Grocery shopping can be difficult when you’re on a weight loss journey. At popular stores like Walmart, processed snacks call to you from every corner, and even the “health food” section can be a minefield of inflammatory ingredients you’re better off leaving out of your cart—and your body. Half the battle of weight loss is figuring out what’s actually good for you, making a clear grocery list, and sticking to it. Luckily, you can always lean on experts for a little bit of help.
Jesse Ramos Jr., fitness expert and human performance coach, knows a thing or two about weight loss; he lost 90 pounds himself and has kept it off for over 10 years. “And I know firsthand how hard it is to do that without guidance,” he tells us, noting that in his Mexican American household he grew up on enchiladas, rice refried beans, tortas, and more.
“Delicious food. But eaten in excess and without understanding, it brought me to 255 pounds,” he admits. “I lost the first 50 pounds through movement alone but hit a wall. That’s metabolic adaptation: my body had adjusted to the calorie deficit and simply stopped responding. It wasn’t until I started making simple swaps that the rest came off. Diet was the missing piece. Once I found that out everything changed.”
Ultimately, he figured out the hard part, so you don’t have to.
Here are 5 Walmart finds that he says made a real difference:
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1. Great Value Chunk Light Tuna
When it comes to weight loss-friendly meals, protein should be a top priority. According to Ramos, this is a fantastic, cost-effective staple (just 96 cents!) you can throw into your cart on your next Walmart run.
"Lean protein under a dollar," he praises. "It keeps you full preserves muscle, and your body burns more calories just digesting it." We can definitely get behind that. Whip this up into some tuna salad, and you've got a tasty, protein-packed meal to fuel you throughout the day.
2. Dave’s Killer Bread
Bread is often seen as the enemy of weight loss. But don't let diet culture get the best of you; while white bread, yes, is packed with processed carbs that could stand between you and your dream body, whole grains are a crucial part of a healthy diet. There are many great bread options that can sustain and energize your body without overloading on empty calories.
Ramos recommends Dave's Killer Bread, which you can find at Walmart. "Whole grains, fiber, and protein in every slice," he tells us, noting this item as "the swap that ended the bloat." Bye-bye, white bread!
3. Barilla Protein+ Penne
Who says you can't enjoy a delicious Italian meal while still shedding pounds? As it turns out, there are healthy pasta recipes, especially when you choose a protein pasta like Barilla Protein+ Penne, as recommended by Ramos. You'll definitely want to stock up on this option at Walmart.
"Carbs aren’t the enemy. Refined ones are," Ramos reminds us. "This delivers 10g protein and 5g fiber per serving without sacrificing comfort." Not bad at all!
4. 93% Lean Ground Beef or Ground Chicken
You can still enjoy your favorite tacos, burgers, and bolognese while watching the number on the scale go down. The key is choosing lean varieties of ground beef and ground chicken. Ramos recommends sticking to 93% lean.
"I still make enchiladas," he assures us. "Just smarter ones." That's the secret to a healthy diet that you still love! "Lean protein preserves muscle while your body burns fat," he says. Incredible!
5. Sweet Potatoes
Potatoes can certainly still find a place on your plate as you work towards your health goals—especially sweet potatoes, which are as healthy as they are delectable.
This fall vegetable comes highly recommended by Ramos. "Complex carbs that fuel you slowly and steadily. No crash. No bloat. Just energy." What's not to love? Make this a recurring item on your Walmart grocery list and thank us later.
