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Calibrate Food Finds

Finding delicious, good-for-you foods that will help you on your journey with Calibrate doesn’t have to be a chore. We’ve compiled this curated list of Calibrate-friendly food suggestions from our food team, clinicians, coaches, and even members just like you. To help streamline your shopping time, we’ve included some brand recommendations and what to look for, but nothing on this list is mandatory; they’re simply suggestions.

Sadly, healthy food has a reputation for being expensive and a hassle, but we’re here to tell you, it doesn’t have to be that way. We’ve included plenty of budget-friendly picks as well, and for more money-saving tips, read our Eating the Calibrate Way on a Budget Guide.

A few pointers on grocery shopping:

  • Always shop on a full stomach.
  • At the store, spend most of your time on the outside aisles; that’s where you’ll find most of the nutrient-dense, whole or less-processed foods. (There are exceptions to this; see our list below.)
  • If something has an ingredient list and a nutrition label on it, read it! Make sure you can recognize the ingredients and remember to use the carb:fiber ratio as a gut check (for more tips check out the Label Reading Primer).
  • Make a list in advance and stick to it.
  • Sign up for your store’s loyalty program or use their app if they have one. Oftentimes, this is a great way to access member-exclusive discounts or rewards. Some apps even allow you to make grocery lists, including foods you’ve purchased before.

REFRIGERATOR

  • Avocados (or packaged guacamole; check the ingredient list to make sure it’s just vegetables and seasoning)
  • Salad greens: Romaine, mixed greens, arugula
  • Greens for cooking: Kale, spinach, chard, collards 
  • Non-starchy vegetables: Broccoli, celery, mushrooms, green beans, asparagus, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes (choose what you like and what’s in season)
  • Root vegetables: Carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, winter squash, beets
  • Fruit: Berries, apples, pears, bananas, melons, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, peaches, nectarines (choose what you like and what’s in season)
  • Alliums: Onions, leeks, scallions, garlic
  • Yogurt, Greek or plain, unflavored, and preferably full fat (dairy or non-dairy, depending on your preference; non-dairy yogurt is very low in protein). Dairy: Fage, Stonyfield, Maple Hill Plain Greek; non-dairy: Forager Cashewmilk Yogurt, So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Yogurt)
  • Milk, preferably full fat (dairy or non-dairy, depending on your preference; non-dairy milk is low in protein). Dairy: Horizon Organic, Organic Valley; non-dairy: Elmhurst, Malk
  • Proteins: Fish, shellfish, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork, tofu, tempeh, eggs (pasture-raised contain more nutrition), game meats if available such as bison, duck, ostrich, elk. (Aim for a variety of types and cuts—for example, if you always eat chicken breast, give thighs a try. Trying something new, like cooking lamb for the first time? Go for ground; it’s less expensive and easier to cook.)
  • Unsalted butter (Kerrygold,Organic Valley)
  • Grain-free bread (Outer Aisle)

FREEZER

  • Frozen vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, cauliflower/cauliflower rice, string beans, peas, carrots, edamame, unseasoned/no-sauce stir-fry kits (organic if possible; look for store brands for even better value, such as Good & Gather at Target or Great Value at Walmart)
  • Unsweetened frozen fruit: Berries, cherries, mangos, peaches, acai, smoothie mixes like blueberries, strawberries, and mangos (Good & Gather)
  • Sprouted whole-grain bread (Ezekiel)
  • Veggie burgers: Make sure all of the ingredients are foods you recognize, like beans, grains, vegetables, and seasonings (Big Mountain, Actual Veggies, Earth Grown)
  • Proteins: Fish, shellfish, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork (Note: It’s smart to buy some refrigerated and some frozen, so you always have a protein on hand.) 
  • Unsweetened smoothie ice pops (reHarvest Provisions, Sweet Nothings)

SHELF STAPLES

SHELF SNACKS

FATS/OILS

VINEGARS/CONDIMENTS