125 Best Packaged Foods for Women
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
For the entire list of 125 Best Packaged Foods, go to theWomen's Health website.
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