2014 Foodie Awards: Market to Table

Published September 11, 2014 05:48AM

Too busy to plan every meal to perfection? No worries! For this year’s Foodie Awards, VT editors sampled and selected the yummiest, most convenient veg items for all sorts of eating occasions—from breakfast to lunch to dinner and beyond  (c’mon, you totally deserve a treat). We nominated products in  25 categories and asked you, our trusty readers, to vote for your favorites. Read on for the results, and don’t forget to whip out this comprehensive shopping list the next time you hit the market.

readers’ pick

Justin’s Maple  Almond Butter

Just a hint of maple sugar perks up this ultra-creamy nut butter, which comes  in both jars and little packets for easy snacking on the  fly. We dig it with crunchy apple slices.

runners-up

Artisana Raw Organic Almond Butter

MaraNatha Creamy Coconut Almond Butter

Once Again American Classic Creamy No Stir Almond Butter

readers’ pick

Earth Balance  Vegan Aged White  Cheddar Flavor Popcorn

Craving cheesy popcorn? This vegan version, with  its satisfying Cheddar-like topping, beats the real  deal any day. Bonus:  3 grams of hunger-quelling fiber per serving.

runners-up

479° Toasted Sesame + Seaweed Artisan Popcorn

Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Popcorn

Quinn Kale & Sea Salt Popcorn

readers’ pick

Clif Kit’s Organic  Coconut + Sesame  Seeds Fruit + Seed Bar

A riff on the typical nut bar, this coconutty treat swaps in crunchy sesame seeds and gets natural sweetness from dates. Keep one (or three) at your desk.

runners-up

18 Rabbits Cherry,  Dark Chocolate &  Almond Granola Bar

Pure Organic Ancient Grains Triple Berry  Nut Bar

Two Moms in the Raw Gojiberry Nut Bar

readers’ pick

Annie Chun’s  Sesame Roasted  Seaweed Snacks

Step aside, potato chips—these paper-thin seaweed snacks provide the same salty, crispy satisfaction  at a fraction of the calories.

runners-up

gimMe Organic Teriyaki Roasted Seaweed Snacks

SeaSnax Stix Original Crispy Seaweed Strips

Sea Tangle Snacks Vegan Korean Nori

readers’ pick

The Good Bean  Cracked Pepper

Crispy Crunchy Chickpeas!

High in protein and fiber, these lightly seasoned chickpeas make the perfect energy-packed snack (you can toss them into soups, salads, and trail mixes too).

runners-up

cruncha ma-me Lightly Seasoned Edamame  Veggie Snack

Saffron Road Bombay  Spice Crunchy Chickpeas

Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Premium  Black Edamame

readers’ pick

Bob’s Red Mill Organic Scottish Oatmeal

Great for busy mornings, these finely ground oats cook into a supremely creamy porridge in just 10 minutes. Look for Bob’s Red Mill’s new gluten-free version too.

runners-up

Arrowhead Mills Organic Steel Cut Oats

Flahavan’s Quick to Cook Irish Steel Cut Oatmeal

Nature’s Path Organic Original Hot Oatmeal

plain yogurt
readers’ pick

Green Valley  Organics Lactose  Free Low Fat  Plain Yogurt

This velvety favorite has  all the calcium and good-for-you probiotics of  regular yogurt—without  any of the lactose. Add  fresh or frozen berries  to sweeten.

runners-up

Nancy’s Organic Plain Cultured Soy

Redwood Hill Farm Plain Goat Milk Yogurt

Wallaby Organic Plain Lowfat Creamy Australian Style Yogurt

readers’ pick

MorningStar Farms Sausage Patties made with Organic Soy

Each of these chewy,  spicy patties packs an impressive 9 grams of protein. Try them alongside scrambled eggs or tofu.

runners-up

Field Roast Apple Maple  Breakfast Sausage

Lightlife Organic Smoky Tempeh Strips Fakin’ Bacon

Upton’s Naturals Bacon Seitan

readers’ pick

Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins

Not just for breakfast,  these sprouted whole-grain goodies do double duty  as a sweet midnight snack. We love toasting them and topping with coconut oil.

runners-up

Glutino Gluten Free  English Muffins

Oroweat 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins

Rudi’s Organic Bakery Multigrain English Muffins with Flax

Califia Farms  Unsweetened Pure Almondmilk

Delicately nutty and silky smooth, this nut milk could totally pass for homemade. Stir into coffee, pour over breakfast cereal, or sip it straight.

runners-up

Edensoy Organic Unsweetened Soymilk

Organic Valley Grassmilk Organic Milk

So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk Beverage

readers’ pick

Pacific Organic  Spicy Black Bean  & Kale Soup

Meet your new favorite emergency meal: a chunky, filling soup that needs  only a hunk of good crusty bread to sop up the tomatoey broth.

runners-up

Fig Food Co. Tuscan  White Bean Soup

Imagine Organic Savory Black Bean Soup

Right Foods Dr. McDougall’s Organic Tortilla Style Soup

readers’ pick

Amy’s Southwestern Burrito

Not your average bean-and-cheese burrito, this midday staple gets extra oomph from jalapeño chiles and fire-roasted poblanos.

runners-up

Sukhi’s Veggie Samosa Street Wrap

Sweet Earth Natural Foods The Kyoto Burrito

Tandoor Chef Masala Dosa

readers’ pick

Wasa Light Rye Crispbread

This thin, delicate crispbread strikes just  the right balance between nutritious and delicious. Grab a few to top with hummus, cheese, or mashed avocado.

runners-up

Ak-Mak Sesame Crackers

GG Unique Fiber Sunflower Seed Scandinavian Thins

Ryvita Wholegrain Rye Crispbread, Pumpkin  Seeds & Oats

bottled teas
readers’ pick

Teas’Tea  Unsweetened  Jasmine Green Tea

For a refreshing midday energy boost, grab this earthy, aromatic green tea, which has no added sugars and just a third of the caffeine of coffee.

runners-up

Harmless Harvest Raw Honey & Lemon 100%  Raw Tea

Harney & Sons Organic Green with Coconut Transporting Green Tea

Runa Clean Energy Traditional Guayusa Tea

readers’ pick

Eat Well Embrace  Life Edamame  Hummus with  Roasted Red  Peppers

Switch up your hummus routine! Protein-rich edamame stars in this  tasty twist on the popular dip. Pair with veggies, slather on pita, or use as  a sandwich spread.

runners-up

Better Bean Wholly Chipotle Bean Dip

Hope Foods Hope Dips Organic Original  Lentil Dip

Tribe Forty Spices  Hummus

readers’ pick

Bob’s Red Mill  Whole Wheat Pearl Couscous

Plump, chewy, hearty pearl couscous makes an excellent substitute for other grains in salads and veggie bowls. Tip: for stronger flavor, cook in  broth instead of water.

runners-up

Kashi 7 Whole Grain Pilaf

Lundberg Organic Quick Wild Rice

TruRoots Accents Organic Sprouted Quinoa Trio

Recipe-ready coconut  milk, which adds instant creamy goodness to  soups and stews, gets  a BPA-free makeover  with a new carton.

runners-up

A Taste of Thai Lite Coconut Milk

Native Forest Light  Organic Coconut Milk

Thai Kitchen Organic  Lite Coconut Milk

readers’ pick

gardein Mandarin  Crispy Chick’n

For a foolproof  stir-fry the whole  family will love,  simply combine these sweet-and-salty bites  with broccoli, cashews,  and brown rice. Voila!

runners-up

Beyond Meat Beefy Beef-Free Crumble

Turtle Island Foods Coconut Curry Marinated Tempeh

Wildwood Organic SprouTofu Teriyaki

Baked Tofu

readers’ pick

Ohsawa Organic  Nama Shoyu  Unpasteurized  Soy Sauce

Nama shoyu (aka  the Champagne of  soy sauce) isn’t cheap,  but one splash of this  richly flavored stuff will make you a convert.

runners-up

Bragg Liquid Aminos

Ojio Organic Soy Sauce Alternative

San-J Tamari Lite Gluten Free Soy Sauce

readers’  pick

Trader Joe’s Artichoke Hearts

Stash these babies in your freezer, and you’ll have tender, brightly flavored, ready-to-go artichoke hearts without the bother of cutting up the prickly veggie.

runners-up

Earthbound Farm  Organic Kale

Seapoint Farms Organic Edamame Shelled Soybeans

Wild Veggie Red Bell Pepper Veggie Purée

readers’ pick

Endangered Species  Organic Dark  Chocolate & Natural  Cherry Flavor

Dark cherry flavor adds fruity flair to this smooth-as-can-be chocolate bar. Even sweeter: Endangered Species donates 10 percent of net profits to conser-vation, preservation, and humanitarian organizations.

runners-up

Alter Eco Dark Quinoa Organic Chocolate

Lake Champlain  Chocolates Organic  Sea Salt & Almonds

Taza Chocolate Cacao Puro Chocolate Mexicano

readers’ pick

Cypress Grove

Midnight Moon  Aged Goat Milk  Cheese

Paired with fig jam and arugula on a baguette,  this subtly sweet and  nutty Gouda-style  cheese is nothing short  of addictive.

runners-up

Cowgirl Creamery Mt Tam

Kite Hill White Alder Soft Ripened Nut Product

Vermont Creamery Bonne Bouche

readers’ pick

KeVita Tangerine  Sparkling Probiotic  Drink

KeVita’s signature ginger-ale-like kick gets a hit of citrusy tang in this new flavor.

runners-up

Ayala’s Ginger Lemon Peel Sparkling Herbal Water

Q Sparkling  Grapefruit Soda

Reed’s Organic Raw  Culture Club Cabernet Grape Kombucha

readers’ pick

Julie’s Organic  Ice Cream Fudge Bars

If you liked Fudgsicles as  a kid, you’ll love this outrageously creamy upgrade, made with organic chocolate ice cream and no artificial ingredients.

runners-up

Ciao Bella Blueberry Passion Sorbet Bars

Luna & Larry’s Organic Coconut Bliss Café  Latte Bars

Ruby Rocket’s Galaxy Green Frozen Fruit & Vegetable Pops

readers’ pick

Amy’s Gluten Free Classic  Shortbread Cookie

Serve these rich, buttery cookies at a party, and nobody will guess they’re gluten-free. Almond flour lends a welcome nutty flavor to the classic treat.

runners-up

Effie’s Homemade Pecan Nutcakes

Tate’s Bake Shop Whole Wheat Dark Chocolate Cookies

Uncle Eddie’s Vegan  Peanut Butter Chocolate-Chip Cookies