The 2024 Men’s Health Food Awards
DISCOVERING NEW PRODUCTS fights diet boredom. But how do you stick to a budget with so much deliciousness at play? We did the work for you.
So, what makes a winner? We’re looking for foods that are high in protein, healthy fats, and/or fiber while also containing a sensible amount of calories and added sugar. Organic and sustainable products—along with those that have short ingredient lists—are all valued. And this year, we asked: Is this worth the money?
Our food and nutrition-obsessed editors and writers set out to answer this question with each food product we encountered this year. We extensively researched and tested hundreds of foods—from pantry essentials, quality meats, and frozen meals to high-protein snacks and instant coffee that actually tastes like a fresh cup of joe. Our goal: To curate a list showcasing this year’s finest foods. Without further ado, we present the Men’s Health Food Awards 2024.
JUMP TO EACH SECTION:
BREAKFAST • LUNCH & DINNER • SNACKS • SWEETS • BEVERAGES
This party of chia, hemp, coconut, pecans, walnuts, and tiger nuts (rawr!) has the sustenance of oatmeal without a sugar pile-on.
The whole milk in this thick yogurt makes it extra rich, and the flavor is your answer to mixed-berry fatigue. One cup has 11 grams of protein.
The chickens that lay these live off land that is able to restore the soil. The eggs’ flavor is buttery and clean, with a texture that’s supremely fluffy.
These strips come from pigs raised without antibiotics or growth hormones. The bacon’s smoky-sweet balance tastes especially amazing worked into chowders, braised greens, and meat loaf.
With 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup serving, it’s your tried-and-true foundation for a better breakfast.
These chickpea-reinforced discs of deliciousness taste just like their flour-built counterparts, but contain 10 grams of protein per two-waffle serving.
This slightly sweet cup of good has 7 grams of stomach-filling fiber and a flavor that shakes you out of apple-cinnamon boredom.
The tender-crisp crust, well-balanced toppings, this- is-frozen? surprise factor—all from the chef behind N.Y.C.’s legendary Una Pizza Napoletana. Best enjoyed with a beer.
These cold cuts hold way more meaty flavor than the sad roast beef at the deli counter. Try them folded onto a Reuben, atop a burger, or straight out of the pouch. A four-ounce serving has 10 grams of protein and 120 calories.
A duo of grains cooks up fluffy and has 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber—the perfect bed for grilled chicken, salmon, or tofu.
There’s no added sugar in this bright-tasting, smooooooth sauce.
Beets, carrots, and parsnips unite in the best thing to happen to oven fries since the invention of the air fryer.
The 10 grams of protein per serving is nice, but it’s the extra-nutty flavor that will keep you restocking.
They’re surprisingly light given that a serving houses an impressive 19 grams of protein. And they hold up simmered in sauce too.
Eating Brussel sprouts? Awesome. Prepping Brussels sprouts? Not so much. This bag of pre-prepped does all the work for you so you can enjoy all the antioxidant-rich, fiber-packed benefits.
Beans and potatoes help round out the flavors and nutrition in this plant-based power bowl.
Thighs house way more flavor than breasts, don’t try out as easily, and this brand even does the deboning for you.
Meaty, not mealy, powerfully flavorful tuna. One serving has 20 grams of protein.
Light and flaky, these crystals melt into your meals, enhancing the flavor of, well, everything.
It’s quite possibly the easiest way to eat your heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
This luscious olive is as well suited for cooking as it is drizzled over a salad.
That 82% butterfat makes it extra rich in flavor, especially melted into scrambled eggs or atop great bread.
Laura’s is (and has long been) committed to raising amazing-tasting beef without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics.
The hearty tortilla chips are sturdy enough for even the heaviest scoops of guac. They taste nutty and slightly sweet, even with no added sugar.
Wild yellowtail tuna, corn nuts, toasted pumpkin seeds, spices: It’s the tastiest way to eat 23 grams of protein with 30 seconds of prep.
With chickpeas and tahini, this is the best-of-both-worlds dunking experience you need. Two tablespoons have a mere 70 calories.
They’re big, green, robust olives packed with a spicy- fresh flavoring that blows away those
Oooooowwwwwweeeee these are hot little nuts. (Thirteen grams of plant protein per serving is pretty fire too.)
It’s a flavor trend mashup of everything bagel seasoning and dill pickle. Twenty-seven crackers have only 140 calories. You don’t even really need to dunk them in anything.
Crispy and slightly banana-y, they make great dippers for just about anything and taste especially awesome crunched atop chili, stews, and bean-based dishes.
They’re salty. They’re smoky. They have 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber in a 28-nut serving.
Too many PBs lean on added sugar for flavor. Justin’s classic has none—just tons of powerfully peanut buttery taste. Grab a spoon.
We worked with Planters on this mix of peanuts, almonds, and pistachios. Not only is it awesomely delicious, the mix has 7 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 0 grams of added sugar per serving.
Tumble few of these high-protein orbs out of the package, chop them up, stir in some Greek yogurt, season, pile on toast, and you have yourself a high-protein breakfast (or lunch! or dinner!).
TikTok loves this stuff for good reasons: A half cup has 13 grams of protein for only 110 calories and no added sugar.
Creamy Haas avocados, blended with tart tomatillos, and spiked with a dual threat of serrano and jalapeño peppers—this combo dip-sauce works with nachos and enchiladas and grilled fish and so much more.
Bright, fresh, a loaded with tomato-y sweetness, this refrigerated salsa tastes like you just made it.
If you can’t tell the difference between a protein bar and a candy bar, then it’s probably closer to a candy bar. This meat-bar contains no added sugar, no fake sugars, and no bull. It’s made with bison and spices. That’s it.
These high-fiber flavor bombs are great straight out of the tub, but also work well chopped and stirred into oatmeal, cottage cheese, or yogurt.
When the craving hits, why settle for anything less than the real stuff?
It’s a fully loaded shake for muscle recovery from intense exercise. And, yes, the flavor is as amazing as it sounds.
You have to marvel when an iced tea doesn’t have any sugar and still tastes great. This stuff carries a bright, slightly tangy flavor that’ll remind you of sunny summer days.
N/A beer has long shed its punchline—with craft brewers like Athletic pioneering new styles that completely re-arrange your taste buds and how you feel about near beer.
Rip. Pour. Stir. Sip. Savor. Then ponder: “Wow, this is really instant coffee?”
Bottled water can sometimes taste like the vessel it comes in. Not this crisp, clean H20, which has none of the plasticky undernotes of even some boutique brands.
Food styling: Rebecca Jurkevich. Prop styling: Stephanie De Luca.
This story originally appears in the March/April 2024 issue of Men’s Health.
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