Prevention's 2022 Healthy Food Awards – Packaged Healthy Foods - Prevention Magazine

We’re always looking out for the newest, tastiest, and most forward-thinking health foods on the market. And year after year, we tear through hundreds of packages trying out the best of the best to ensure what we recommend not only is good for your health but also tastes great.

Testers from the Prevention Test Kitchen tried over 150 new food products that were launched nationally between January 2021 and April 2022. Additionally, testers also included some products they’ve adored over the last several years, creating a new list of noteworthy and long-lasting winners. Our panel of food experts tasted products out of the packing and followed any reheating or serving directions per the package’s instructions.

How we tested

Not only did these products have to wow tasters with craveable flavor, but they also needed to fit into most healthy diets by meeting strict nutritional standards. The criteria we used to choose our best products includes:

✔️ Clean Ingredients. Testers ensured that all packaged foods have real, recognizable ingredients.

✔️ Nutritionally sound. Every food product’s nutrition label was checked for no trans fats, they must include additional nutrients like fiber, protein, or vitamins and minerals, and meal makers had no more than 300 calories per serving.

✔️ Appropriate serving sizes. Gone are the days of picking out three chips as your snack. Our staff ensured an individual-sized pouch listed one serving or suggested serving sizes really fed our needs.

✔️ Limited added sugars. We capped added sugar to six grams per serving and allowed for some wiggle room with desserts up to 10 grams per serving.

✔️ Minimal salt. Most items on our approved list clock in under 400 milligrams of sodium per serving.

From the best cereal and oatmeal for breakfast to the best enchilada sauce and baked BBQ tofu to make dinnertime a snap, we’ve named the items you have to try this year. After extensive snacking, tasting, and reading labels, see our 40+ winners that deserve a place in your pantry, freezer, refrigerator, and dinner plate ASAP.

Best Breakfasts

Best Egg Alternative

Sous Vide Plant-Based Egg Bites Inspired by Japan

JUST Egg thrivemarket.com

Whether you’re cutting down on your animal proteins or not, these mung bean-based egg bites are a filling and flavorful morning meal. Each bite is rich with mushrooms, furikake, and hearty sweet potatoes to bring a super fluffy breakfast anyone will love.

Best Cereal

Unsweetened Cereal

Three Wishes amazon.com

A blend of chickpea flour, tapioca, pea protein, and salt makes this breakfast high in protein to kickstart your day with fresh fruit, milk, or a crunchy topping for yogurt.

Best Oatmeal

Ready to Eat Blueberry Oats

MUSH eatmush.com

Each spoonful has real blueberry flavor, without being too sweet and a super creamy texture that makes for a hearty breakfast. We love that it’s made with just four ingredients, tons of protein and fiber, and it’s ready to go when you are.

Best Cottage Cheese

Simply Lactose-Free Cottage Cheese

Good Culture freshdirect.com

For a creamy, dreamy snack or protein-packed breakfast (14 grams per serving!), this lactose-free cottage cheese is our favorite pick. The best part? Cottage cheese can go sweet with sliced berries and a drizzle of honey—or savory with a glug of olive oil and crispy cucumbers—to meet your tastebuds where they’re at.

Best Breakfast Bar

Oatmeal Cranberry & Almond Bar

Kate’s Real Food amazon.com

Lightly sweetened with honey and apple juice, this gluten-free bar is a perfect breakfast treat with a crunchy texture from brown rice crisps. Each bite is protein-packed to fuel you up while reminding you of your favorite oatmeal cookie

Best Waffle

Original Cauli-Wafels

Julian's Recipe instacart.com

Cauliflower can be anything it sets its heart to, and it makes a darn good waffle! These gluten and grain-free breakfast staples are made with cauliflower, cage-free eggs, tiger nut flour, and fava bean powder to bring five grams of protein and three grams of fiber to your breakfast table.

Best Granola

Organic No Added Sugar Mixed Berry Granola

Nature's Path amazon.com

Made with whole grain rolled oats and lightly sweetened with date powder, this granola won us over. With its crunchy clusters of tart freeze-dried berries in every bite, it’s the ideal fiber–and–protein–filled way to start your morning.

Best Breakfast Drink

Grassfed Kefir

Lifeway instacart.com

Kefir is a fermented yogurt-based beverage that brings a slightly fizzy, pleasantly tart sip and tons of gut-friendly probiotics to your cup. Enjoy a glass with breakfast or use it as a base for granola or smoothies for a boost.

Best Frozen Fruit

Organic Frozen Tropical Fruit Blend

WOODSTOCK instacart.com

Without any added sugar, this super simple frozen fruit blend of bananas, mangoes, and strawberries takes your smoothie game up a notch. Just blend with your favorite milk and it’s an easy, on-the-go treat to kick off your morning.

Best Proteins

Best Protein Snack

Protein One The Run Olive Oil & Zesty Lemon

Bumble Bee target.com

Pair with veggies for delicious, high-protein lunch, or take on the go for easy snacking anywhere, anytime. The snack kit contains 17 grams of protein from gourmet, wild-caught skipjack tuna that is lightly marinated in olive oil and lemon zest and is packaged with olive oil and sea salt crackers with a sweet caramel for the perfect treat.

Best Veggie Burger

The Kelp Burger

AKUA instacart.com

It may not “bleed,” but this plant-based burger has us opting for veggie-centric meals over meat. Mushrooms bring an ultra-meaty texture to the patty while a very mild seaweed flavor adds a pleasant, earthy taste without feeling like you bit into the ocean.

Best Tofu

Sweet BBQ TofuBaked

nasoya instacart.com

With a delicate sweetness balanced with a hint of spice, this is a perfect meal starter for those who think tofu isn’t for them. Each pre-seasoned serving of organic extra firm tofu packs 14 grams of protein and is versatile enough to pair with any side dish.

Best Prepared Meal

Ready-To-Eat Wild Tuna White Bean Salad

Wild Planet amazon.com

This ready-to-eat meal has 21 grams of protein to keep you full and satisfied. Each individually portioned salad contains sustainable tuna, white beans, chickpeas, carrots, red pepper, and olives for a light and healthy lunch you can enjoy on the go.

Best Beans

Mexican Black Beans

Somos eatsomos.com

Delicate black beans are simmered and seasoned with garlic, onion, and sea salt to bring authentic Mexican flavors straight to your dinner table. Just 90 seconds in the microwave, flavor however you wish, and serve alongside your favorite grain for a quick weeknight meal.

Best Meal Makers and Side Dishes

Best Side Dish

Orange Sweet Potato Steam Bag

Bako Sweet bakosweet.com

No more waiting for sweet potatoes to roast! In just five minutes you’ll have perfectly creamy, delicious sweet potatoes that steam right in the bag. It’s the ultimate, convenient side dish that pairs with almost anything.

Best Frozen Grain

The Original Quinoa & Kale

Path of Life Instacart

These freezer-friendly bags of ready-made side dishes are perfect for easy weeknight meals. Each bag contains nutty quinoa and big chunks of kale lightly seasoned with garlic and olive oil. It’s great as a dinner base, paired with your favorite protein.

Best Pasta Alternative

Cauliflower Linguine

CAULIPOWER freshdirect.com

Cauliflower has changed how we eat pizza, rice, gnocchi, and more, but now Caulipower has revolutionized how we dig into a bowl of pasta. This gluten-free noodle has a pasta-like texture that provides almost 20% of your daily fiber in just one serving. Pair with your favorite sauce for a veggie-forward, easy dinner.

Best Frozen Vegetable

Grilled Veggies, Peppers and Onions

Green Giant walmart.com

Without any added sodium or fat, these grilled veggies are the ultimate convenience items to keep in your freezer. Add them to sandwiches, mix them into pasta dishes, or warm up as a simple side in minutes.

Best Legume-Based Pasta

Chickpea Rotini

Barilla amazon.com

Choose from your favorite classic shapes (like spaghetti, lentil, rotini, casarecce, and more) and these chickpea and lentil-based pastas are a healthier twist on your favorite weeknight staple. Each serving provides a punch of protein and fiber for a boost of nutrition pasta lovers will adore.

Best Soup

Vadouvan Curry Sipping Soup

Tomato Bliss amazon.com

For a ready-to-eat soup, the low sodium content is impressive for how flavorful each spoonful is. Savory heirloom tomatoes melt into a spice blend of fennel, turmeric, cardamom, fenugreek, and other mild curry spices for a delicious bowl.

Best Bread

Sprouted Whole Grain Bread

Angelic Bakehouse angelicbakehouse.com

A blend of seven grains including wheat berries, quinoa, barley, and more, make this bread super hearty. We love that it’s high in fiber and protein, but low in carbs. Plus, a touch of brown sugar keeps the added sugar lower than many competitors.

Best Filled Pasta

Dairy-Free Ravioli

Nuttin Ordinary instacart.com

These pasta pillows are stuffed with cashew-based cheese seasoned with Italian herbs that even a die-hard cheesy pasta fan will devour. These are exceptional for those looking to cut down on dairy with totally recognizable ingredients.

Best Sauces, Condiments, and Toppers

Best Pasta Sauce

Organic Vodka Sauce

Otamot otamotfoods.com

Your favorite pasta sauce just got an upgrade with 10 organic veggies that bring a ton of vitamins and minerals (like 20% of your daily vitamin A) to your bowl. Made with real vodka and cashew butter for plant-based creaminess, you’ll want pasta night every night.

Best Hummus

Sweet Po-Thai-To Hummus

Darista instacart.com

Tasters particularly love the sweet po-thai-to and morockin’ carrot varieties but felt any of the exceptional flavors of these veggie and spice-packed dips would be a great addition to your condiment spread. Just add a dollop to your plate for instant flavor.

Best Spicy Condiment

Shito Sauce

AYO Foods instacart.com

Just a drizzle of this sauce over your meal brings some big flavor (and heat!) to your favorite dishes. The smoky, savory sauce contains a blend of hot peppers, caramelized onions, tomatoes, herbs, and a seafood base for flavor you can count on.

Best Meal Starter

Sofrito

Loisa loisa.com

The classic combination of aromatic vegetables is a popular base for Latin American dishes, but this version has all the flavor with a fraction of the usual sodium content. Use the blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, lemon, and more as a starter for dinner, a marinade for proteins, or a sauce on prepped dishes.

Best Enchilada Sauce

Red Enchilada Sauce

Siete amazon.com

Whip up delicious, homemade enchiladas with simple, whole ingredients and flavorful spices with this jar. Siete foods deliver big flavor with limited sodium, no added sugars, and even a touch of protein and fiber.

Best Spice Blend

Savory Spice Blend

Ami. Ami

amiamifoods.com

Shop Now

Top salads, soups, toasts, dips, roasted veggies, and more with this ultra-savory blend of nuts, seeds, and spices. Bonus: just two tablespoons of the mixture contains five grams of protein and four grams of fiber.

Best Snacks

Best Nacho Chip

Nacho Plant Crisp

SNACKLINS amazon.com

These mushroom and yuca-based scoops are just as airy as they are crunchy. They get their nacho flavoring from nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and tomato powder for a realistically cheesy flavor made for snacking.

Best Plant-Based Chip

Sweet Jalapeño Pea Protein Chips

Safe + Fair safeandfair.com

For those who crave a sweet and spicy flavor with a satisfying, rice cake-like crunch—this is for you. Each crispy serving of chips is loaded with protein (nine grams per serving!) from peas and lentils to keep you satisfied and fueled through your midday slump with a slightly vegetal, spicy flavor from bell peppers, tomato, jalapeno, and cilantro.

Best Pickle

Dilly Garlic Pickle Chips

Cleveland Kitchen walmart.com

Boost sandwiches and your gut with these fermented pickles with live and active cultures. Each crisp bite is flavored with a mix of seasonings like garlic, herby dill, mustard seeds, and allspice without any added sugars or preservatives.

Best Fruit Chip

Unsweetened Kiwi Chips

RIND Snacks amazon.com

These aren’t your classic dried fruit, but a crispy, crunchy, and tangy thin-cut slice of dried kiwi without any added sugar. These vitamin-C-rich and fiber-packed crisps are perfect to snack straight out of the bag but spread with a scoop of yogurt and a squeeze of honey for a flavor explosion.

Best Sparkling Water

Sparkling Water Blackberry Lemonade

Waterloo instacart.com

Refresh year-round with sugar and calorie-free bubbles reminiscent of your favorite summer beverage. Each sip brings a surprising twist of sweet and tart with classic country lemonade and juicy blackberries.

Best Nut

Seaweed Almonds

Spirit spiritalmond.com

Crunchy dry roasted almonds are tossed in a savory concoction of sesame oil-infused seaweed, mushroom powder, and salt without any of the fishy flavor. Each pack serves up 50% of your daily vitamin E requirements, three grams of fiber, and seven grams of protein for a well-balanced snack.

Best Cheese Dip

Crazy Feta Cheese

Cava Mezze instacart.com

Go crazy for this creamy, spicy, and super-rich feta-based dip. Jalapeño peppers are whipped into feta cheese for a twist on the classic Greek dip. Just grab your favorite veggies or pita chips to get dipping, or even add on top of bowls, sandwiches, salads, and more.

Best Protein Puff

Sour Cream and Onion Sun Poppers

LesserEvil amazon.com

Everything you want out of a bag of sour cream and onion chips without the dairy, gluten, or additives. These light, poppable chips contain three grams of protein from watermelon and pumpkin in each serving of 45 plant-based puffs.

Best Popcorn

Seapoint Farms Mighty Lil’ Crunchy Corn Snack

COMING SOON

Bring this bag to your next movie night for a flip on popcorn we can’t get enough of. Each partially popped corn kernel has a satisfying crunch and salty flavor popcorn lovers will adore. Plus, with only three ingredients, each serving boasts 4% of your daily iron and two grams of fiber.

Best Cracker

Wild Blueberry and Almond Raincoast Crisps

Lesley Stowe instacart.com

Charcuterie boards have met their new essential cracker. Chunks of almonds, whole dried blueberries, chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds make for a sweet, savory, and hearty cracker. Pair with blueberry jam and a slice of sharp cheddar for a sensational snack.

Best Cheese Snack

Sharp White Cheddar Cheese Snacks

Tillamook target.com

Individually wrapped, creamy sharp white cheddar bites are a protein-rich snack (five grams each!) for any cheese lover. They’re perfect on their own but paired with a cracker complete a savory, bold bite.

Best Spicy Snack

Heirloom Snacks Jalapeño Cheddar Crunchies

Pipcorn amazon.com

Not for the faint of heart! The combination of whole-grain heirloom corn, organic cheddar cheese, and real jalapeños creates a deliciously addicting, spicy snack that will have you going back for more.

Best Plant-Based Dip

Plant-Based Queso Style Dip

Good Foods instacart.com

A blend of cauliflower and bell peppers gets a cheesy kick from nutritional yeast with a bonus of two grams of protein per serving from almonds and chia. Grab your favorite veggies and chips because the texture and flavor are wildly reminiscent of your favorite cheese dip without the dairy.

Best Crunchy Snack

Cactus Sticks

Nemi neminative.com

For a unique twist to crush your crunchy cravings, these chips are made with ingredients like amaranth, pea protein, cactus powder, chia seeds, and more aimed to amp up the protein and fiber without anything artificial. If you’re craving salty, we recommend the Mexican Lime and the Churro Cinnamon is great for a sweet tooth.

Best Desserts

Best Chocolate Covered Fruit

Hyper-Chilled Raspberries in White and Dark Chocolate

Tru Fru walmart.com

Ice cream lovers—listen up. This poppable dessert contains a chocolate duo layer that provides a richness that coats the tart frozen raspberries for the perfect bite. It’s reminiscent of your favorite ice cream treat with a fraction of the calories and sugar.

Best Chocolate Bar

Chocolate Strawberry and Hibiscus

Antidote instacart.com

Perfectly balanced hibiscus and dried strawberries bring a sweet and sour flavor to this otherwise rich, chocolatey bar. With low added sugar and a boost of real cacao powder, these creamy milk chocolate bars are perfect for your evening indulgence.

Best Dessert Smoothie

Strawberry Spoonable Smoothie

Sweet Nothings Sweet Nothings

Though they call themselves smoothies, these single-serve cups are truly the decadent dessert you’ll want to end your day with. Sweetened with dates, extra creamy from blended cashews, and just 100 calories per serving you’ll want to stock the freezer, stat.

Best Coconut Dessert

Coconut Mini Medjools

Natural Delights instacart.com

These naturally sweet treats are as simple as they sound–a delicate date rolled in light, slightly sweet coconut flakes for a high-fiber delight to enjoy in the evening or any time.

Best Brownie

Gut-Healthy Brownies

Dalci dalci.com

Super soft, chewy, and decadent, these brownies are everything you want from the classic dessert but made with seven recognizable, gluten-free ingredients. The avocado oil, almond flour, coconut sugar, cocoa, and egg are all ingredients you’re probably familiar with but baked into a convenient, little square for an anytime sweet.

Best Fruit Snacks

Organic Mango and Orange Whole Fruit Gummies

SOLELY amazon.com

Fruit snack fans, listen up! These sweet-tart treats are perfect for adults and kids alike. Made without any added sugar and just three wholesome ingredients—mango, orange extract, and vitamin C they’re an immune-boosting dessert delight.

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