2006 Best of Food Awards: Breakfast Items

Post Healthy Classics Raisin Bran Cereal Bars, Cranberry ($3.39)
Unlike many other cereal bars, this chewy combo of bran flakes, oat-bran nuggets, and dried cranberries really delivers in the nutrition and flavor departments. You’ll get 3 grams of fiber and a quarter of your daily requirements for riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, and vitamins B6 and B12—all for just 120 calories and 2 grams of fat.

Sara Lee Heart Healthy 100% Whole Wheat Bagels ($3.03)
These honey-sweet bagels have a heck of a lot more going for them than the typical New York version. Each packs 6 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein in a 220-calorie package. Purists may balk at the somewhat squishy texture, but toasted and smeared with low-fat cream cheese, they’re a satisfying breakfast.

Total Honey Clusters ($4.19)
This combination of wheat and corn flakes and granola-like bits will certainly satisfy your need for crunch. It touts 100 percent of the daily value for 12 key nutrients and is an “excellent source” of whole grains, delivering at least 16 grams per serving. Three grams of fiber per ¾ cup isn’t the highest in the cereal aisle, but this cereal outpaces the competition in flavor.

Quaker Weight Control Instant Oatmeal, Cinnamon ($3.69)
How could oatmeal be any better for you? Load it with twice as much fiber (6 grams) and 3 grams more protein (a total of 7 grams) per serving, compared with regular instant oatmeal—a combination that just might help you hold out till lunch (no mid-morning nosh necessary). Sugar substitutes keep calories low while adding just the right amount of sweetness.

Al Fresco All Natural Country Style Breakfast Chicken Sausage ($4.49; alfrescoallnatural.com)
Get classic sausage taste at 60 calories, 2.5 fat grams, and 230 milligrams of sodium per link without the rubbery texture that handicaps other low-fat sausages. “The spices are nicely balanced,” says judge Nancy Rodriguez. Pan-fry instead of nuking for a nice, browned finish.

Van’s All Natural Hearty Oats Waffles, Maple Fusion ($2.89; vanswaffles.com)
Even if these waffles weren’t loaded with good stuff, we’d eat them anyway. In addition to whole wheat, steel-cut oats, and omega-3 fatty acid–rich flaxseed, each two-waffle serving provides 200 milligrams of calcium (about as much as ¾ cup of milk). Plus, they get an antioxidant boost from pomegranate extract. All you’ll taste, though, is a subtle, maple flavor.

South Beach Diet, Denver-style Breakfast Wraps ($3.49)
A healthy take on the classic Denver omelet (egg whites, mozzarella cheese, red and green peppers, ham, and onions) in a whole-grain, high-fiber wrap. With 180 calories, 7 grams of fat, 16 grams of protein, and a whopping 15 grams of fiber, it’s a great breakfast-at-your-desk option: Microwave for just 2 minutes and enjoy.