A while ago, before the world started shutting down, I saw a feature in People Magazine where they chose the best (i.e. their favorite) food products for a bunch of different categories. And, no real big surprise, but most of them were highly processed—UGH!
So I’ve got the perfect remedy for that issue. We’ll just make our own “awards” for the Best Real Food Products in stores these days. Not at all sponsored, just items we truly like and buy ourselves. A great list to pull from next time you’re restocking your kitchen!
How these items were chosen:
- The ingredients are as close to our real food rules as possible.
- Best taste/texture/etc.
Best Real Food Product Awards
Best Salsa
Trader Joe’s Green Salsa
This is great to go with tacos and to also cook with (like in this Slow Cooker Green Salsa Chicken recipe).
Best (Ready) Rice
Simple Truth Organic Brown Rice
Their brown rice mix with quinoa and garlic powder is good for something different as well!
Best Ramen
Lotus Organic Brown Rice Ramen
These are 100% whole grain and tasty! We don’t use the spice packets.
Best Pasta
Grand Mere Whole-Wheat Egg Noodles
These taste almost homemade! A much better texture than standard store bought noodles.
Best Yogurt
Stonyfield or Organic Valley Plain Yogurt
Always best to buy plain and flavor it yourself.
Best Mainstream Cereal
Cheerios
Definitely not perfect, but whole grain and my children (and their friends) will actually eat it.
Best Hummus
Trader Joe’s Organic Plain Hummus
Fairly clean ingredients and organic.
Best Crackers
Thin Triscuits
The texture of these is far superior to the normal Triscuits, in my opinion!
Best Graham Crackers
Annie’s Homegrown Organic Honey Graham Crackers
Note these are not 100% whole-grain!
Best Pitas
Trader Joe’s Whole-Wheat
These are 100% whole-grain and freeze beautifully so I stock up whenever I can.
Best Peanut Butter
Whole Foods Organic Creamy Peanut Butter (unsweetened & no salt)
I usually like the 1-ingredient grind-your-own, but it’s currently no longer available!
Best Flour
King Arthur White Whole-Wheat (for baking) or Bob’s Red Mill Whole-Wheat Pastry Flour
Both are a little hard to find at the moment (sadly).
Best Popcorn
LesserEvil Organic Popcorn with Himalayan Pink Salt
Available at Whole Foods and Amazon. We also buy and like Boom Chica Pop and Skinnypop brand as well.
Best Snack Bar
LÄRABAR
My current favorite is the peanut butter cookie flavor.
Best Macaroni and Cheese
Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar with Whole Grains
They used to have one that is 100% whole-grain, but it was replaced by this version. It’s mostly whole-grain, but not 100%. Available at Target and Whole Foods.
Best Pretzels
Unique Sprouted “Splits” Pretzel Original
Available at Fresh Market and Amazon.
Best Whole Grain Bread
Ezekiel (by Food for Life) or check your local bakery
This is a good choice for plain whole-grain bread, but we also really like their cinnamon raisin version as well.
I hope this helps you find some new things to try. What categories did I leave off this list that you’d like to see next?
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Do take note that stonyfield does have pectin and vitamin D3 added to their yogurt. These are not good additives to have in food, especially the vitamin D3 , which is synthetic. I do like the organic valley grass milk yogurt though, it has no additives. My only complaint with organic valley is it’s not 100% whole milk. It’s a mixture of whole and low fat milk.
Agree. Not sure how stonyfield made the list. It doesn’t meet the real food criteria. Obviously being fortified with D3 means it has a lab made synthetic additive.Pectin is a whole other story. It adds a lot of unnecessary sugar. Do research on pectin and added vitamins and you may change your mind on consuming some of these products, even if they are organic, it doesn’t necessarily mean the ingredients are good for you.
Love this list! Thanks!
I do wish you had mentioned what store for each item!
Hi Nichole, most of these can be found on Amazon at the very least. – Nicole
Gluten free/nut free products—I have multiple food allergies!
Sounds great! Unfortunately, I have to have gf options. I enjoy your tips and info! Thank you!
Great list! I bought a big pack of the Rice Ramen at Costco and now I’m a bit stuck with what to do with it! Can you share how you use it? I don’t need a recipe, per se.
Hi Amy, Lisa pairs them with recipes like the teriyaki meatballs or chicken skillet. – Nicole
https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/teriyaki-glazed-meatball-lettuce-wraps/
https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/chicken-veggie-teriyaki-skillet/