We’ve devoted a lot of space to diet disasters like 1,300-calorie gut-bombing salads and 73-ingredient Frankenfoods, so I also want to offer some delicious alternatives to favorite (but sometimes scary) foods, so you won’t feel like healthy eating is some twisted form of self-deprivation.

It took months of scouring grocery store aisles and enlisting the help of our favorite nutritionists and chefs to come up with our extended list of the best supermarket foods across the land. We chose foods packed with plenty of the things you want — fiber, protein, healthy fats — without the unnecessary calories, fat, sodium, sugar and salt that pollute so much of our packaged-food supply.

The nutritionists ensured that the foods listed below will do your body good, while the chefs made sure we weren’t sacrificing taste. (Because let’s face it, some nutritionists would eat the cardboard boxes these foods come in, strictly to max out their fiber counts.)

From breakfast to dessert and everything in between, we’ve picked out a variety of foods that’ll bring you a ton of flavor, keep you lean, and help you look, feel, and live better than ever. Here are eight of our favorites that’ll satisfy your hunger and taste buds.

BEST INSTANT OATMEAL
Quaker Weight Control Banana Bread Oatmeal (per packet)

160 calories
3 g fat
7 g protein
29 carbs
6 g fiber

1 g sugars

This instant oatmeal is high in soluble fiber — the stuff that provides long-lasting energy — and gives you a morning shot of belly-filling, muscle-making protein as well. The banana-bread flavor hits the spot without an overwhelming sugar and calorie count. Zap a bowl at home or at work, and you'll get your day off to a fast and body-friendly start. (Remember: Studies show that those who skip breakfast are 450 percent more likely to be overweight or obese!) Less temptation around the doughnut tray at work, too.

BEST GRAIN
Bob’s Red Mill Organic Quinoa (per 1 cup prepared)
160 calories
2.5 g fat
6 g protein
30 g carbs
3 g fiber

0 g sugars

We don't expect you to eat something you can't pronounce, so here goes: It's KEEN-WAH, and you should think of it as a high-protein, high-fiber replacement for brown rice. Also, whole-grain quinoa packs vital amino acids, which help your body grow and repair itself.

BEST SNACKING CHEESE
Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Original (per piece)
70 calories
6 g fat
5 g protein
0 g carbs

0 g sugars 

You may think of cheese as an indulgence, but it can be a great snack. The fat in cheese is proven to suppress your appetite, making it ideal to take the edge off hunger in between meals. Laughing Cow’s little packages will keep you from overdoing it — who has time to unwrap more than three of the little bundles?

BEST BOTTLED TEA
Honest Tea Green Dragon (per 16-oz bottle)
60 calories
16 g carbs

10 g sugars

We sent a swath of green teas off to an independent lab to test for antioxidant levels, and Honest came back the winner. Then we did our favorite part of food testing: We guzzled the contenders. Lucky for you, Honest Tea aced our taste test.

BEST FLAVORED NUTS
Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds Dark Chocolate (per ounce)
150 calories
12 g fat
6 g protein
6 g carbs
3 g fiber

1 g sugars

Almonds are packed full of heart-healthy fats and antioxidants, which makes them perfect for staving off mid-afternoon hunger cravings. We especially love these almonds because they remind us of a Hershey almond bar, minus all the sugar. This is our new favorite way of doing crunches in the afternoon.

BEST ENERGY BAR
Lärabar Apple Pie (per bar)
180 calories
10 g fat
4 g protein
23 g carbs
4 g fiber

17 g sugars

A great new twist on the mom-apple pie connection. Most energy and protein bars are polluted with sugar, making them more akin to a Snickers than to something you might actually want to snack on. But Lärabar ditches the synthetic sugars and fillers in favor of six simple ingredients: dates, walnuts, apples, almonds, raisins, and cinnamon. Wash it down with high-protein, high calcium Organic Valley Low Fat milk (another winner): Mom would definitely approve.

BEST FROZEN TREAT
Edy’s/Dreyer’s Slow Churned Vanilla with Crunch Bar (per bar)

150 calories
19 g carbs
8 g fat

10 g sugars

We know what you’re thinking: “Ice cream bars are flat-belly foods?” Remember: People who don’t treat themselves to an occasional indulgence end up with an empty carton of ice cream on their laps at midnight. Part of getting lean and staying lean is picking relatively innocent indulgences that will satisfy your cravings without sabotaging your diet. Bonus: Bars also keep you from the “just one more bite” risk that the tub of ice cream will turn you into a tub, as well.

BEST PACKAGED COLD CUTS
Hormel Natural Choice Presliced Deli Meats (per 3 turkey slices)
50 calories
10 g protein
1 g carbs
1 g fat

0 g sugars

Their turkey cold cuts are another tasty way to deliver protein. Hormel deli meats are 100-percent natural, as well as nitrate- and nitrite-free. Wrap a slice around a slice of Sargento Deli Style Aged Swiss for an all-star snack.

And to see a comprehensive list of America’s best supermarket foods (covering EVERY aisle!) click here for 117 other great foods to throw in the grocery cart.

Have other ideas? Please share them with us all.