Shape's Healthy Snack Awards 2009

Close your eyes and picture a fridge and pantry stocked with yummy munchies that easily fit into a healthy diet. That's no food fantasy: It's the kitchen at the Shape offices. Over the past few months, a group of editors and readers have noshed their way through hundreds of new products and selected the 27 must eat treats of the year. As always, flavor and the satisfaction factor were major considerations, but we also made sure each product met our strict nutritional standards (see below). And to make it even easier for you to find the perfect snack, we split the finalists into three calorie categories: 100 or less, 150 or less, and 200 or less. Fill your cart with our picks and you'll always have a delicious winner on hand.

What Makes a Product a Shape Best-Snack Winner?
> 200 calories or less (except the mini meals)
> 0 grams of trans fat and no more than 3.5 grams of saturated fat
> No more than 400 milligrams of sodium (except mini meals)
> No high-fructose corn syrup
> Calorie-controlled portions, whole grains, little added sugar, and extra vitamins or minerals all got special consideration

100 CALORIES OR LESS

	Lindsay Garlic Seasoned Olives (63 calories, 6 g fat per 1 oz. can) "Eating these is a healthier way to satisfy my salt cravings than downing a bag of chips," said one tester. The pitted black olives are high in oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat that may lower cholesterol and help you feel fuller. ($3 for 4)
	Smashies Applesauce Snappy Apple (50 calories, 0 g fat per 3 oz. pouch) Made from a blend of organic apples (with no added sugar), this tangy treat is portable. Just pull it out of your gym tote, twist off the lid, and squeeze. One tester said, "Tastes like the stuff my mom makes." ($1 each)
	Popchips Salt & Pepper (100 calories, 3 g fat per 1 oz. bag) They're not baked or fried—these potato crisps are "popped." The result: an ultra-crunchy snack with 50 percent less fat than regular chips. One tester said, "I'd definitely put these on my picnic menu." ($1 each)
	Garden Lites Zucchini Portabella (70 calories, 3 g fat per 7 oz. box) This saucy, veggie-packed snack serves up 20 percent of the vitamin C you need in a day. One tester noted, "It looked and tasted like pasta, so I felt like I was splurging on a carb-rich dish." ($4 each)
	Nesquik Chocolate Milk (100 calories, 2 g fat per 8 oz. bottle) Break out the bendy straw! Sweetened with sucralose, each bottle provides a third of your daily calcium. One panelist said, "I liked this so much I started drinking it as an afternoon pick-me-up—just like I did after school as a kid." ($5 for 4)

100 CALORIES OR LESS

	Kettle Cuisine Organic Carrot & Coriander Soup (100 calories, 4 g fat per 10 oz. bowl) "Thick, rich, and perfectly seasoned," said one tester. And that's with just 300 milligrams of sodium—far less than what's in most packaged soups. It's dairy- and gluten-free too. ($4 each)
	Cabot Reduced Fat Cheddar with Omega-3 DHA (70 calories, 5 f fat for 1 oz.) One ounce contains 20 percent of the omega-3 fatty acids you need daily. And since they come from plant sources rather than fish, vegetarians can get their cheddar fix too. One tester said, "I could not tell it was lowfat." ($3 for a 6 oz. block)
	Jell-O With Antioxidants Raspberry Goji (10 calories, 0 g fat per 3 oz. cup) This is the kind of jiggle we can embrace! Goji berry makes the flavor more sophisticated than sweet. One tester said: "Cool and refreshing—with a dollop of lowfat whipped cream, it made the perfect after-dinner treat." ($4 for 6)
	Das Caramelini Café Cortado (62 calories, 3 g fat for 2 pieces) These candies, made with brewed espresso and crushed coffee beans and dusted with sea salt, were a huge hit. In fact, Shape's entire art team was addicted. Their verdict: "These are incredible—rich and chewy. Can we get more?" ($7 for 4 oz.)
	Emerald Nuts 100 Calorie Packs Cocoa Roast Almonds (100 calories, 8 g fat per 1 oz. bag) There are about 17 nuts in each pouch, enough to satisfy your sweet tooth and give you 20 percent of your daily vitamin E. According to one tester, "They're like chocolate-covered peanuts without the guilt." ($4 for 7)

150 CALORIES OR LESS

	Sahale Snacks Glazed Nuts Cashews (150 calories, 10 g fat per 1/4 cup) Roasted cashews are paired with dried pomegranate, apple, citrus zest, and vanilla bean to create a treat that's sweet and salty. "The combo was so tasty," said one tester, "I needed only a few clusters to feel satisfied." ($5 for a 4 oz. bag)
	South Beach Living Fiber Fit Granola Bars S'mores (120 calories, 4 g fat per 1 oz. bar) You'll get a whopping 9 grams of fiber per bar— that's 36 percent of your daily needs. "But you'll swear you're eating a real, old-fashioned s'more," said one tester. "The only thing missing is the campfi re." ($4 for 8)
	Del Monte Superfruit Peach Chunks in Pomegranate Orange Juice (120 calories, 0 g fat per 8 oz. cup) Refreshing! "My kids had them as a snack, I added the chunks to my salad, and my husband served them over a Belgian waffle," said one tester. ($3 each)
	Kashi TLC Snack Cracker Packs Original 7 Grain (130 calories, 3 g fat per 1 oz. bag) Testers loved eating these whole-grain snack crackers with dips, toppings—or on their own. "Very hearty but not dry," said one. "They taste wholesome and natural, not overly processed like some others on the shelf." ($3 for 6)
	Weight Watchers Chocolate Brownie (120 calories, 4 g fat per 1 oz. brownie) Our testers said this fudgy treat—made with real chocolate chips—has a justbaked flavor. "I like that each brownie is individually wrapped; it helps you stick to one," said a staffer. And each has 4 grams of fi ber. ($3 for 4)

150 CALORIES OR LESS

	Smartfood Popcorn Clusters Cranberry Almond (120 calories, 2 g fat per 1 oz. bag) With 20 percent of your daily calcium and fiber, these whole-grain bunches are truly a smart choice. One reviewer said, "This is the perfect movie snack—it's popcorn and candy rolled into one!" ($3 for 5)
	SunChips Peppercorn Ranch (140 calories, 6 g fat for 1 oz.) These wavy corn crisps contain a full serving of whole grains and about 30 percent less fat than other chips, so you won't feel bad about munching on them. One tester raved, "So delicious, it's hard to believe they're healthy." ($4 for a 10 oz. bag)
	Yoplait YoPlus Digestive Blueberry Açaí (110 calories, 2 g fat per 4 oz. container) Testers loved the custardlike consistency and big berry taste. "I usually buy Greek varieties to get that ultrathick texture," said one tester. "But this is my new favorite—and less pricey— alternative." ($3 for 4)
	Quaker True Delights Dark Chocolate Raspberry Almond (140 calories, 4 g fat per 1 oz. bar) What makes these so, well, delightful? According to one tester, "you can actually see big chunks of fruit, chocolate, and nuts in every bar." Plus, each one has 3 grams of filling fi ber. ($3 for 5)
	Friendship Digestive Health Cottage Cheese (135 calories, 5 g fat per 3/4 cup) A serving of this protein-rich snack delivers one billion active probiotic cultures (good-for you bacteria). "It's extremely rich and creamy," said one tester. "This would go well with cantaloupe and peaches." ($2 for a 16 oz. tub)

200 CALORIES OR LESS

	Zone Perfect Nutrition Bars Dark Chocolate Mocha (180 calories, 5 g fat per 2 oz. bar) With 12 grams of protein and over a dozen vitamins and minerals, this is a superfilling and nutritious snack. One tester raved about the "real coffee flavor and brownielike texture," while another said she'd occasionally swap it in for breakfast. ($6 for 5)
	Kellogg's Special K Protein Shake French Vanilla (180 calories, 5 g fat per 10 oz. bottle) Packed with protein, fiber (5 grams), vitamins, and minerals, this takes the edge off hunger. "I sipped on one at work, and it kept me full until I got home at 8 p.m.," said one staffer. "Not feeling ravenous made it easier to choose a healthy dinner option." ($6 for 4)
	Amy's Organic Cakes Orange (180 calories, 6 g fat per 2 oz. slice) This vegan-friendly, citrus-flavored cake comes in a box, not fresh from the oven, but our testers couldn't tell the difference. "Moist and not too sweet. My pastry chef roommate even gave it two thumbs up!" said one commenter. ($4 for an 11 oz. loaf)
	Kozy Shack Ready Grains (190 calories, 2 g fat per 7 oz. container) A high-fiber mix of oats, barley, and brown rice is blended with lowfat milk and brown sugar. It heats in the microwave in 60 seconds (or you can eat it straight from the fridge). "This tasted like pancakes in a bowl," said one tester. "And it's easy to toss in your bag to bring to work." ($4 for 2)
	Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Little Bites Honey Nut (190 calories, 1g fat for 46 pieces) "I couldn't decide which I liked better—eating these with milk or nibbling them one by one," said a tester about this whole-grain cereal. It's rich in B vitamins and iron and has 6 grams of fiber per serving. The bites are also delicious mixed into plain yogurt. ($4 for a 15 oz. box)

WHEN YOU NEED MORE THAN A SNACK

	Healthy Choice All Natural Entrées Pumpkin Squash Ravioli (300 calories, 6 g fat, 600 mg sodium per 9 oz. package) Gourmet-style ravioli go healthy with pumpkin filling, plus a topping made with chunks of squash, asparagus, and apples. You get a full serving of vegetables in this dish, plus 6 grams of fiber. ($2 each)
	Lean Cuisine Cheddar Potatoes With Broccoli (230 calories, 5 g fat, 640 mg sodium per 10 oz. package) Potatoes top the list of our favorite comfort foods—and they're even better when they come with cheddar cheese. This guilt-free version serves up nearly 900 milligrams of heart-healthy potassium and a quarter of your daily calcium needs. ($3 each)