CINCINNATI (WKRC) – You may want to continue that online grocery shopping. Many people started doing this to reduce the risk for COVID-19 in the pandemic. A recent Harris – Instacart poll shows many of us make healthier food choices when we shop this way compared to our in-person store visits. That is because when we are in store, we tend to impulse buy or shop what is on sale rather than sticking to a grocery list, but this recent poll showed a different effect when shopping online.

“They found that 81% of people said that online shopping helped them to make healthier choices, and 45% said that it helped them to stick to those lists,” said Maya Feller, a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Feller said those people who grocery shop online are more likely to make intentional choices.

“You know, they made lists, and then after they made that list, they actually shopped from the list,” said Feller.

That’s critical, she says, to eating foods, which help manage chronic health concerns, such as high blood pressure.

“For me, I’m salt sensitive,” said Feller. “So, in the search bar, I put low sodium in and then all the low sodium options populate, and it takes the guesswork out of it.”

Online food buying can also help control costs, especially if you compliment it by buying seasonal fruits and vegetables found at your local farmer’s market.

Seasonal shopping at markets for fruits and vegetables not only tend to be more cost- effective, they also tend to have even more nutrition due to what are called phytochemicals.

Those are natural compounds in those rich colors, flavor and textures of foods that help keep you well.