Best Breakfast Bar
Post Healthy Classics Raisin Bran Cereal Bars, Cranberry ($3.39)
Unlike many other cereal bars, this chewy combo of bran flakes, oat-bran nuggets, and dried cranberries really delivers in the nutrition and flavor departments. You’ll get 3 grams of fiber and a quarter of your daily requirements for riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, and vitamins B6 and B12—all for just 120 calories and 2 grams of fat.

Best Bagel
Sara Lee Heart Healthy 100% Whole Wheat Bagels ($3.03)
These honey-sweet bagels have a heck of a lot more going for them than the typical New York version. Each packs 6 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein in a 220-calorie package. Purists may balk at the somewhat squishy texture, but toasted and smeared with low-fat cream cheese, they’re a satisfying breakfast.

  Best Cereal
Total Honey Clusters ($4.19)
This combination of wheat and corn flakes and granola-like bits will certainly satisfy your need for crunch. It touts 100 percent of the daily value for 12 key nutrients and is an “excellent source” of whole grains, delivering at least 16 grams per serving. Three grams of fiber per 3⁄4 cup isn’t the highest in the cereal aisle, but this cereal outpaces the competition in flavor.

Best Oatmeal
Quaker Weight Control Instant Oatmeal, Cinnamon ($3.69)
How could oatmeal be any better for you? Load it with twice as much fiber (6 grams) and 3 grams more protein (a total of 7 grams) per serving, compared with regular instant oatmeal—a combination that just might help you hold out till lunch (no mid-morning nosh necessary). Sugar substitutes keep calories low while adding just the right amount of sweetness.

  Best Breakfast Entrée
South Beach Diet, Denver-style Breakfast Wraps ($3.49)
A healthy take on the classic Denver omelet (egg whites, mozzarella cheese, red and green peppers, ham, and onions) in a whole-grain, high-fiber wrap. With 180 calories, 7 grams of fat, 16 grams of protein, and a whopping 15 grams of fiber, it’s a great breakfast-at-your-desk option: Microwave for just 2 minutes and enjoy.

Lunch

Best Soup
Campbell’s Select Savory Lentil ($2.29)
This vegetarian soup studded with chunks of carrot and celery packs 6 grams of fiber, 8 grams of protein, and 20 percent of the daily requirement for iron into just 140 calories. As canned soups go, the sodium count is reasonable. Plus, the pop-top lid gives you easy access for a quick lunch.

Best Lunch Meat
Starkist Albacore Lemon & Cracked Pepper Tuna Fillet ($2.89)
Slide this 1⁄2-inch thick slab of tuna onto a bed of greens, and you’ve got a no-fuss niçoise salad. You don’t even have to add extra salad dressing; the marinade takes care of that. Stow these single-serving pouches (no can opener required) in a drawer at work for a quick protein-powered lunch (each contains 33 grams).

  Best BreadEarth Grains Honey Whole Grain ($2.89)
Oats and sunflower seeds add a satisfying crunch (and a healthful boost) to this slightly sweet sandwich bread. Each slice has 110 calories, 2 grams of fiber, a respectable 5 grams of protein, and 10 percent of the daily value for calcium, folic acid, and vitamin D—important for healthy bones and healthy hearts.

Best Grain Side Dish
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice Whole Grain Brown Rice ($1.69)
In the old days, you had to work hard to get your whole grains, spending a good 45 minutes to cook up a pot of brown rice. Now you can have it in 90 seconds—with no pot to scrub when you’re done. Tear open the plastic pouch, stick it in the microwave, and you have enough tender rice to pair with chicken, fish, or stir-fries.

  Best Veggie Side Dish
Green Giant Select Vegetables With Tuscan Herb Sauce ($3.99)
This medley of broccoli, cauliflower, baby carrots, and green beans will make meeting your daily quota for veggies much tastier. The key? Buttery garlic “flavor chips” that melt into a creamy sauce. Sounds weird, but the sauce tastes great, and there are only 2 grams of fat per 1⁄2-cup serving.

Amy’s Mediterranean Pizza With Cornmeal Crust ($6.79)
A generous wedge of this pie weighs in at 360 calories and 15 grams of fat—a small price to pay for what you get: a crust that actually gets crispy; organic veggie toppings; mozzarella, Parmesan, and fontina cheeses; and a tangy sauce of organic tomatoes and capers. Not quite pizzeria quality, but close.

  Best Frozen Entrée
Lean Cuisine Dinnertime Selects, Chicken Portabello ($3.49)
Here’s one frozen dinner that won’t have you dipping into the snack jar an hour after your meal. Judge Phil Lempert applauds the generous (compared with most “diet” entrees) main course: tender pieces of chicken in an earthy mushroom sauce. Rice and vegetables and a chocolate-cherry dessert round out the meal, all for less than 400 calories.

Best Ice Cream
Edy’s/Dreyer’s Slow Churned Light Ice Cream, French Silk ($5.49)
Edy’s/Dreyer’s has mastered the art of making a light ice cream as creamy as the regular stuff. In comparison, this blend of mocha and vanilla mousse ice creams with bittersweet chocolate chips has half the fat and a third fewer calories (4.5 grams fat, 130 calories per 1⁄2 cup). Now, if only we could master the art of portion control.

Kettle Brand Bakes Hickory Honey BBQ ($2.99)
Low-fat chips are like most online dates—totally unsatisfying. But our judges found this sweet-smoky version completely snack-worthy. Trans fat-free and made with real potatoes (not dehydrated ones, like some other brands use), these chips set you back just 3 grams of fat (65 percent less fat than regular chips) and 120 calories per 1-ounce serving.

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Snack bar

Weil by Nature’s Path Goji Moji Pure Fruit & Nut Bar
Goji berries are the new “it” fruit this year, showing up in lots of health foods. These tart Tibetan berries are superhigh in antioxidants and add a touch of chewiness to this organic bar. Dried fruit, cashews, and other natural flavors add up to a tasty snack with 5 grams of fiber and just 170 calories. ($1.99)

Chips

Popchips Original Potato Chips
These totally natural, preservative-free chips are the ideal treat for salty snackers. The chips are air-popped instead of fried and seasoned with a bit of sea salt for a great clean flavor. Each single-serving bag has just 120 calories and 4.5 grams of fat (no saturated or trans). ($2.99)

  Nuts

Blue Diamond Oven Roasted Almonds, Vanilla Bean
Loaded with heart-healthy fat and fiber, almonds are the perfect treat. Problem is, we tend to snack mindlessly on them, racking up calories. The brilliance of this new product is its flip-top canister, which shows you exactly what a serving is so you don’t go overboard. The subtle vanilla flavor is a hit with our judge, who also appreciates the absence of high fructose corn syrup. ($3.99)

Yogurt

Rachel’s Refresh Pink Grapefruit Lychee Yogurt
This new brand’s flavors make you feel like you’re eating yogurt for the first time. The pink grapefruit–lychee flavor is just tart enough, and judge Keegan Gerhard loves that it’s made with evaporated cane juice instead of high fructose corn syrup. The added DHA omega-3s (important for brain health) only sweeten the deal. (99 cents)

  Fruity snack

Peeled Snacks, FigSated
Fruit-and-nut mixes are often lacking in flavor because the nuts tend to get soggy while the fruit gets dried out. Not so with this wondrous little 150-calorie-per-serving snack. The nuts are packed separately, so they’re perfectly crunchy when you mix them with the plump dried figs, apricots, and dates. Drop it in your gym bag and go. ($2.99 per bag)

Meal-replacement bar

ProBar Superfood Slam
Most bars in this category list about 100 different ingredients and feature a wide array of preservatives. The ProBar is the first that truly tastes like real food, probably because it’s made with wholesome ingredients like organic oats, peanut butter, and sunflower seeds. Plus, it features açaí for extra antioxidants and flaxseed for omega-3s. This 350-calorie bar is a meal—it’ll keep you full for hours. ($3.29)

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1. Grab-and-go breakfast item: Planters Daybreak Blend, Berry Almond Trail Mix. Dashing off to work without time for a real breakfast? Instead of getting sucked in by that jumbo coffee-shop muffin, grab this satisfying blend of almonds, raisins, cranberries, and granola clusters. (It’s also good stirred into vanilla yogurt.) Watching your hips? Each portable pouch has 180 calories and 3 grams each of fiber and protein. ($3.49)

2. Frozen breakfast item: Morningstar Farms Veggie Sausage Patties. Most of us steer clear of traditional breakfast sausage, but no one wants to eat vegetarian versions—until now. These low-fat 80-calorie patties actually taste like the old-fashioned meat kind. Plus, they only take a minute-and-a-half to zap in the microwave and give you 10 grams of protein per patty. ($3.99)

  3. Hot cereal: Quaker Simple Harvest Multigrain Hot Cereal, Maple Brown Sugar with Pecans. Oats are great for your heart, but a lot of instant oatmeal is packed with sugar and sodium. That’s why we love this new natural option from Quaker Oats. Not only is it a whole-grain bonanza (it has oats, whole wheat, and barley), but it also packs half as much sugar and sodium as most instants. And it only has 160 calories. ($3.89)

4. Cold cereal: Barbara’s Bakery Cinnamon Crunch Shredded Oats. A quick bowl of cold cereal for breakfast just got healthier: These tasty cinnamony squares scored a thumbs-up from judge Nancy Rodriguez for delivering more than 80 percent of your daily whole grains. Plus, it boasts 4 grams of filling fiber per serving. ($4.99) 

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1. Frozen lunch: Helen’s Kitchen Thai Yellow Curry with Tofu Steaks & Vegetables over Rice. Another lunch at your desk? Go gourmet with this vegetarian meal that judge Phil Lempert calls “fabulous.” This vegan dish is a tasty mix of organic broccoli, red peppers, tofu, and basmati rice. It’s satisfying, too, thanks to 12 grams of protein per serving. All this for 280 calories, less than 5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, and 30 percent of your daily calcium needs. ($4.89)

2. Cheese: Kraft LiveActive Cheddar Cheese Sticks. Get more bang from your Cheddar: These on-the-go snack sticks—with 120 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 20 percent of your daily calcium needs—have live, active probiotic cultures that help promote digestive health. We’re fans of the Cheddar flavor, but they’re also available in mozzarella and colby-Jack. ($3.99)

  3. Sandwich bread: The Baker Organic Pomegranate & Blueberry. This fruit-laced bread can do it all. Top it with almond butter to get your day going, use it to spiff up your turkey sandwich, or serve it with your spinach salad at dinner. We love that each slice has 15 grams of whole grains, 3 grams of fiber, and only 100 calories. ($4.99)

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1. Pasta sauce: Bertolli, Sun Ripened Tomato & Olive Pasta Sauce. Pasta with a jar of sauce is the ultimate no-stress dinner, but you do have to drag out an extra pan to heat the sauce. Not anymore: This one comes in an innovative microwave pouch, so you just heat the whole thing up for 90 seconds. Plus, the yummy (preservative-free!) sauce gets its hint of sweetness from a natural source: carrot juice. ($2.89 for a 13.5-ounce pouch)

2. Quick-and-easy side dish: Marrakesh Express Mango Salsa Couscous. Couscous is a bit of a wallflower in the flavor department. But this all-natural mix (less than 200 calories per serving) brings on the tangy-sweet flavor of mango salsa. Serve it with chicken, seafood, or pork tenderloin for a sensational dinner. ($2.79)

  3. Frozen entrée: Weight Watchers Smart Ones Dragon Shrimp Lo Mein. Unlike most frozen dinners, this one actually tastes fresh. You’d think that the shrimp and noodles were just sautéed, and the crisp sugar snap peas and carrots came from the produce aisle. This skinny entrée racks up only 240 calories and 4 grams of fat, so we suggest pairing it with a side salad and even a small dessert. ($3.19)

4. Frozen pizza: Kashi All Natural Five Cheese Tomato Pizza. Kashi took its legendary seven-whole-grain mix and created a fabulous pizza crust with it. Covered with a mouthwatering and supercheesy blend of Asiago, Parmesan, mozzarella, and two types of Cheddar, this doesn’t taste like a healthy pizza. The crust cooks up nice and crisp, and one-third of the pie is less than 300 calories and 10 grams of fat. ($5.99)

  5. Meal kit: Annie Chun’s Peanut Sesame Organic Noodles & Sauce. Judge Phil Lempert was wowed by this organic, MSG-free noodle mix. Once your water is boiling, this meal comes together in about six minutes and serves three. It has just 280 calories with 9 grams of protein and a reasonable amount of sodium (390 milligrams) for something so flavorful. Toss in cooked chicken strips or cubed tofu for a protein boost. ($3.99)

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1. Dairy beverage: Springfield Creamery, Nancy’s Lowfat Organic Raspberry Kefir. If milk has lost its excitement (or if you’re lactose intolerant), this smooth, yogurtlike drink might win you back. Judge Robin Miller loves the great raspberry flavor—brought to you by organic berries and organic agave nectar. It’s a nutritional powerhouse, too, with 7 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 25 percent of your daily calcium needs. ($1.49 for 8 ounces)

2. Enhanced water: Kellogg’s Special K2O Protein Water Mix Iced Tea. Didn’t think your water could pack a punch? Add a packet of this mix to your 16.9-ounce bottle, and you’ll get 5 grams of protein and fiber for only 30 calories. It’s a great way to banish those hunger pangs between work and dinner, so stock your desk drawer with them. Bonus: You get 20 percent of three B vitamins for a nutrient boost. ($3.99 for a box of 7)

  3. Bottled tea: Honest Tea, Pomegranate White Tea with Açaí. Antioxidant alert! This refreshing organic brew is full of antioxidants from white tea and Brazilian açaí. It’s light, too, at just 40 calories per serving, or 85 if you gulp the whole bottle (like we do). Plus, it has about one-eighth of the caffeine in a cup of coffee—a little pick-me-up without the jitters. ($1.59)

4. Juice: Kagome 100% Juice Blend Yellow Mango Orchard. Like most of us, you’re probably not eating enough fruits and veggies. No problem, just drink them! This refreshing blend of four fruits and eight veggies—including mango, banana, carrot, and even asparagus—has no added sugar and tons of sight-saving antioxidants. Eight ounces nets you a full serving each of fruits and vegetables for only 120 calories. ($2.29 for 11.5 ounces)

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1. Blemish treatment: DERMAdoctor Ain’t Misbehavin’ Medicated Acne Control Serum. Finally, an acne product made for you, not your teenager. This oil-free serum has a multiprong attack for battling breakouts: It exfoliates, provides oil-control, and combats bacteria and inflammation. Best of all, it doesn’t leave skin feeling scaly. ($45)

2. Eye product: L’Oréal Paris Skin Genesis Daily Treatment Eye Serum. We’re happy to report that our judges’ top anti-aging eye cream will only set you back $20. This lightweight serum mixes Pro-Xylane, an all-natural hydrating derivative of the beech tree, and moisture-drawing hyaluronic acid to lessen puffiness, smooth lines, and diminish discoloration. ($19.99)

  3. Facial sunscreen: SkinCeuticals Active UV Defense SPF 15. Pack this in your gym bag (and your glove compartment, and your handbag …). This water-resistant formula is one of only a handful of brands that contain Mexoryl SX—the most effective short-wave UVA blocker on the market, explains judge Lisa M. Donofrio, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. Add in the sunscreens avobenzone and octocrylene, which protect against long-wave UVA rays and the full UVB range, and you’ve scored the perfect skin-saving trifecta. ($29)

4. Anti-aging facial moisturizer: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Night Cream. Skimping on sleep makes you look worn out and prevents skin from repairing the day’s damage. But this hydrating night cream, “evens the score,” says judge Sandra S. Tsao, MD, an associate program director for procedural dermatology at Harvard Medical School. “Idebenone, a proven topical antioxidant, softens lines while shea and cocoa butter moisturize,” she says. ($125)

  5. Lip treatment: Aveda Nourish-Mint Renewing Lip Treatment. All too often, lip treatments leave lips sticky, waxy, or smelling like medicine. Not this antioxidant-rich lip treatment. “Botanical emollients like jojoba absorb quickly, forming a smooth barrier on the lips, and this product’s mint aroma is refreshing rather than medicinal,” says judge Grace H. Pak, MD, a dermatologist with a private practice in New York City. ($15)

6. Facial cleanser: St. Ives Elements Protective Cleanser. Not a fan of slathering on sunscreen in the morning? This facial wash, with an SPF of 10, lets you cleanse and protect in one step. Sunscreen is encapsulated in positively charged silica shells, which bind to negatively charged skin, preventing the vital sun protection from rinsing away. ($6.99)

  7. Toner: Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic with Botanical Blast. Packed with sasa kurilensis water, which sterilizes acne-causing bacteria, this toner brightens your complexion by reducing redness, soothing blemishes, and cleansing pores. ($19) 

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1. Lip color: Cargo blu_ray Lip Gloss. Televisions aren’t the only thing going high-def these days. This quad of neutral-colored lip glosses contains “diffusers which reflect light, making the lips appear less wrinkly by smoothing and softening lines,” judge Lisa M. Donofrio says. “Plus, the glosses include hyaluronic acid, which draws water to the lips’ surface, resulting in a plumping effect.” ($29)

2. Mascara: Beauty Benefits Beyond Nourishing Mascara. Think of this as conditioner for your lashes, judge Grace H. Pak says. It contains panthenol to moisturize and soy protein to strengthen your lashes. Another perk: This formula is light on polymers (fibers that can weigh lashes down), so your lashes appear glossy and pliable, rather than stiff and clumpy. ($5.99)

  3. Concealer: Estée Lauder Resilience Life Extreme Ultra Firming Concealer SPF 15. Who knew a concealer could offer so many good-for-you benefits? Sure, it does the traditional job of camouflaging fine lines, discoloration, and under-eye circles. But it also boosts collagen production, and firms and hydrates, while providing a shield against sun exposure. ($19.50)

4. Makeup primer: Dr. Brandt Pores No More. Not only does this primer minimize pores and leave you with flawless-looking skin, but it’s also loaded with tea tree oil, flaxseed oil, and a salicylic-acid derivative, which all help control breakouts and soothe skin, judge Pak says. ($45)

  5. Foundation: Lancôme Color Ideal Precise Match Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 15. This great base, “is more like a complexion enhancer than a camouflaging agent,” judge Pak says. It contains vitamin E and provitamin B5 to condition skin, glycerin to keep your face hydrated throughout the day, and SPF 15 to protect against harmful rays. ($37) 

1. Self-tanner: Clinique Touch of Bronze Moisturizing Body Lotion. Many self-tanners are drying, but this one actually makes your skin hydrated and soft. “It contains glycerin, sodium hyalutonate, and sacaride isomerate, all of which help lock in moisture, leaving the skin more supple,” judge Tsao says. It’s also chock-full of protective antioxidants like aloe and vitamin E. ($18.50)

2. Nail product: OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil to Go. This supermoisturizing serum replenishes dry skin with vitamin E, avocado, sunflower, sesame, and kukui nut oils—all without making you feel greasy. Our judges loved the easy-to-apply, portable tube—just give a little squeeze and the product flows between brush bristles for even distribution. ($7.50)

  3. Bronzer: Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Bronzer. This dual-tone palette, packed with 100 percent all-natural ingredients, wicks away oil while also moisturizing, judge Tsao says. Rice silk, cornstarch, and jojoba oil protect the skin against environmental assaults, while leaving it with a natural, sun-kissed appearance. Available in six shades, making this winner great for a range of skin tones. ($13.95)

  4. Body sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock SPF 70. Before you step into the sun, protect yourself with this quick-absorbing (and odorless!) sunblock. With a cover-all-your-bases SPF 70, this water- and sweatproof UVA-UVB formula is noncomedogenic, oil-free (essential if you’re acne-prone), and PABA-free (key if you’re allergic), judge Tsao says. Plus, the spray bottle makes full-body coverage a breeze. ($9.99)

5. Body moisturizer: Lubriderm Intense Skin Repair Body Lotion with Itch Relief. Slather on this nongreasy fragrance-free lotion to combat dry skin caused by environmental stressors. (Think sun, wind, etc.) Glycerin binds water to the skin for long-lasting moisture, while oat extracts and shea butter help to calm any dry, itchy, or irritated patches. ($6.99)

  6. Hand care: RoC Retinol Correxion Hand Repair SPF 15. The retinol in this nongreasy moisturizing cream fades age spots and improves hand texture. SPF 15 protects against future sun damage, judge Lisa M. Donofrio says. ($14.99)

7. Exfoliating body product: Zia Natural Skincare Bamboo Exfoliant. Green beauty gets high tech: Infused with bamboo—a renewable resource—this paraban-free exfoliant sloughs off dead skin, while yucca extract hydrates and rice bran revives your skin’s natural luster. ($24.95)

  8. Foot care: Vaseline Intensive Rescue Healing Foot Cream. Give dry soles the boot with this exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid–rich cream that smoothes and softens rough feet. “The hypoallergenic blend also contains emollient properties like glycerin to curtail moisture loss,” judge Donofrio says. ($3.99)

9. Body wash: Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Shea Butter Body Wash. Hot showers can be a nightmare for our skin because they strip away protective lipids. This shower wash uses shea butter and safflower emollients to lock in moisture, leaving skin soft and healthy, judge Sandra S. Tsao says. ($8 ) 

1. Shampoo: 365 Everyday Value Shampoo from Whole Foods Market. Worth a trip to Whole Foods, this shampoo (which comes in three scents, as well as fragrance-free) cleanses without stripping the scalp. It’s free of parabans, artificial fragrances, and genetically engineered ingredients. ($1.99)

2. Hairstyling product: Dove Intense Damage Therapy Heat Shield Spray. Flat irons, curling irons, and blow-dryers, oh my! Dry and damaged hair gets help from this conditioning spray. How it works: Silicone droplets coat the hair and absorb the heat, so your hair doesn’t have to. ($3.78 )

  3. Deep-conditioning treatment: Garnier Fructis Strength & Repair Instant Melting Masque. This creamy conditioner with a subtle apple aroma uses moisture-carrying lipid molecules (known as ceramides) to repair damage caused by harsh chemical treatments and overuse of styling products, judge Sandra S. Tsao says. Its moisturizing avocado and apricot oils help make dry hair healthy again. ($3.99)

4. Hair conditioner: Biolage Cooling Mint Conditioner. A must-have if you’re prone to breakouts around your hairline. Glycerin controls oil production while a combination of green tea, mallow root, and aqua oils protect against self-imposed stresses like your high-watt blow-dryer. ($14)