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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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
collage of low sugar drinks

6 great-tasting drinks with less sugar (or none)

Water is the perfect thirst quencher. But who doesn’t want a cool drink with a little pizzazz every so often! These low-calorie finds are unsweetened or sweetened with a splash of fruit juice or (safe) stevia extract. How refreshing!

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
view from above, cup of oat milk with pile of oats next to it

How to find the best plant milk

Dumping dairy? The payoff: plant milks have a lighter impact on our overheating planet. And you have more options than ever. Choose carefully, and you can still net as much—or more—of milk’s key nutrients plus some healthy fats, all while keeping a lid on added sugar. Here’s what to know.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
back of a bottle of Truvia liquid sweetener

What to know about shopping for low-cal sweeteners

Want to try a low-calorie sweetener? Stevia or monk fruit extract, erythritol, and allulose won’t turn cupcakes into cantaloupe (see No. 3), but they’ll sweeten your coffee, tea, oats, yogurt, and more without empty calories. (As for taste...that’s up to you. Some people detect an aftertaste; others don’t.) Here’s what to know.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
popcorn on orange background

6 healthy snacks that beat chips or pretzels

In search of a healthy savory snack? Here are six. They’re actual beans, vegetables, nuts, or intact whole grains instead of fried potatoes or white flour.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
thin crust pizza on a wooden cutting board topped with pineapple, onion, parsley, chicken

How to buy—or make—a better pizza

Pizza is no health food. It’s typically white flour plus cheese, ample sodium, maybe processed meat, and few vegetables. But if you’re hunting for a better pie, try these. As for veggies, a crust can only hold so many before it gets soggy. Side salad, anyone?

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
blue bowl of oatmeal with berries and bananas.

Some of the best oatmeals & other hot breakfast finds

Finding a healthy hot cereal starts out simple: Look for whole grains. Most hot cereals are. (Exceptions: grits, Cream of Rice, and Cream of Wheat typically are refined.)

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch
green asparagus stalks with melting pat of butter

How to find a healthier butter or spread

Mooove over, butter. Everything from “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!” to “plant” and “oat milk” butters are vying to unseat the spreadable dairy fat. That’s a good thing. Most wannabes have far less artery-clogging saturated fat...and more heart-healthy unsaturated fat. Here are 8 tips to help you find the best non-butters, plus what else does (or doesn't) matter.

Healthy EatingLindsay Moyer, MS, RDN, Marlena Koch