bulk section especially if it's in the center of the store. Shopping the perimeter still applies to healthy grocery stores. The bulk section can be a place you over serve yourself and then eat. A study from Cornell University found nutritionists who served themselves ice cream with large bowls and spoons served 57% more than those given smaller bowls and spoons. As for what to buy in bulk? Spices, any legumes and grains as well as nuts like almonds are great and can save you money. The bulk section also usually has the raw nuts (not roasted or salted) which are the healthiest options. 

Keep in mind that items bought at the bakery or cheese bar in these locations do not have nutrition labels. Even the gluten-free vanilla cupcakes can seem great, but you still really have no idea what you're eating. Here's a fact, just one Whole Foods cupcake has almost 500 calories. Knowing the calorie count actually made people eat 69% fewer calories in a study from the University of Mississippi. You can ask an employee to look up the calorie count with some items. 

Another issue with healthy grocery stores is that the junk food looks gourmet, therefore leading us to purchase it. Many food makers actually use fancier looking fonts and labels to help justify higher prices. Be careful not to get sucked into some of the marketing tricks in the displays and food packaging throughout the store.