Tom's Life Bits

Women's Health's Second Annual List of Great-For-You 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.

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

For more health tips, check out the latest issue of Women's Health, on shelves now!

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