Grocery store shelves are lined with new "healthier" frozen foods, but which brands are most nutritious and best tasting? We took a dozen products to a discerning group of Girl Scouts, who used a scale of 1 to 5 to rate items on two criteria — "how good it tasted" and "how exciting it would be to have for dinner." Then we had two nutritionists determine the nutritional value of each item. Here are our results:
Frozen Pizza
Rising Moon Organics Four-Cheese Pizza
Made with organic wheat flour and four cheeses, this pizza claims to be an authentic Italian pie. Organic Four-Cheese Pizza, $8.99, Rising Moon Organics, Delicious Organics.
What the kids said: The slight sweetness of the sauce and hefty dose of cheese made this pizza a hit. "I'd like to have it every day!" said Erin, 7, reaching for a second slice. "It's less greasy [than some other pizzas]," added Nina, 7. "The bottom isn't dripping." We'll admit, we like it too. A sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano added a nice nutty flavor.
The verdict: Taste, 5; Excitement, 5
Nutritionist's Score: 4.5
Amy's Cheese Pizza
Amy's Kitchen churns out a huge assortment of frozen, vegetarian, all-natural, and organic products. The pizza features all-organic ingredients and a whole-wheat crust. Cheese Pizza, $6.99, Amy's Kitchen, FreshDirect.
What the kids said: "I love it! I love it!" raved Daniella, 7. The crust was soft and tender without being doughy, and the sauce was light and fresh-tasting, earning this pie high marks. "It's just really flavorful. Like real pizza," said Marissa, 7.
The verdict: Taste, 5; Excitement, 5
Nutritionist's Score: 4
Earth's Best Whole-Grain Cheese Pizza
This individual-size pizza offers 38 grams of whole grains per serving and is fortified with iron, zinc, and six B vitamins. Whole-Grain Cheese Pizza, $3.99, Earth's Best, Whole Foods Market.
What the kids said: The girls liked the idea of getting an individual-size pizza, but were disappointed when the taste didn't measure up. "I can't taste the pizza part. There's too much dough and not much sauce," said Marissa, who didn't finish her mini slice. "The bottom is so squishy," said Daniella. "It's like bread."
The verdict: Taste, 3; Excitement, 3
Nutritionist's Score: 2
Kashi Five-Cheese Tomato Pizza
The California-based company is known for loading their cereals and frozen foods with fiber, protein, and omega-3s, and this pizza is no exception. The crust is made from Kashi's signature blend of seven whole grains, sesame seed, and flaxseed. Cheese Pizza, $6.99, Kashi , The Food Emporium.
What the kids said: While this pizza looks great on paper, the flavor just didn't translate to our testers. "I don't like it as much as the others," said Kelly, 7, adding that the flavor was too spicy for her taste. The pizza scored disappointing 1s across the board. "I hate it so much! It's burning my mouth!" said Erin.
The verdict: Taste, 1; Excitement, 1
Nutritionist's Score: 3
What the nutritionist said: "Go with the Rising Moon Organics pizza," said Geri Brewster, registered dietitian and mother of two. Rising Moon Organics's pie offers low sodium for the portion size, a good amount of fiber, and a short list of ingredients, making it stand out from the competition. Amy's Kitchen pizza came in a close second but was higher in sodium and lower in fiber. Kashi's pizza took third place, despite its high protein and high fiber. "When you look at the ingredients, there are so many!" said Brewster, adding that parents should be wary of long ingredient lists. "When you're dealing with so many things in one product, you can't guarantee where everything came from, so you can't tell if the ingredients are truly wholesome," she said. "Plus, it's an allergy nightmare." Earth's Best, high in both salt and sugar, took last place. The product is fortified with vitamins and minerals, which Brewster said looks good on paper but isn't good in practice. "Essentially, you have a product from which all of the nutrients have been stripped out and then put back in," she said. She also disliked that the product was marketed toward children. "Kids should be taught early on to look at food as 'What's right for my body? What is good for me?' Not 'Oh, I like this packaging. That's what I want.'"
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