Before the early 1900's, stocking up on a week or month's worth of groceries meant a stop at the butcher shop, the fruit stand, the street vendor, and the local grocer. It may have taken a while to get what you needed but it was always fresh, healthy, and preservative-free.

The first self-serve grocery store went up in 1916 in the form of a Piggly Wiggly in Memphis, Tennessee. This new move toward convenience put local butchers and grocers out of business and made people forget where their food was coming from.

The year 1941 brought one of the world's first heavily processed candies, M&Ms. In 1943, synthetic vitamins were added to bread with the purpose of enhancing its nutritional content. Instant coffee was introduced in 1945.

Slowly, over time, heavily processed food went from a couple of unusual items on the grocer's shelf to thousands of food-like products.

Finding the healthiest foods in the supermarket can sometimes feel like you're navigating a minefield. That's why I created this guide.

How to Find the Healthiest Foods in the Supermarket

The supermarket has thousands of items competing for your attention. Food comes in bags, boxes, cartons, and packages of various shapes and sizes. Words like "natural" and "fat free" catch your eye with their bold colors and claims. It doesn't make it easy to shop.

Here are my guidelines:

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