125 Best Packaged Foods for Women
Women's Health's list of products takes the guesswork out of grocery shopping.
Aug. 4, 2008— -- With food prices rising faster than a Lil' Wayne single and empty phrases like "all natural" and "lower in fat" slapped on labels for everything from frozen hash browns to ready-to-eat cheesecake filling, shopping smart is only getting harder.
That's why Women's Health sent a posse of food gurus -- Women's Health nutrition and weight-loss experts Lisa Drayer and Keri Glassman, along with registered dietitians Karen Ansel and Maureen Callahan -- on a four-month mission to prowl supermarket aisles for the best packaged products a girl can buy.
Use this holy grail of a grocery list to toss together speedy, low-cost meals that satisfy cravings, help prevent heart disease and cancer, build muscle and bone, and help you stay on friendly terms with the bathroom scale.
Drinks -- Make Every Drop Count
1. Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice with Calcium & Vitamin D -- Dairy dissers can get what they need from this sweet OJ. Per 8 oz: 110 cal, 0 g fat, 0 mg sodium, 26 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 2 g protein
Builds bone, high in calcium
Fights cancer, high in antioxidants or other cancer preventing agents
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
2. Steaz Diet Organic Beverage -- Get your fizz fix without all the sugar by guzzling this bubbly green-tea beverage. Per 8 oz (raspberry flavor): 40 cal, 0 g fat, 10 mg sodium, 9 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
3. Tazo Organic Chai -- A calorie-free sweet and spicy elixir loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants. Per 8 oz: 0 cal, 0 g fat, 0 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein
Fights cancer, high in antioxidants or other cancer preventing agents
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
4. Honest Tea Organic Peach White Tea -- Fruit purée and a hint of sugar turn tea into a treat for just 85 calories a bottle. Per 8 oz: 40 cal, 0 g fat, 5 mg sodium, 10 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein
Fights cancer, high in antioxidants or other cancer preventing agents
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
5. Carnation Instant Breakfast Complete Nutritional Drink (No Sugar Added) -- A vanilla milkshake minus the fat and calories plus calcium and fiber. Per packet (with 1 cup nonfat milk): 150 cal, 0 g fat, 70 mg sodium, 12 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein
Builds bone, high in calcium
Build muscle, high in protein
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
6. South Beach Living On the Go Tide Me Over (Natural Strawberry Banana) -- A protein- and fiber-filled mix with enough pow to tame a greedy tummy between meals. Per packet: 30 cal, 0 g fat, 20 mg sodium, 6 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 3 g protein
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
7. Swiss Miss Marshmallow Lovers Fat Free Cocoa with Calcium -- Hot chocolate with nearly as much calcium as a glass of milk. Per package: 70 cal, 0 g fat, 180 mg sodium, 13 g carbs, <1 g fiber, 3 g protein
Builds bone, high in calcium
8. V8 Low Sodium 100% Vegetable Juice -- Mix with a splash of vodka for a healthier Bloody Mary. Per 8 oz: 50 cal, 0 g fat, 140 mg sodium, 10 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 2 g protein
Fights cancer, high in antioxidants or other cancer preventing agents
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
9. Function: Light Weight (Pink Grapefruit) -- A lip-puckering grapefruit drink with green tea to stoke metabolism and vitamin D and calcium to build bone. Per 8 oz: 5 cal, 0 g fat, 0 mg sodium, 1 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein
Builds bone, high in calcium
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
10. Plum Smart Light -- This is not your grandma's prune juice: This good-for-you blend also packs soothing chamomile and a zesty hit of ginger. Per 8 oz: 60 cal, 0 g fat, 20 mg sodium, 15 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 0 g protein
Fights cancer, high in antioxidants or other cancer preventing agents
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Bread & Cereal -- Fiber Never Tasted This Good
11. Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Double Fiber 100% Whole Wheat -- Full of waistband-shrinking fiber -- yet somehow Wonderbread fluffy. Per slice: 100 cal, 1.5 g fat (0 g sat), 170 mg sodium, 21 g carbs, 6 g fiber, 4 g protein
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
12. Toufayan Bakeries Whole Wheat Pita Bread -- These hearty, protein-rich pitas won't fall apart when you stuff them. Per pita: 150 cal, 0 g fat, 225 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 6 g protein
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
13. Arnold Bakery Light 100% Whole Wheat -- Two slices for the caloric price of one, plus about a fifth of your daily quota of rough stuff. Per 2 slices: 80 cal, 0.5 g fat (0 g sat), 150 mg sodium, 17 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 5 g protein
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
14. Thomas' Hearty Grains 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins -- These have plenty of nooks and crannies to go with your grains. Per muffin: 120 cal, 1 g fat (0 g sat), 220 mg sodium, 23 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
15. General Mills Fiber One Honey Clusters -- A sweet, crunchy way to make sure you get enough fiber -- a serving has half of your daily needs. Per cup: 160 cal, 1.5 g fat (0 g sat), 280 mg sodium, 42 g carbs, 13 g fiber, 5 g protein
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
16. Kellogg's Special K Protein Plus -- Think of it as "Super-Special K": the same classic cereal, bulked up with extra fiber and protein. Per 3/4 cup: 100 cal, 3 g fat (0.5 g sat), 110 mg sodium, 14 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 10 g protein
Build muscle, high in protein
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
17. Barbara's Bakery Ultima Organic Pomegranate Cereal -- Battle aging with every antioxidant-spiked spoonful. Per 1/2 cup: 100 cal, 1 g fat (0 g sat), 85 mg sodium, 24 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 3 g protein
Fights cancer, high in antioxidants or other cancer preventing agents
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
18. Quaker Instant Oatmeal Weight Control -- So filling they'll keep your stomach from rumbling before noon. Try comfort-food flavors like Banana Bread and Maple and Brown Sugar. Per packet: 160 cal, 3 g fat (0.5 g sat), 310 mg sodium, 29 g carbs, 6 g fiber, 7 g protein
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
19. Kashi Cocoa Beach Granola -- Nutty and hearty, with six grams each of fiber and protein, plus coconut, almonds--and chocolate. It's like Count Chocula for grown-ups. Per 1/2 cup: 230 cal, 9 g fat (1.5 g sat), 120 mg sodium, 33 g carbs, 6 g fiber, 6 g protein
Fights cancer, high in antioxidants or other cancer preventing agents
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
20. Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain 100% Whole Wheat Mini Bagels -- Portion-perfect baby bagels with no trans or sat fats. Per bagel: 100 cal, 0.5 g fat (0 g sat), 180 mg sodium, 20 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 4 g protein
Fights heart disease, low in saturated fat and/or high in fiber
Promotes weight loss, low in calories and/or high in fiber
For the entire list of 125 Best Packaged Foods, go to theWomen's Health website.
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