iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
David H. Murdock

GET UPDATES FROM David H. Murdock
 

My Healthy, Weekly Shopping List

Posted: 10/21/11 09:10 AM ET

In my previous blogs, I have talked about my diet and the important nutrients needed for optimum health. In this blog I will talk more about what I eat and why. No pills, not even aspirin, and certainly no supplements ever enter my mouth -- everything I need comes from my fish and vegetarian diet, which incorporates many different kinds of fruit and vegetables every week.

Even though I am Chairman of Dole Food Company, I do most of my own grocery shopping. Below I provide an example of a partial grocery list of what I might buy in any given week. Most of this is weekly. More to come -- in my next blog I will give you an addendum that will break this down into component parts to know what to eat for five days of the week.

[[Note: For consistency and simplicity, the values below are based on USDA nutrient data for 1 cup fruit, vegetables, legumes and grains; 3 cups leafy greens; 6 oz. fish and 1 oz. nuts.]]

BANANAS contain 25% vitamin B6, 20% vitamin C and 14% potassium.

PINEAPPLES contain 130% vitamin C and 80% manganese.

BLUEBERRIES contain 35% vitamin K, 25% vitamin C and 25% manganese, plus anthocyanins.

STRAWBERRIES contain 140% vitamin C, 30% manganese and 12% fiber.

SPINACH contains 540% daily vitamin K, 170% vitamin A, 45% folate, 40% manganese and 40% vitamin C.

BROCCOLI contains 280% vitamin K and 170% daily vitamin C.

RED BELL PEPPERS contain 320% daily vitamin C, 90% vitamin A and 20% vitamin B6. Also provide beta-carotene.

CAULIFLOWER contains 90% daily vitamin C and 20% daily vitamin K.

ASPARAGUS supplies 110% vitamin K, 35% vitamin A, 25% vitamin C and 10% iron.

TOMATOES contain 40% daily vitamin C, 30% vitamin A and 20% vitamin K.

OATS supply up to 70% of your daily manganese. Also provide soluble fiber, 20% phosphorus, 20% selenium, 15% magnesium and zinc, plus 10% iron.

BLACK BEANS are the top bean source of magnesium (30%), plus 60% fiber and folate, as well as 40% manganese.

WILD SALMON is low in mercury and rich in two important omega-3s (DHA and EPA). Contains 130% vitamin B12, 110% selenium, 70% niacin and 45% vitamin B6.

SARDINES supply 120% daily vitamin D and 60% calcium -- plus 0.9g omega-3s.

PICKLED HERRING provides 288% vitamin D, 138% selenium, and 120% vitamin B12.

EGG WHITES (three) are a fat-free source of protein, providing 21% of the daily requirement and 27% selenium.

ALMONDS are the top nut source of alpha-tocopherol, a potent form of vitamin E (35%), plus 30% manganese, 20% magnesium and 8% calcium.

Obviously this is only a partial list of what I eat every week. It may seem like a lot of food, but I juice fruits and vegetables every day. Also, I expend a lot of calories every day in my 50-60 minutes of cardio and strength training, most days of the week.

At the North Carolina Research Campus we are constantly doing research on all fruit and vegetables, including the ones listed above. It is the only campus in the world encompassing eight universities all working together for the benefit of health and longevity. These include Duke University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina A&T State University, University of North Carolina Greensboro, and Appalachian State University. We've gathered a comprehensive array of famous scientists and scientific equipment under one roof, including a two-story, 950 megahertz, 8-ton superconducting magnet. It is the largest and most powerful magnet in the world and is helping us look at both plant and human cells at the most minute level.

One of my missions in life is to share this kind of knowledge with others, so they can live more vital, active, satisfying lives. Since acquiring major interests in Dole Food Company 28 years ago, educating the public on proper diet has constituted the agenda of the Dole Nutrition Institute. We publish the Dole Nutrition News -- enjoyed by 2.5 million subscribers (sign up at dole.com), and our Dole Nutrition Handbook.

 
In my previous blogs, I have talked about my diet and the important nutrients needed for optimum health. In this blog I will talk more about what I eat and why. No pills, not even aspirin, and certa...
In my previous blogs, I have talked about my diet and the important nutrients needed for optimum health. In this blog I will talk more about what I eat and why. No pills, not even aspirin, and certa...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 52
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)
12:13 AM on 11/09/2011
To those who feel they can't afford healthy foods, There are ways to get good fruits and vegetables without spending a fortune. Look for sales and collect coupons. Go to your local farmers market and flea markets. Look on Craig’s List for low cost produce. Last week I bought a bushel of sweet potatoes for 5.00 at my local flea market. I washed them, baked them and put the in the freezer. Some I left out to eat raw or in my smoothies. One can also grow a garden. On the internet, there are numerous sites where one can get free seeds through trading or from people who just like to give seeds away. I collect my own seeds and I spend very little money on my garden. It's not that hard to plant a garden...we just make it hard in our heads. I find I am at my best outside working my gardens and watching my flowers and produce grow. All in all, healthy eating is about the cheapest way to eat! You just have to know how to shop, where to shop or how to put a seed into the ground. My parents had many kids and the ONLY way they could afford to feed us was by planting a garden. All we ate were dried beans and vegetables from the garden. And it was cheap! Eating well to fit the budget can be done…it’s really quite simple.
12:10 AM on 11/09/2011
What an inspiring article!! I am a firm believer that foods, herbs and spices are the key factor to good health. I believe we as care takers of our bodies can expect results when we treat it the way it was meant to be treated. I am really exited to hear about the new research facility in NC. I am looking forward to hearing more about the results of the studies and research that’s being done there. Right now I am making major changes in my life and following a better diet is one of my changes. I have always been a fan of good healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits but now it's time to get more serious so that is what I am doing. I am a bit surprised at the number of people who are commenting that they can't afford healthy foods; my take is that I CAN’T afford not to eat healthy foods!
01:54 PM on 10/27/2011
I love this list - a true inspiration! Watch out for the pickled herring, though. Most contain hfcs. I use it in my bagel brunches (http://tinyurl.com/3kns4nq) but I keep looking for ones without hfcs. I've seen ones with Splenda, but I'd rather not use that. If anyone knows of a brand of pickled herring that's not sweetened at all, or maybe with just stevia - I would appreciate it! Herring also contains tons of Omega 3's, by the way.
photo
HerrMonk
Fighter, Trainer, Nat.Sec.Consultant, Libertine
07:35 PM on 10/25/2011
*facepalm*
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
sabelmouse
i love to tumble , ask me why .
12:40 PM on 10/23/2011
Bitter fruit: The truth about supermarket pineapple
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/oct/02/truth-about-pineapple-production?INTCMP=SRCH
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
sabelmouse
i love to tumble , ask me why .
10:41 AM on 10/23/2011
what do you do with the egg yolks ? throw them away ? oh decadence!
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
MSROADKILL612
love auto biographys. any appS to write mine?
08:49 PM on 10/23/2011
u gotta be yolking?

I almost spared u but am in a bad mood
09:29 PM on 10/21/2011
lol at "egg whites". Seriously, more yolk and real nutrition for me...given that it's from my local farmer with real FREE RANGE chickens, not the organic hocus pocus eggs they sell at whole foods on a vegetarian diet.
08:53 PM on 10/21/2011
As someone who is allergic to corn, I can attest that I cannot safely ingest most of the items on Mr. Murdock's list unless I go to great lengths (and expense) to obtain pure forms. Some items I simply have to do without because there are no corn-free alternatives in my area. Bananas and pineapples are two such foods. Also, for the person who posted affordable alternatives to Mr. Murdock's list, all of your choices contain GMO corn or soy. I dare say it is healthier to do without fish if you can only afford farmed fish. It isn't a healthy alternative since it is reared on GMO corn and soy feed and then rinsed with GMO corn derived citric acid during processing and usually glazed with GMO corn syrup before freezing. I wonder what is the actual corn to fish ratio is in the final product?

Most of the healthy items on Mr. Murdock's list are contaminated with GMO corn caused by rampant use of unlabeled citric acid. cornstarch and corn wax by food processors. In fact, it is possible to buy all organic and still get GMO contaminated produce - red bell peppers, strawberries and bananas being some of the worst offenders. I long for the days when you could safely avoid toxic food additives just by avoiding processed foods. In our current food supply, all foods are processed foods.
07:01 PM on 10/21/2011
Best summary I've ever seen; honest. You've even convinced me to buy pickled herrings, and I never thought I'd see the day.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
inthelandoftheblind
Obama wants a strong Middle Class
06:19 PM on 10/22/2011
I grew up eating pickled herring - the type with pickled onions in sour cream.I still like to keep a jar in the fridge, but now I buy it without the sour cream & add my preferred organic brand. It may be an acquired taste as the herring is pickled in the raw state, as is ceviche, seafood marinated in the raw state in citrus juice & spices, of the Central & South Americas, & South Pacific.

If fresh, it is firm / if it's not firm, it's been on the shelf too long, so, check the jar date.I like to cut a piece up & eat it on a broken off chunk of knäckebröd / rye hard tack.It was always on the holiday table, or family gathering as one of the appetizers in my Swedish decent family.

It's a very good source of fish protein in hot weather, when it's too hot to cook, is a great quick breakfast or midnight snack too.
05:10 PM on 10/21/2011
As the grandchild of farmers, the child of a family where gardens were the norm, food eaten in season, bread made, everthing 'put up' when it was available was expected in my family. As one of 10 children, and a father who never made more then 1200.00 a month his entire life, I read with some amusement at all the p[eople who are crying for food subsidies, or free food, or even government supplied foods. I'd like to point out, as chronic renters, we had limited space, at times as little as an area 10 x 10 in the front of a house,potted plants, hanging plants, window boxes, and turned over lawns made my mothers life complete. Tomatoes, squash, cucumbers,onions, potatos and peppers will grow in the smallest plot. That produce allowed us to trade with others who grew other things. You learn, never throw awa a good jar, get rubber rings and lids when u see them, sealling wax, another keeper. This is a life, not a fad, one needs to committ to it, or u are wasting time. Once u eat food u have grown, u will know the differnece.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
inthelandoftheblind
Obama wants a strong Middle Class
06:25 PM on 10/22/2011
Very true, lots of veggies grow well in pots & if you compost with some manure added in, you can avoid buying expensive chemical fertilizers.I've seen some do very well growing potatoes in deep trash barrels, too!
04:42 PM on 10/21/2011
Those are great foods, but I almost think it's better not to confuse oneself with all the micronutrients.
"Fill up on perishable foods" is a simple guideline I use, the main purpose of which is to replace sugar and white flour with fiber and protein.

The major problem for grocers is that the processed foods are easy to ship and store, and benefit from national ad campaigns often featuring flavor of the month claims (vitamin fortified! cholesterol free!) or minor changes in size or flavor to add novelty. Meanwhile, the small growers try to sell plants that nature perfected long ago...
04:08 PM on 10/21/2011
To all of the folks complianing about the "high"prices of these foods - 1) where are you shopping? 2) Do you value your health? 3) and if you truly cannot afford these foods, write your Congressmen and Senators about the need to subsidize THESE types of healthy foods, and not CORN which is used to feed beef (not a cow's natural diet, it is GRASS) and make HFCS!!!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
inthelandoftheblind
Obama wants a strong Middle Class
05:03 PM on 10/22/2011
True...cows are grass eaters. Corn is in the grass family, but the reason they are fed corn may be because it fattens them up more, so they can sell it for more.

Unfortunately, most likely, the corn they are fed is GM corn.I grew up eating grass fed beef.Today's beef has little flavor, by comparison.Doesn't even smell the same when cooking.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
signalfire
03:48 PM on 10/21/2011
If nutritionally dense, healthy foods are not available for reasonable prices in your local food mart, perhaps you are attempting to buy foods that are not local (shipping increases price, obviously). Buy local, grow your own, adapt to the changing seasons, make your own from scratch as much as you can, start an aquaponics setup in your backyard that can produce both greens and fish. Fast food and junk food is no bargain. Drink water, not soda pop or fake juices.
02:56 PM on 10/21/2011
And how much did that cost??
How many are you buying for?

What is your 'weekly' grocery expenses ... total ????

You might see that not everyone can spend as much as you do when you paint the complete picture
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AJT
02:14 PM on 10/21/2011
and as I read some comments I see that people tend to feel it is very time consuming and expensive to have a healthy diet for a family. You have a lot of resources at your disposal so if you could do a nutrition/cookbook it would be great if you did research on how a family of 4 could eat a healthy diet on a low/middle income level. Remember many, many people work long hours and have little time, energy or money at their disposal to dedicate to complicated, expensive meals.