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Healthy Packaged Foods

Posted November 7, 2007 at 09:00 AM by Sahara Jackson

Section: Her Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Product Reviews, Vegetarianism, Weight Control

In an ideal world, dinner every night would be a fresh veggie stir-fry, we would snack on homemade, organic spelt flour muffins and enjoy fresh fruit salads for breakfast. While you should try to maintain a varied, healthy, and whole-foods diet for optimal energy, athletic performance and overall health, packaged foods often seem like a necessity for the busy woman on the go.

That being said, not all pre-made food items are made equal - those Twinkies and that dried fruit bar don’t have much in common aside from being wrapped in plastic. Here are five grocery cart worthy items (chosen for taste, value, ingredients and convenience) and the best time to use ‘em:

Bear Naked All Natural Granola: This cereal gets the nod over other varieties because of its simple, all-natural ingredient list (no monodiglycerides here!), heart-healthy fat from nuts rather than saturated fat from oils or preservatives, and good amount of fiber (6 grams in 1/2 a cup). It makes for more than just a quick and satisfying breakfast, but tastes great as a dry snack or combined in a trail mix combination.

Eat Smart Soy Crisps: Talk about a smart way to snack! Replace your bags of potato chips or mid-afternoon Triscuits with these crackers, which are high in fiber and boast 7 grams of protein. The perfect way to satisfy crunchy cravings and get your fill without going overboard.

Frozen Edamame: You can enjoy your favorite Japanese restaurant treat at home by purchasing frozen bags of soybeans. High in fiber, soy protein and with a healthy dose of unsaturated fat, these are perfect as a dinner side, tossed into a salad or as an after-work snack with a little bit of sea salt.

Amy’s Organic Canned Soups: Tote a can to work for an easy and soothing lunch that contains far less sodium than your typical canned soup or packaged meal. Varieties include lentil vegetable and black bean, and all are organic, high in protein and fiber and low in fat.

Vitamuffins: Skip the jumbo croissant at your local bakery and forgo the trans-fat filled pastries you can pick up at the store. If you don’t have time to bake your own goodies, enjoy Vitamuffins instead - varieties like Deep Chocolate have 15 vitamins and minerals, 6 grams of fiber and are low in fat - plus, we promise they don’t taste like cardboard! With a side of fruit salad and a hot pot of coffee, these are perfect for an easy weekend breakfast.

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Tags: amy's, bear naked granola, edamame, frozen meals, healthy grocery shopping, healthy packaged foods, packaged foods, soy crisps, vitamuffins, women's nutrition

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