Those purchases tend to be high in kilojoules and fat, which can sabotage your healthy eating efforts. Play the market right with these simple strategies.

Bring a shopping list
No, making a list in your head and depending on your memory won’t help. Forgetting to bring your shopping list along to the store won’t help either! Nearly 70 percent of women who make a shopping list forget to bring it to the store. Stash your list in your purse or car and only buy the items listed.

Scan the top and bottom shelves
Many manufacturers pay supermarkets for prime shelf space to showcase their latest products. As a result, many of the healthier foods that are immune to trends aren’t located at eye level. Don’t be taken in by fancy displays or packaging, it’s important to read the nutrition panel of every item you pick up.

Don’t be a slave to diet claims
A study in the Journal of Marketing Research found that people may eat up to 50 percent more kilojoules when a food is labeled low-fat. Aim for foods with less than 3 grams of fat per 100 grams, and preferably less than 1000 kilojoules per 100 grams.

Don’t be tempted while in the queue
Women consume up to 58 604 kilojoules a year from sweets, fizzy drinks, and other snacks bought at the till-point or while standing in the queue. Don’t be tempted to buy goodies just because you see it, supermarkets place those items there to tempt you – don’t be fooled!