A top Australian dietitian has revealed the foods and ingredients she would never skimp on at the supermarket.
As rising inflation hikes up the price of groceries, many Aussies are snapping up the cheapest versions of their favourite buys.
However, there are some items Sydney dietitian Susie Burrell will always fork out more for as the alternatives ‘offer nowhere near as much nutrition’.
Susie revealed to FEMAIL that she splashes on lean proteins like mince and salmon as well as good quality crackers with grains, breakfast cereal, multi-grain bread, stock and in-season fruit and vegetables.
The podcast host said she always opts for lean meats like steak, lamb fillets, extra-lean mince and Tassal salmon at the butcher as they have less fat and more nutrients.
A top Australian dietitian has revealed the foods and ingredients she will never buy budget versions of at the supermarket
Susie splashes on lean proteins like mince and salmon as well as good quality crackers with grains, breakfast cereal, multi-grain bread, stock and in-season fruit and vegetables
She said she steers away from fatty meats like pork belly, regular mince, chicken drumsticks and wings.
‘They may be much cheaper but the price you pay for meat usually reflects the quality and cheaper cuts generally mean less protein and lots more fat,’ she said.
Susie loves good quality crackers with grains like Vita Wheat 9-grain biscuits for the ‘clean’ ingredient list and lack of vegetable oils and refined flours.
‘Most commercial crackers have a base of white flour and vegetable oil, which is generally palm oil. This mix of refined flour and processed oil offers nothing positive nutritionally,’ she said.
For breakfast, Susie likes to stick to cereals with less sugar and more nutritional grains and seeds like Multigrain Weetbix or Carman’s fruit-free granola.
Susie opts for lean meat with less fat like Tassal salmon as well as breakfast cereals like Carman’s fruit-free granola with nutritional grains and seeds that keep her fuller for longer
The nutritionist won’t scrimp on bread or stock going for dense grain loaves like Burgen Soy Lin bread and pricier stock options that contain less salt like Maggie Beer
She said cheaper cereals lack the dietary fibre and whole grains that help keep you fuller meaning you’re more likely to be tempted to snack on poor-quality foods through the morning.
The nutritionist won’t scrimp on bread, going for dense grain loaves. Her favourite is Burgen Soy Lin bread.
She said to avoid gluten-free products (unless you have no other option) as they can be highly processed, and advised going for wholegrain options instead.
In the fresh produce aisles, Susie makes sure to select in-season, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.
She loves oranges, kiwis and greens like broccoli which can be bought either fresh or frozen to increase your nutrient intake over winter.
‘All fruit is good for us, especially Vitamin C-rich options like citrus and kiwi but watch out for juices and dried fruit which is a lot more concentrated,’ she added.
Finally, Susie said good quality stocks are perfect for winter soups. She goes for the slightly pricier options like Maggie Beer as they have less salt and additives.