Healthy Food Awards 2012: Organic Grocery Buys

The year's tastiest organic supermarket picks from every category.

Granola

Nature's Path Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola

(260 calories, 10 g fat per 3/4 cup)

Pumpkin and flax seeds deliver 450 mg of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids per serving. Forget milk: Our panel wanted to munch it by the handful. Fine by us!

1 of 14 Nature's Path Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Fruit Yogurt

Stonyfield Organic Low Fat Strawberry

(120 calories, 2 g fat per 6 oz)

This culture competition was all about keeping it real. Stonyfield took the prize because it tasted the most natural. "I didn't get any fake sweet sensation," a panelist said. Indeed, the organic pick has no artificial sweeteners.

2 of 14 Stonyfield Organic Low Fat Strawberry -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Plain Yogurt

Trader Joe's Organic Plain Lowfat

(120 calories, 2 g fat per cup)

When eyeing yogurt labels, look for two things: low sugar content (no more than 12 g per 3/4 cup) and ample calcium (at least 30 percent of your daily needs). This one delivers -- with 10.5 g sugar and 30 percent of your calcium per 3/4 cup.

3 of 14 Trader Joe's Organic Plain Lowfat -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Unsweetened Oatmeal

Better Oats Organic Raw Pure & Simple Bare

(160 calories, 3 g fat per packet)

Nothing fancy -- or sugary -- here, but with a "rich flavor" and 40 g of whole grains, who needs fuss?

4 of 14 Better Oats Organic Raw Pure & Simple Bare -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Frozen Waffle

Nature's Path Organic Hemp Plus Frozen Waffles

(200 calories, 8 g fat per 2 waffles)

Hippie-chic food? Hemp seeds in this a.m. fave contribute protein, a nutty flavor and a slight crunch that testers couldn't get enough of. "Thick and fluffy," one reader said.

5 of 14 Nature's Path Organic Hemp Plus Frozen Waffles -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Frozen Meal With Seafood

Organic Bistro Wild Salmon

(380 calories, 13 g fat per meal)

It comes in a box, but this meal sounds -- and tastes -- as if it belongs on a swanky restaurant menu: Alaskan salmon, organic broccoli and brown rice with cranberries. Frozen, fancified!

6 of 14 Organic Bistro Wild Salmon -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Pasta Sauce

Trader Joe's Organic Spaghetti Sauce With Mushrooms

(45 calories, 0 g fat per 1/2 cup)

Like salad dressing, tomato sauce can be a surprising source of added sugar. Look for a brand that has fewer than 8 g sugar per serving. This "sweet and fresh" sauce has only 4 g.

7 of 14 Trader Joe's Organic Spaghetti Sauce With Mushrooms -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Pasta

Trader Joe's Organic Whole Wheat Penne

(210 calories, 1.5 g fat per 3/4 cup)

Noodle-tasting night was a carb lover's paradise, but this penne emerged as the clear favorite. "It was soft and tasted healthy but good," a pasta partisan said.

8 of 14 Trader Joe's Organic Whole Wheat Penne -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Canned Soup With Veggies

Amy's Organic Light in Sodium Minestrone Soup

(90 calories, 1.5 g fat per cup)

Soup doesn't need meat to be hearty and satisfying. "This feels like a meal," a taster said. "The broth is jazzed up with spices, and there are plenty of vegetables and noodles."

9 of 14 Amy's Organic Light in Sodium Minestrone Soup -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis

Applesauce

Stop & Shop Nature's Promise Organic Unsweetened Applesauce

(60 calories, 0 g fat per 2/3 cup)

When it comes to applesauce, the ingredient list should be short. Look for a variety that's made with only fruit, water and ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C) -- like this natural-tasting one.

10 of 14 Stop & Shop Nature's Promise Organic Unsweetened Applesauce -- Photograph by Devon Jarvis