Women's Health names Tonewood maple cube as 1 of 11 of the Best Specialty Foods for Healthy Eaters

11 of the Best Specialty Foods for Healthy Eaters

Back in May, the Specialty Food Association invited Women's Health to help select some of the finalists for its annual sofi Awards—basically the Oscars of the specialty food world.

There were 2,734 entries across 32 different categories, and in the end, all of that deliciousness was narrowed down to just a few finalists for each award (it was a tough job, but somebody had to do it!). As we tasted our way through the entries, we kept an eye out for the most health-conscious options. Here are some of our favorites.
Blue Hill Beet Yogurt

Finalist for Outstanding Cheese or Dairy
If the advent of Greek yogurt changed your life, prepare to have your mind blown again by savory yogurt. This stuff is seriously addictive.

$3 (suggested retail price), bluehillyogurt.com

MORE: The Best Yogurt for You
José Andrés Foods White Tuna in Olive Oil

Finalist for Outstanding Product Line
This comes from a whole line of products that was nominated for this award, but we're especially smitten with the jarred tuna. You'll never be able to eat canned tuna again after you taste how tender and flavorful this ready-to-eat fish is.

$13, joseandres.com
Eda-Zen Cruncha Ma-Me Jalapeno

Finalist for Outstanding Diet or Lifestyle Product
A 90-calorie pack of spicy freeze-dried edamame pods with eight grams of protein and three grams of fiber? Yes, please!

$2 (suggested retail price); crunchamame.com
Dang Toasted Coconut Chips

Finalist for Outstanding Snack Food
The brilliance here is these chips' simplicity: They're just slivers of coconut meat toasted until they're golden-brown and flavored with a touch of sugar and salt. They're vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and cholesterol-free. Each 1.43-ounce pack contains two 115-calorie servings.

$3 (suggested retail price), dangfoods.com

MORE: Flavor of the Month: Healthy Coconut-Flavored Snacks
Vermont Smoke and Cure Turkey Pepperoni RealSticks

Finalist for Outstanding Diet or Lifestyle Product
No mystery meat here: The turkey used to make these is humanely raised and free of antibiotics. Each stick comes in at 70 calories, 10 grams of protein, and just three grams of fat.

$1.89 (suggested retail price), vtsmokeandcure.com
Ayara Thai Peanut Sauce

Finalist for Outstanding Cooking Sauce or Flavor Enhancer
This tasted so rich, we assumed it had to have indulgent nutrition stats to match. But as it turns out, each tablespoon of this sauce comes in at just 38 calories, less than one gram of fat, and less than three grams of sugar. Use it in Thai dishes, on sandwiches, on salads—really, anything!

$9 (suggested retail price), ayaraproducts.com
Pop! Gourmet Popcorn in Sriracha

Finalist for Outstanding Snack Food
Yup, you read that right: Sriracha-flavored popcorn. It's every bit as smoky, spicy, and delicious as you'd imagine it to be—all for just 170 calories per ounce. (As an added bonus, you also get two grams each of protein and fiber.)

$4 (suggested retail price), popgourmetpopcorn.com
Owl's Brew in Pink & Black

Finalist for Outstanding New Product
When you booze (in moderation, of course), you might as well add a healthful mixer to your drink. Owl's Brew is tea crafted just for cocktails, and the pink & black variety is made of black tea blended with hibiscus, lemon peel, strawberry, and lemon juices. Just stir some in with your favorite liquor for a delicious drink.

$14-$16 (suggested retail price), theowlsbrew.com
Tonewood Maple Cube—Vermont Grade B

Finalist for Outstanding New Product
You've probably heard someone espousing the virtues of maple sugar as an alternative sweetener. Now you can grate your own over your cup of coffee or bowl of oatmeal with this fun maple cube. The resulting sweetener tastes great—super flavorful—and it even comes with its own little (super-cute!) grater.

$17, tonewoodmaple.com
Wozz! Kitchen Creations Spiced Beet Finishing Vinegar

Finalist for Outstanding USDA-Certified Organic Product
We'd never even heard of finishing vinegar before this, but now we'll be drizzling this earthy glaze on salads, meat dishes, veggies sides—you get the picture.

$12, wozzkitchencreations.com
Rishi Novel Knit Tea Bags

Finalist for Outstanding Product Line
Flavorful teas that come in pretty packaging? We're sold! This line includes 16 varieties of organic, non-GMO blends—and the tea bags are designed with a special mesh weave for a more delicious, more aromatic, and more colorful drink.

$9/box, rishi-tea.com

Read more: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/printwhlist?nid=119176