Food & Snacks

Gluten free and vegan.

You've seen those studies about how eating peppers can temporarily give your metabolism a mild boost, right? Well, that's not why I eat this stuff. I eat it because it's damn tasty. Made with jalapeno peppers and cucumbers, it brings the heat along with a touch of sweetness (without added sugar). While they call it a "sandwich spread" I've never actually put it on a sandwich. Instead, I stir a dollop into rice and use it as a topping for boring chicken breasts. Your eyes will water and your forehead will bead with sweat, but you'll be smiling.

– Chris Shugart

Organic and lactose-free. 0g sugar, 5g protein, 40 calories.

When I impulse-purchased a can of this at the store, I was just looking for a convenient boost to get me through an afternoon of errand running. I was not expecting to be blown away by the flavor. I actually double-checked the ingredients to make sure I hadn't grabbed something packed with sugar. Nope! It's sweetened with monk fruit extract and contains a little MCT oil (extracted from coconut oil), a bit of whey protein, and L-theanine – a non-essential amino acid known for its nootropic effects. And of course, being espresso, there's also 180mg of caffeine. I tried the caramel, but it also comes in plain and vanilla. And those little 6-ounce cans are just adorable, aren't they?

– Chris Shugart

Variety pack: Sugar-free ketchup and two BBQ sauces (original and hickory).

You know what makes bland chicken breasts taste better? Barbeque sauce! Ah, but therein lies the rub. Most sauces, especially barbeque sauces, contain a lot of sugar and other crap. In fact, the main ingredient is often high-fructose corn syrup. Same with ketchup.

Luckily, pit master G. Hughes created a line of sugar-free sauces. At only 5 to 20 calories per serving, you can pretty much have all you want. The barbeque sauces and ketchup taste damn close to the real thing. His marinades, honey mustard, and sweet chili sauce are great too, so toss some of those into your Amazon cart as well. – Chris Shugart

Made with avocado oil and organic, paleo-approved ingredients.

Even if you haven't gone "full paleo" and you enjoy your salad with a side of bread (gasp!), these dressings are worth checking out.

Regular salad dressings usually contain junky soybean oil, sugar, and other craptastic ingredients. Not these. They're made with good-for-ya avocado oil and don't contain any soy, canola, dairy, gluten, or sugar.

Now, these aren't low-calorie dressings, but they are low carb. So watch those portions, which can be tricky because these caveman dressings are damn tasty. – Chris Shugart

8-pack, 130 calories, 20g protein, 3g net carbs. Made with whey and milk protein isolates.

Get this straight, kale chips are not a substitute for potato chips. People who eat them should be stripped naked, slathered with Crisco, rolled in kale "chips," and thrown into a verdant field until their bones have been picked clean by kale-eating caterpillars.

But wait, lookie here, the Quest Nutrition people have made a super low-carb, gluten-free "potato" chip that's made out of protein and that actually tastes like a potato chip!

What's more, these protein chips don't violate the tenets of any diet. Paleo people, gluten avoiders, keto dieters, or anti-potato zealots have nothing to fear from these chips except flavor. Quest's protein chips were somewhat mediocre before, but version 2.0. is out and they're really pretty good. Munch on these and relive your days as fat, slobby, potato-chip eating kid sitting on the couch watching Dawson's Creek. – TC Luoma

Caffeine-free dandelion root tea. Soluble fiber from the inulin. Feeds probiotics for good digestive health. Enjoy hot or iced.

If you're craving coffee but you've already reached your caffeine limit, try this. It's perfect at night as a dessert replacement if you're in a cutting phase... or even just an eat-less-crap phase.

Hippies will tell you that dandelion is good for the liver, helps with blood sugar, contains antioxidants, and acts as a mild diuretic. Regardless of whether they're right or not, this is a delicious caramel-flavored drink with only 19 calories. So I'd drink it even without those benefits. – Dani Shugart

Reverse osmosis filtered water, 10 grams of collagen, blackberry juice and hibiscus extract, monk fruit extract. 16 pack.

Ever tried taking glucosamine and chondritin supplements to heal your aching joints? Notice much of anything? Me neither. Studies show that these popular supps just don't help much.

But collagen sure does. If you don't feel like mixing up collagen powder, or just don't like the taste, these grab-and-go bottled waters are handy. Each serving provides 10 grams of collagen along with a hint of fruit juice and no added sugar.

All of the Vital Proteins flavors are good, but the blackberry hibiscus really knocks my socks off... whatever the heck hibiscus is. What's that? It's a friggin' flower? Fine, I drink flowers now. Fight me. – Chris Shugart

Variety pack. Gluten-Free, vegan, protein snacks.

If you're wanting to ditch the snacks advertised to 12-year olds using cartoon cheetahs, but you aren't quite ready to totally give up your cheesy puffs, try these snacks made from garbanzo beans (chickpeas). The portable, portion-sized packets make counting your macros easier too, if you're into that. – Chris Shugart

Made with 100% grass-fed beef, raised without the use of antibiotics or added hormones. Certified gluten free, soy free, and naturally sweetened with pineapple juice and honey. Top 8 allergen friendly. Contains 90 calories and 12 grams of protein per serving.

Most jerky is made from heavily processed, low-grade meat. Not New Primal Jerky. It's made from grass-fed and grass-finished cattle raised in New Zealand. That makes their jerky rich in omega-3s and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This stuff is moist, completely paleo, and comes in a resealable pouch. It's available in Sea Salt & Pepper and Cayenne & Honey flavors and the only difference is of course the heat level. All in all, a jerky that's as delicious as it is nutritious. – TC Luoma

Gluten free, non GMO, vegan. Contains 130 calories, 4 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein per serving.

These aren't just any chips. They're made mostly from beans. So they're a good choice if you're avoiding wheat or corn for any reason, or you're just tired of conventional greasy potato chips. These chips somehow give you the best of both worlds: heat and flavor. If you're not a fan of spicy snackage, Beanfields makes several other flavors that are just as tasty, but without the heat. Black Bean With Sea Salt is the perfect chip to pair with guac. – Dani Shugart

Gluten free, artificial color free, and kosher. Contains 130 calories and 3 grams of protein per 17-cracker serving.

Dropping wheat-y foods like bread and crackers from your diet is a good way to control appetite and deflate that spare tire around your waist, even if you're not worried about the big gluten monster. But many of the healthier wheat-free products taste, well, wheat free... and healthier. The texture is just all wrong.

Not Blue Diamond Nut Thins. These gluten-free crackers are made mostly from almonds and rice, and they'll definitely satisfy your cravings for crunch. – Chris Shugart

Made with grass-fed clarified butter. No preservatives, no artificial flavorings, no diacetyl, no trans-fat, no hydrogenated oils. The bag contains no chemical coatings or plastic.

Popcorn actually has more polyphenols (healthful plant chemicals) than fruits and vegetables. Problem is, most microwavable popcorns use plastic coated bags containing all sorts of nasty chemicals. Not Quinn Snacks. Their compostable and recyclable paper bags don't contain any chemical coatings, plastic, PFC, heat-concentrating susceptor, or PFOA.

Each bag comes with a separate pouch that contains real, grass-fed, clarified butter that you mix into the finished product. The taste is impressive – not too salty, not too buttery. Just perfect. – TC Luoma