Choosing the right cuts of meat is one of the most difficult things to do when trying to eat healthier. Meat can be among the most calorie and fat dense foods, and it's not always easy to spot the leanest cuts of meat in the butcher's case. It's important however, to choose lean cuts of meat when cooking healthy dishes. Even the lowest fat meal can be sabotaged by the addition of a high fat pork chop, roast or other cut of meat. Of course it's still possible to include meat in a healthy diet. There are many lean cuts of meat available at the local grocery store, and meet provides much needed protein for energy and muscle development.

The key to buying the leanest cuts of meat for your healthy diet is to examine the cuts of meat carefully, and to have any additional fat trimmed. In cases where the grocery store has its own butcher, this is a relatively easy process. Most in store butchers are happy to show customers the various cuts of meat, and to trim the meat to their specification. In the case of grocery stores where all the cuts of meat are prepackaged, choosing the leanest cuts are often more difficult. Meat is often packaged to conceal the fat, so additional trimming may need to be done once the meat is purchased.

Trimming the extra fat off the meat you cook is very important when preparing healthy meals for yourself and your family. Shopping for good cuts of poultry is much easier than finding the leanest cuts of meat. That's because the most common poultry products such as chicken and turkey, are naturally low fat. There are high fat varieties of poultry such as goose and duck, but these aren't served on a regular basis in most homes.

The biggest problem poultry shoppers face is the calories and fat added by chicken and turkey skin. Most grocery stores sell skinless varieties of chicken breast, and these can be a great time saver. If the skinless varieties are a lot more expensive however, it may be more cost effective to buy the cheaper cuts and remove the skin yourself.

Like poultry, most varieties of seafood are naturally low in fat. Salmon is probably the best known exception to this rule; salmon is a fatty fish as are a few others, when in doubt ask the person behind the seafood counter or check it out online before you purchase it. Most varieties of fish however, are naturally lean and very healthy. As a matter of fact, those striving to follow a healthy diet should try to add more fish and seafood to their diet. Fish is very high in protein, low in fat and relatively low in calories. This is a valuable combination for any one food.

As with many aspects of smart food shopping, when it comes to meat, poultry and seafood, the fresher the better. There are a number of prepackaged, ready to heat and eat varieties of meat, seafood and chicken at the local grocery store. While these products can be fine for an occasional quick meal or snack, they shouldn't form the basis of a healthy diet. Remember, prepackaged foods are usually high in sodium and contain preservatives, so check your labels before purchasing anything prepackaged.

While buying fresh meat, seafood and poultry products is best, it's important to handle such foods properly on their journey from the grocery store to the dinner table. Improper food handling is responsible for the vast majority of food borne illness in the United States such as salmonella and e-coli, so it's important to handle any raw meat, seafood or poultry product carefully.

Probably the most important part of food handling safety is making sure that foods that are not cooked, such as salads and breads, don't come into contact with raw meat, poultry or seafood. Most food borne pathogens are killed during the cooking process, but they can easily spread to salads and other uncooked foods if care isn't used. That means scrubbing counter tops carefully with an antibacterial product, using separate cutting boards for meats and vegetables, and of course washing your hands thoroughly after handling meat, poultry or seafood products.