overhead view of a supermarket produce aisle

Our shopping guides

These shopping guides come from Nutrition Action. We don't accept any paid advertising or corporate or government donations. Any products we recommend have been vetted by our staff and are not advertisements by the manufacturers.

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splash of red sauce on white background

How to pick a reliable pasta sauce

The healthiest pasta sauces get most of their fat from olive oil (marinara) or olive oil and nuts (pesto), not cream or cheese (alfredo). And the good guys don’t pile too much salt or sugar on top of your spaghetti. Here’s how to find them. Check the photos for some great-tasting Best Bites and Honorable Mentions.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
bowl of rotini with cucumber, tomatoes, olives, basil and lemon wedges

5 healthier takes on pasta

Ready to level up your pasta game? Whole wheat or legumes trounce white flour. And if you’re gluten-free, check out our edamame, chickpea, lentil, and lentil-rice picks.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
crackers laid out on a cutting board

How to spot the best in the cracker aisle

White flour or starch dressed up with a smidgen of veggies, olive oil, or nuts—some crackers aren’t all they’re, um, cracked up to be. Here’s how to find the best...plus a few of our faves(at right). Scroll downto see how to decode cracker claims.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
white bowl filled with chicken caesar salad

Our picks for quick poultry and plant-based products

For perfectly seasoned poultry without too much salt, cook your own. But if that’s not in the cards, turn to one of these pre-cooked shortcuts or easy raw starters.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
Bowl of yogurt with blueberries and granola

The best yogurts from cows or plants

Looking for a healthier dairy yogurt...or one made from oats, nuts, or soy? Here’s what to look for. For the latest in lower-sugar and dairy-free, scroll down.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
yellow popsicle on light blue background

6 frozen treats that beat ice cream

Thanks to their fruit or yogurt, these supermarket frozen treats have a fraction—or none—of the saturated fat of full-fat ice cream. And their built-in portions (bars, bite-size pieces, or pockets) keep a lid on the calories and added sugar. Enjoy!

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
Plate with green apple slices covered in peanut butter and sprinkled with blueberries

The best nut butters & beyond

Nowadays, nut butters range from nothin’ but nuts to hazelnut-laced sugar-and-oil spreads. Then there are the no-nut spreads, which coax “butter” out of everything from sunflower seeds to, um, crushed cookies. Here’s our guide to what matters. For our take on the latest spreadables, turn the page.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
mug of coffee with creamer being poured in

Our guide to the best coffee creamers

Zip. Zero. Nada. Black coffee has no calories, fat, or sugar. But every tablespoon of creamer can add 4 to 5 grams of sugar and 30 to 40 empty calories. Those numbers may sound trivial, but how many tablespoons are in your cup? To lighten things up, try milk—not cream—or a low-sugar plant creamer. Here’s what to consider.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch