Nearly 150 products, more than ever before, were in the running for one of the coveted Good Food Awards this year.
For the fifth year in a row, Men’s Health, together with its sister publication Women’s Health, honored the best foods of the year. The jury, consisting of ecotrophologists and nutrition editors, paid particular attention to innovations in the food sector – for morning, noon, evening and in-between meals. The focus was on products made from unusual ingredients, for example, or manufacturers who focus on fairness in the value chain. These foods are exactly to our taste.
Snacks
1. Banana chips: innovative snacks
Forget potato and vegetable chips – here come plantains. Origin of the treat is Ecuador, there for the production is worked directly with small farmers, which supports the entire Amazon region and promotes the development of organic agriculture. The organic chips consist of only 3 ingredients, are high in fiber and free of palm oil.
Organic Plantain Chips from EL Origen, 80 grams, around 2,50 Euro
2. Fitness snack: low-calorie chocolate bar
This fusion of chocolate and fitness bar contains only 1 gram of sugar, with a measly 98 calories per piece. Nevertheless, the bar does not taste healthy, but sinful like its chocolaty colleagues. It comes in 3 different flavors.
Crossbar from Neoh, 30 grams, at 1.70 euros
3. Nuts: healthy break snack
Black Chili Orange, Mint Lemon or finely salted with Persian blue salt are only 3 of the 13 exotic flavors of pistachios, almonds, cashews, peanuts, hazelnuts or pecans. They are all hand roasted in the traditional Persian way at low temperature and in small batches. There are combination tips for each variety.
P-Stash Original from P-Stash, 130-gram can, around 9 euros
Breakfast
4. Oat milk: Co2-neutral production
Oats are a distinctly sustainable cereal and also have a smaller environmental footprint compared to nuts. Provamel also produces in a CO2-neutral way, and the packaging is made from 80 percent plant-based and renewable raw materials. This organic drink is sugar and soy free and is ideal for coffee, cereals, smoothies and shakes.
Barista organic oat drink from Provamel, 1 liter, at 2,50 Euro
5. Breakfast cereals: sugar-free crunchy muesli
Crunching without a guilty conscience. This crunchy sensation contains no added sugar (only 1.5 percent, which is naturally contained in the cereal). And with 23 percent dietary fiber, it is a real satiator at the morning breakfast table.
VITALIS SuperMuesli with no added sugar from Dr. Oetker, 420 grams, around 3 euros
6: MCT oil: Functional fatty acids
Normally fat has the reputation as Dickmacher, this oil is however different. It consists to 100 per cent of the medium-chain fatty acids Capryl and Caprinsäure, which were won from Kokos extract. These boost metabolism, can be used by the brain, and do not lodge in fatty tissue because they are burned quickly.
MCT oil from Dayo coco, 250 milliliter, around 10 Euro
7. Coconut yogurt: sustainable agriculture
The rainforest is in danger, and that is why the company plants thousands of new coconut palms every year, thus supporting farmers in Southeast Asia and committing itself to the regeneration of ecosystems. In addition, much less land is needed for production than for a comparable animal product. The coconut yogurt tastes exceptionally creamy and contains only some starch, pectins from fruits and different yogurt cultures besides coconut.
The coconut collaborative natural from Uplegger, 350 grams, at 3 euros
8. Chickpea topping: innovative granola
Chickpeas for breakfast? Yes, it works. Mixed with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, some coconut sugar and flakes, fruits and spices, the gluten-free organic granola can be snacked away with milk, yogurt and fruits or even purely. As a topping for bowls and desserts, the 3 different varieties are also ideal. They also contain almost 20 percent protein and many healthy fatty acids.
Chickpea granola from Planet Plant-based, 320 grams, around 6 euros
Lunch
9. Vegan pizza: healthy convenience food
Forget cheese! The cauliflower sauce is creamy, and the dough is enhanced by shredded carrots and chia seeds. That still provides 22 grams of fiber per pizza (just under 75 percent of the daily requirement), for just 569 calories.
Garden Gourmet Veggie Lovers Pizza from NESTLÉ, 380 grams, around 4 euros
10. Raw Kombucha: fair thirst quencher
The fermented tea is already more than 2500 years part of the Asian medicine. This Kombucha is not pasteurized, so that all cultures remain contained and protect the intestine. Fairment also supports people with handicaps.
Kombucha with ginger from Fairment, 3 x 0.75 liters, around 20 euros
11. Protein ice cream: protein-rich dessert
Sweet things don’t always have to be sinful. These creamy ice cream bars combine fitness food with cheat days. They come without added sugar, but contain a lot of protein, with only 170 calories per piece. An ideal snack for those who want to eat consciously, but still don’t want to give up anything.
Barebells Protein Ice Cream Bar from Unilever, available from summer 2020, 73 grams, at 2.80 euros
These delicious organic dishes are absolutely clean, very high in protein and are suitable for both weight loss and muscle building. They taste pure or combined with rice or other cereals. For every 10 Euro purchased, a warm school meal for children in Burundi is financed.
Chipotle Chili from Lion’s Share, 570 grams, around 7 Euro
13. Quick rice dish: clever lightning meal
When things have to go fast but still have to be healthy, you often have few options. In the supermarket, however, there are now ready-to-eat mixtures of rice, pulses and vegetables. They taste great on their own, but are also ideal as part of a bowl with other fresh ingredients.
Feelgood lentils with rice and vegetables from reis-fit, 250 grams, at 1.70 euros
Dinner
14. Vegan ice cream: lactose-free innovation
Sure, there has always been vegan fruit sorbet. But this ice cream is particularly creamy, fruity and intense. Hard to believe that there is no cream in it. There are now 8 incredibly delicious varieties – all in organic quality and with only 7 ingredients.
Cassis ice cream from nomoo, 500 grams, around 6 euros
15. Bread baking mix: flour-free baked goods
Gluten- and flour-free breads often take some getting used to in terms of consistency. Completely different is this seed bread, which is to be prepared in the twinkling of an eye (and foolproof!) and has a great grainy consistency. The highlight: The many seeds even contain important omega-3 fatty acids.
Seeded bread from Rossmann, 500 grams, around 3 euros
16. Gluten-free beer: unadulterated enjoyment
One can allow oneself a beer at the end of the work day. And that also applies to people with gluten intolerance who have previously had to do without barley juice. A special process removes the gluten after brewing. What remains is a finely malty, hoppy pale lager beer. Well then, cheers!
Light lager, gluten-free from Bitburger, 6 x 330 milliliters, around 6 euros
17. Fast food alternative: wheat-free pizza dough
Pizza can be so healthy. This mixture offers 35 percent fiber and 27 percent protein thanks to the clever combination of flaxseed, peas, lentils, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. The dough can be mixed in no time after work, is very easy to work with and tastes great.
Protein pizza from Foodspring, 500 grams, around 13 euros
18. Spice mix: clean fix dishes
No panic! The seasoning mixes are completely clean, i.e. without any additives and E-numbers, have a refined recipe on it, and are supplemented with massive amounts of fresh ingredients. Ideal when you have to be quick, because you won’t be standing at the stove for more than 30 minutes. They come in 27 delicious variations.
In Minutes organic fix dishes from Just Spices, at 1 Euro
19. Pea noodles: protein-rich pasta
With more than 21 percent protein, this pasta outshines the Italian durum wheat variety. They are also higher in fiber and take less time to cook. While you’re already familiar with the lentil or chickpea varieties, the 100 percent pea flour ones are still brand new.
Penne green peas from Aldi Süd, 250 grams, around 1.80 euros
These great innovations are a breath of fresh air in your kitchen and should not be missing in any foodie’s kitchen. Not only do they taste fantastic, but they all score points for their great ingredients.