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Joe Heroun / Eat This, Not That!

The 2022 Eat This, Not That!
Food Awards

These are the best new grocery and restaurant chain foods of the year.

We didn't get through 2020 and 2021 just to eat trash food. No, if the past two years taught us anything about our diets, it's that food is undeniably connected to our health. Food is immunity power. And food can be an incredible source of comfort and community.

Knowing this, Americans can't go back to eating the way we did pre-pandemic—stuffing our fridges and pantries with heavily processed, chemical-laden products that leave our physical and mental health vulnerable. That's why the 2022 Eat This, Not That! Food Awards hold more meaning than ever before.

Since 2015, our editors have been picking the best-of-the-best new food products by judging hundreds of newcomers based on nutrition, taste, and ingredients. This year, over 650 grocery and restaurant chain menu items that launched nationwide between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 were considered in eight distinct categories. These categories highlight some of the most popular food trends—from plant-based options to meal-prep helpers, dessert, beverages, and more.

In total, we've crowned 79 outstanding food products as our 2022 winners.

Meet The Judges

To judge each category, Eat This, Not That! editors worked with nine esteemed registered dietitians on our Medical Expert Board to develop a strict set of nutritional and ingredient guidelines by which to examine each product on its overall healthfulness. Editors then ranked the healthiest picks in terms of taste and value (yes, this was the yummy part!).

(pictured from top left)

Sydney Greene, MS, RD
Lauren Manaker, MS, RD, CDN
Laura Burak, MS, RD, CDN
Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, CDN
Julie Upton, MS, RD, CSSD
Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN
Lyssie Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD, CDN, CFT
Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN

And The Winners Are…

You'll find all 8 categories featuring the 79 winners below, as well as the top 7 best groceries of the year.

It's our hope that these comprehensive, easy-to-shop, and budget-friendly lists can help you make better eating choices every single day in 2022 and beyond. We also hope that our Food Awards continue to inspire the entire food industry to put your health and well-being first in every product it makes.

food award top winners

The 7 Best Grocery Products of the Year

Our team of dietitians and editors picks the healthiest and tastiest items to shop for in 2022.

food awards breakfast

The 8 Best New Healthy Breakfast Foods in 2022

Allow yourself to be picky about your morning choices.

food awards snacks

The 13 Best Healthy Snacks in 2022

Stash these winning items in your pantry for a tasty and nutritious snack anytime.

food awards beverages

The 9 Best Healthy Beverages in 2022

Sip smarter with these delicious drinks.

food awards meal prep foods

The 10 Best Healthy Meal-Prep Foods in 2022

Prepping meals is so much easier with these tasty and convenient time-savers.

food awards plant based

The 12 Best Healthy Plant-Based Foods in 2022

Stock up on these meatless options on your next trip to the grocery store.

food awards frozen foods

The 9 Best Healthy Frozen Foods in 2022

Stash these winning items in your freezer for good eats anytime.

food awards dessert

The 10 Best Healthy Desserts in 2022

Go ahead and get your after-dinner sweet on with these new options.

The 8 Best Healthy Fast-Food Items In 2022

Consider this your cheat sheet to healthier ordering in the new year.

Eat This, Not That! Food Awards Criteria

Curious how our registered dietitians and editors judged each submission?