Have you tried to buy a box of crackers lately? With more than a dozen varieties of Nut-Thins alone – from country ranch to Asiago cheese to honey cinnamon – it’s not as simple as it used to be. The same could be said for pretty much all shelves of the grocery store these days – you’ll need to make a lot of decisions between classic and trendy. To help you out, I’ve identified seven brand-new and soon-to-be-released products that I hope are here to stay:
1. The Vine’s Sauces
In my opinion, sauce is to a meal what thread is to an article of clothing: It holds it all together. And while tomato-based sauces are often loaded with sodium, additives and preservatives, The Vine’s line of premium sauces stands out from the rest since each sauce contains ingredients you can pronounce and recognize.
2. Balsamic Vinegar From Ariston Specialties
This company offers the most diverse range of balsamic vinegars I’ve see yet. From thick glazes to light lemony liquids, these rich balsamics pair perfectly with savory dishes (consider them marinades for chicken or fish), while also working well with fruit (try them squeezed onto watermelon or cantaloupe). With flavors like these, it’s easy to make a satisfying salad dressing that’s heavy on balsamic glaze and light on (or even devoid of) oil. Save your healthy fats for crunchy nuts or creamy avocado instead.
3. Rhythm Superfoods’ Beet Chips
I didn’t start enjoying beets until I was in my 30s, but if I had been offered Rhythm Superfoods’ beet chips, I would have requested them in my school lunch much earlier. These chips’ flavor is as deep as their color and, and if red is not your color, you can still enjoy crunching on a variety of kale chips in flavors like “kool” ranch, mango habanero and honey mustard. Rhythm also sells organic carrot sticks. They’re all so crunchy you would think they were fried, but they’re all dehydrated.
4. Caulipower Pizza Crust
Pizza night will never be the same once you try the variety of cauliflower crusts offered by Caulipower, which sells the crusts in the frozen food section. You can add your favorite toppings or buy a Caulipower pizza that’s already topped with veggies, cheeses or other ingredients. This product is perfect for those people who want to cut carbs or who simply want to eat more veggies in unconventional ways. This year, the company is offering a new paleo cauliflower crust and a cauliflower-based baking mix.
5. Pan’s Mushroom Jerky
Although jerky’s popularity has been growing, it has never made it on my shopping list since high-sodium meats haven’t appealed to me. But Pan’s mushroom jerky could change my feelings toward jerky. Whether it’s the zesty Thai, applewood barbecue, sea salt and pepper, or original variety, this jerky isn’t chewy and instead provides a rich mouthfeel and a powerful flavor. It’s made with shiitake mushrooms and is vegan and gluten free.
6. Pereg’s Flours
Although I’ve been familiar with the Pereg name when it came to spices and seasonings, I’m thrilled to see how the company’s new line has expanded to include a vast array of vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free bars, as well as bean, rice, quinoa and farro dishes. It also produces a number of multipurpose flours, including those made from plantain, teff, quinoa and even banana flour! These options make it easier to create meals for special diets that the whole family can enjoy.
7. Biena’s Chickpea Snacks
From dips and flours to savory dishes and crispy snacks, chickpeas are showing up in so many forms – and I couldn’t be happier about that. Specifically, Biena snacks offers dried chickpeas as a crunchy snack wearing flavors like barbecue, honey roasted, cinnamon crunch, sour cream and onion, and habanero, to name a few. You can carry a bag when on the go or top your salad or rice dish with Biena snacks. The product’s protein will keep you feeling full and the soluble fiber will help lower cholesterol.
