Rethinking the foods you buy can help you lose weight.

Stocked with sticky-sweet desserts, fresh baked goods and so many of your favorite foods, the supermarket can be a destination for diet disaster. We visit the grocery store an average of 2.2 times a week, which gives us plenty of opportunities to pick up items that can pack on pounds. While shedding 30 pounds and counting, I've learned a few things about navigating the pitfalls of food shopping. Culled from my own experience as well as advice from registered dietitians, weight-loss professionals and food marketing experts, these tips may help you pass up the pastries the next time you head down those aisles.

Get Ready to Go

Choose (your market) wisely. Picking through a small, dark produce section with half-empty bins and limp-looking fruits and veggies could make anyone head for the cookie aisle. Choose a bright, clean market with varied produce and lean meat selections, says Heidi Reichenberger, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). If it has a healthy foods section, all the better.

Time yourself. Some consumers make better choices in the evening, after they've eaten dinner and the bakery is closed, while others find they have more resolve in the a.m. hours. When possible, shop at the time that works best for you.

Take 10. Spending just 10 minutes mapping out your menu for the week will help you stay on track. "If you have the ingredients for healthy meals at home, you probably won't want to order high-cal takeout," says Reichenberger.

Get in the mood. If you're sad, mad or generally feeling blah, it's easy to reach for ice cream or chips. Instead, play upbeat music in the car or take a few moments to unwind before entering the supermarket.

Indulge in advance. Head off the hungries by grabbing a delicious snack or stopping for a small, fat-free frozen yogurt or smoothie before you shop, says Lisa Dorfman, M.S., R.D., a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and CEO of Food Fitness International in Miami. Satisfied shoppers are less likely to be tempted by calorie-laden impulse items.

Be kid conscious. Children can undermine your best intentions, explains Kenneth Herbst, Ph.D., an assistant professor of food marketing at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. "They may not do it by pulling out their wallets, but kids are influential about what you choose to buy." If shopping solo isn't an option, tame the "I want candy" tantrums by taking toys or healthy treats to keep kids occupied. Or give them responsibility for choosing healthy items.