"When I came to the store, I mainly what was on sale or basically what I'd always bought. I would buy mac-n-cheese a lot. The kids grew up on that. A lot of lunch meats."
That was nearly 100 pounds ago before Sherry Johnston transformed herself on NBC's The Biggest Loser.
"I learned from Biggest Loser that you really have to pay attention to what you're putting in your mouth," she says. "Every bite counts, even when you're cooking. I learned about lower sodium, lower fat and it really is looking at those labels."
Johnston, who appeared during Season 9 of the show with her daughter Ashley, says the show took them on shopping trips.
"We learned to shop the perimeter because it has the least processed (foods). Now I come and buy as many vegetables and fruits as I possibly can."
She also buys organic as much as I can.
"Some of the things I like to eat organic would be berries or grapes. Things that you peel, not necessarily so much. Apples, you eat the flesh so you would want to eat organic so you don't eat as many chemicals."
Sherry says you don't have to have a lot of money to buy good, healthy food options.
"If you can't buy fresh, buy frozen. Most grocery stores that have their own brands that are low sodium. You can eat the whole bag for 130 calories. I would put tuna in it and some dressing and I loved it."
She admits that her time in the national spot light has made her shopping trip into a public matter.
"People are looking. They come up to me and say 'oh, what' in your buggy today. It makes it harder to cheat when everybody knows you and that's good."
Here are some of Sherry's shopping tips:
1. Read labels carefully.
"I learned how much sodium I was taking in because I had no idea. I had added salt to everything and the main thing I learned is how much I was over-doing on the salt and it's killing all of us," she admits
2. Buy organic when possible
"I can't afford to buy everything organic but I think there are some things to do. Most every grocery store has an organic section and if you can afford it, go there. If not, get what you can."
3. Buy good quality of food
"Buy the best quality of food that ou can afford so you can stick with it. If you can't afford it, you won't buy it consistently."
4. Buy snack packs
"I'm kind of like a child because I always have food with me and always have a little bag of food to keep me from making bad decisions because I'm out and I'm hungry."
5. Don't skip breakfast
"For me breakfast is the best meal of the day. I typically have some sort of eggs, a lot of time turkey bacon or piece of whole grain toast."
6. Don't deprive yourself
"I confess, my cheat food is chocolate. I still love chocolate. I have a little because if I don't, I think about it. i used to have the whole bag but now I have a little and I'm satisfied.