The Best Drinks, Snacks, and Kitchen Gadgets to Make Your Life Easier, Healthier, and Tastier

Good for You Awards 2026

Awards·15 min read

The Best Drinks, Snacks, and Kitchen Gadgets to Make Your Life Easier, Healthier, and Tastier

Design: theSkimm | Images: Graza, Go Raw, Visp

May 12, 2026 Skimm'd by Jana Pollack and Alexandra Napoli.

Products you buy through our links may earn us a commission. Oh, and if something's out of stock, oops, it was there (and all prices were accurate) at time of publication.

When you’re on the run (and aren’t we all, always?), you need easy, tasty, and healthful sources of energy to keep you going. You need, in other words, really good snacks and drinks. That’s why we spent months testing everything we could get our hands on. We’ve found granola that boosts mineral absorption, a coffee alternative that really works, and more. For expert insight, we consulted May Zhu, Chicago-based Registered Dietician Nutritionist, who shared her science-backed thoughts.

Looking for more feel-good products? Check out our full list of Good for You Award winners here .

Everyday Drinks

Olipop

Soda

$35.99/12-pack at Olipop

Best Soda Alternative: Olipop

Love soda, but love your body more? Same. This high-fiber stand-in does the trick with much less sugar than traditional sodas (but just as much fizz). It comes in nostalgic flavors like vintage cola, cream soda, and classic grape. Use code THESKIMM15 for 15% off.

Leaves of Leisure

Tea

$4.99 at Leaves of Leisure

Best Tea: Leaves of Leisure Tea

“Whole leaf tea is genuinely one of the most evidence-backed beverages for antioxidants and cognitive support,” says Zhu, who notes that this is a clean, straightforward option. Pro tip: shop the vibes-based flavor bundles (our favorite is “cozy teas”).

Moon Juice

Neuro Magnesi-Om

$89 at Moon Juice

Best Coffee Alternative: Moon Juice Neuro Magnesi-Om

Swap your morning cup of joe for this brain-boosting alternative. It’s chock full of magnesium L-theonate, which supports short-term memory, neuroplasticity, and cognitive ability. Later, caffeine jitters.

More Than Matcha

Ceremonial Matcha Powder

$45 at More Than Matcha

Best Matcha: More Than Matcha

Alert your social feed, there’s a new matcha in town. This one is smooth and balanced, with fresh, earthy undertones. Plus it’s got all the benefits that makes matcha a must-have, like sustained energy, antioxidants, and immune support.

Sensori

Connect

$29.99/6-pack at Sensori

Best Mocktail: Sensori

Whether you want to unwind or rev up, Sensori has an alcohol-free beverage for you. Their drinks are made with botanicals, nootropics, and adaptogens, all designed to help you feel good naturally. We’ll cheers to that.

Sweet Snacks

Go Raw

Sweet & Salty Snacking Granola

$5.62 at Amazon

Best Granola: Go Raw Snacking Granola

A bowl of granola, but make it portable. Our expert loves this product for its sprouted grains, which she says are great for digestibility and mineral absorption. We love that they come in a variety of flavors — all of which are, as the kids say, fire.

Protein Pints

Ice Cream

$7.29 at Target

Best Dessert: Protein Pints

Swap your mint chip for a low-sugar option which clocks 30 grams of protein per pint. This better-for-you version of a frozen dessert has all natural ingredients, 85% less sugar than standard ice cream, and contains nine essential amino acids, too.

Icelandic Provisions

Salted Caramel & Banana Extra Creamy Skyr

$1.99 at Instacart

Best Yogurt: Icelandic Provisions Salted Caramel & Banana Extra Creamy Skyr

We’ve always viewed yogurt as a sort of black magic — something so delicious that’s genuinely good for you? — and this one takes the cake. It’s got 11 grams of protein and only 10 grams of sugar, and its active cultures will keep your gut happy as can be.

Justin's

Super Dark PB Cups

$7.89 at Thrive Market

Best Nut Butter Chocolate Snacks: Justin's Super Dark PB Cups

We guess it’s possible to live a life without peanut butter cups — but frankly, we’re not interested. These ones are made with organic dark chocolate and organic ground peanuts, offering the very best-for-you version of a truly elite sweet treat.

Popsmith

Kettle Corn Seasoning

$29 at Popsmith

Best Kettle Corn: Popsmith Kettle Corn Seasoning

DIY movie night just got an upgrade. Pop some popcorn at home, then add this seasoning — which is perfectly sweet and salty — for on-the-spot, irresistible kettle corn.

Savory Snacks

Ithaca Hummus

Hummus

$7.29 at Instacart

Best Hummus: Ithaca Hummus

The hummus formula — chickpeas + tahini = fiber, plant protein, and healthy fats for steady energy — remains unmatched. This A+ version has a simple ingredient list, minus preservatives or stabilizer ingredients, and is delicious to boot.

Lesser Evil

Puffs

$4.59 at Target

Best Puffs: Lesser Evil

Sometimes a person simply needs a snack puff. These ones are certified organic and made with organic virgin coconut oil and avocado oil. The ingredient list is small but the flavor is big — the kind of juxtaposition we’re looking for.

Graza

Potato Chips

$19.50/3 bags at Graza

Best Chips: Graza Potato Chips

Did you hear the news? Graza makes chips now, and they are, predictably, delicious. While they’re still a potato chip, they’re made with the high-quality olive oil we know and love, which makes them a teensy bit better for you.

Wickles Pickles

Pickles

$11.91 at Walmart

Best Pickles: Wickles Pickles

As a stand-alone snack, pickles are wildly underrated — when you’re hungry and out of ideas, grabbing a cold pickle is often just the thing. These ones are perfectly briny, and come in flavors like chill’n’dill, dirty dill, and the super spicy wicked hula.

One Trick Pony

Silky Smooth Peanut Butter

$9.00/2 jars at One Trick Pony

Best Peanut Butter Spread: One Trick Pony Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is a super healthful snack when it’s done right. Done right = no hydrogenated oils or added sugar, and an ingredient list that’s simply ‘peanuts and sea salt.’ This version from One Trick Pony checks all our boxes.

Kitchen Gadgets & Small Appliances

Dash

Mini Waffle Maker

$9.89 at Amazon

Best Waffler Maker: Dash Mini Waffle Maker

The best way to make healthful waffles at home without taking up all of your counter space? This little guy. It cooks 4” snack-sized waffles on dual nonstick cooking surfaces, and looks darn cute doing it. Pro tip: Batch cook mini waffles to freeze and grab on the go.

Visp

Elixir Mixer 2

$109 at Visp

Best Drink Mixer: Visp Elixir Mixer 2

Protein shake drinkers, assemble. This little gadget is the way to get your drinks smooth, minus mess. Just add your powder, whisk away, and voila — you’re ready to head out, perfect drink in hand. We also love that this doubles as a solid water bottle.

Mr. Coffee

Cafe Grind 18-Cup Automatic Burr Grinder

$56.99 at Walmart

Best Coffee Grinder: Mr. Coffee Cafe Grind 18-Cup Automatic Burr Grinder

“The classics are classics for a reason” really applies here. Mr. Coffee (you know him) still hits, and this small grinder has 18 grind-settings, a bean hopper that holds up to 8 ounces of coffee beans, and a cute design that looks nice on the counter.

Our Place

Titanium Always Pan

$179 at Our Place

Best Pan: Our Place Titanium Always Pan

The first rule of cooking at home more? Stocking up on great tools. This certainly qualifies. It’s nonstick without coatings or PFAS, easy to clean, and safe for high heat. Here comes the home cooking.

Nutribullet

Turbo

$109.99 at Nutribullet

Best Blender: Nutribullet Turbo

Smoothie season is upon us. Are you ready? We like that this 1000-watt blender can handle tough stuff like seeds, nuts, and greens, and that the suction cup on the bottom holds it firmly in place while we blend.

Meals

HelloFresh

Meal Delivery Service

Prices vary at Hello Fresh

Best Meal Service: HelloFresh

Sometimes it feels like there are more meal delivery services than stars in the sky, and who could choose between them? We like HelloFresh because of their huge range of diet-specific options (they even have a calorie smart plan with meals around 650 cals), and the variety of genuinely tasty dinners to pick from.

Purley Elizabeth

Oatmeal

$2.99 at Purely Elizabeth

Best Oatmeal: Purely Elizabeth Oatmeal

“Instant oatmeal” might bring to mind a mixture that’s somehow both too wet and too dry, and offers almost no nutritional value. This brand is the exception. This oatmeal is genuinely hearty, and comes in varieties with added plant-based protein or superfood grains like flax, chia, quinoa and amaranth.

MiLà

Potstickers and Soup Dumplings

$32.99 at MiLà

Best Frozen Dumplings: MiLà Dumplings

Takeout dinner, but make it healthy (and a whole lot cheaper). This brand makes potstickers and soup dumplings that rival your favorite spot, with high-protein flour and locally sourced ingredients.

Lunchbox-Friendly Snacks

Harvest Snaps

Crispy Apples

$47.94/5-pack at Walmart

Best Fruit Snacks: Harvest Snaps Kids (Strawberry, Banana, Apple)

An easy, fun way to get more fruit into your kids’ diet, these just have one ingredient: the fruit itself. They’re pleasantly crunchy, and come in fun, backpack-friendly bags.

MadeGood

Granola Bites Chocolate Chip & Mixed Berry Variety Pack

$23.99 at Amazon

Best Granola Bites: MadeGood Granola Bites

If you love someone with a food allergy, these are your new best friends. They’re free from the top nine allergens, and make a tasty, safe morning or afternoon snack.

That's it.

100% Natural Real Fruit Bar Variety Pack

$24.99 at Amazon

Best Bar: That's it. Bars

Another just-fruit option that’s kid-approved has entered the chat. These look and taste like the fruit leathers we ate daily in the ‘90s, but their only ingredients are…fruit. RIP fruit roll-ups.

Little Spoon

Stellar Puffs

$2.99 at Little Spoon

Best Puffs: Little Spoon Stellar Puffs

Our expert found that Little Spoon does a great job formulating foods for early childhood with cleaner ingredients than you’ll find elsewhere. These particular puffs are made with white cheddar cheese and pumpkin, and include avocado oil and quinoa. Their only allergen is milk, which makes them a great choice for kids with nut or sesame allergies.

Simple Mills

Almond Flour Sea Salt Crackers

$4.24 at Target

Best Crackers: Simple Mills Crackers

These crackers are made with an almond flour base, which our expert notes provide more protein and healthy fat than crackers made with wheat. These are also gluten-free, so they’re safe for kids who suffer from celiac disease (though not appropriate for anyone with a nut allergy).

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