How many of you dread the weekly shop filled with long queues at the checkout, screaming kids, and people who repeatedly jam their trolleys into the back of your heels? If any of this rings true, you might want to consider shopping online. I love ordering with the click of a mouse when I don’t want to deal with crowds or if I’m really short on time. Usually, though, grocery shopping is very therapeutic for me, and I can spend at least an hour and a half each week looking for seasonal bargains and new healthy products. I like to think of it as a positive step towards improving my health.

My weekly spend is around £50 for a family of two adults and two small children. Here’s what I loaded into my trolley this week.

Fruit
12 apples (Pink Lady or Braeburn)
10 bananas
12 pears (Rocha or Conference)
500g red seedless grapes
8 large navel oranges
12 clementines

Veg
6 courgettes
2 large florets broccoli
1 large cauliflower
500g fine beans
1 packet baby sweetcorn
1 pointed cabbage
6 carrots

I’m very good about trying to eat five servings of fruit and veg a day and am always looking for new ways to reach that target. Usually, I buy whatever is on special offer to make sure I can get as much variety as possible into my diet. In general, fruits and veggies contain different vitamins, particularly antioxidant nutrients and phytochemicals such as carotene, vitamin C and lycopene so they keep my heart healthy and protect against some cancers. Citrus fruits and grapes are my vitamin C boosters. Although the scientific evidence for vitamin C warding off colds is not totally convincing I do find that if I am feeling sniffly or run down these food boosters shorten the duration of my symptoms. Fruit and veggies also meet some of my fibre requirements.

Potatoes (I’ve listed these separately because they are not classified as a vegetable in the Balance of Good Health model)
3 sweet potatoes
1 bag potatoes (Red or Desirée)

I love sweet potatoes because they’re an excellent source of carotene (a vitamin A precursor and antioxidant) and can be zapped in the microwave and ready in 6 minutes. Red or Desirée potatoes meet some of my fibre requirements for keeping my gut healthy, particularly if I eat the skins. They also meet my B vitamin requirements, which help my energy levels stay high.

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Supermarket savvy