Clean Choice Awards 2013: Super Time-Savers
From soups to frozen fruits and veggies, these picks were chosen to make your time in the kitchen run more smoothly and, of course, more quickly!
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Carrington Farms Flax Paks
Toss a few single-serving organic flax packets in your bag so you’ll always have a dose of fiber, several B vitamins and omega-3s on hand. Seeds are thinly sliced, not crushed! $7 per 12-pack, carringtonfarms.com
Pacific Foods’ Organic Cream of Mushroom Condensed Soup
This rich, creamy soup feels like the condensed mushroom soup of your childhood – but without the excessive preservatives! We love how pure and natural the ingredient list is, and especially how quick it is to throw together in a pinch. $2.50 to $3 per 12 oz, pacificfoods.com
Frontier South of the Border Tortilla Soup
CE’s research chief Anna, and her family, fell hard for this simple soup that just requires the addition of water, broth, chicken and salsa. Authentic flavors, such as epazote and chile, give depth to this low-sodium Mexican soup. $6, frontiersoups.com
Stahlbush Island Farms Sliced Beets
If the labor (and staining) involved in cleaning beets throws you off, you’ll love these sustainably farmed frozen sliced beets, ready to bake, roast or steam. $4, stahlbush.com for retail locations
Cookin’ Greens Chopped Kale
Thanks to this conveniently packaged frozen kale, you can kiss cleaning and waste goodbye. Toss pieces in stir-frys, salads and juices for the same nutrients you’re used to in fresh kale (vitamins A and C, calcium and iron). $5, cookingreens.com for retail locations
Earthbound Farm’s Frozen Organic Berry Basket Blend
Don’t let the end of berry season ruin your smoothies and desserts! Keep a bag of this four-berry blend in the freezer and you’ll always be good to go. $4.50, ebfarm.com for retail locations
Turtle Island Foods Organic Five Grain Home-Style Tempeh
Add tempeh – fermented soy – to your list of lean protein sources, perfect for Meatless Mondays. We love this one from Turtle Island Foods, which contains organic soybeans, millet, brown rice, sesame and sunflower seeds, among other clean ingredients. $4, tofurky.com for retail locations
Lärabar Peanut Butter & Jelly
Stash one of these delightfully chewy fruit and nut bars in your glove box, your desk and your gym bag for healthy fuel when time is in short supply. Lärabar has plenty of flavors to choose from, so feel free to mix it up, too! $25.50 to $28 per case of 16, larabar.com