- The 2017 Healthy Food Guide Awards results have been revealed
- The categories range from best breakfast cereal to best ready made meal
- The dietitian breaks down nutritional factors, including added sugar and salt
- FEMAIL takes a look at the products awarded top marks in their categories
Making consistently healthy choices at the supermarket can be fraught - especially as shelves are often heaving with products all proclaiming many and various benefits.
2017 Healthy Food Guide Awards have rounded up the best products in various categories, and announced the winners that tick all the nutrition, health and taste boxes.
Among the panel of judges was Australian nutritionist Dr Joanna McMillan, who revealed the best of the best on Monday morning morning on Today.
Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the products awarded top marks in their categories, and finds out why they're the best on the market to meet your body's nutritional needs.
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Among the panel of judges was Australian nutritionist and dietitian Dr Joanna McMillan
BEST BREAKFAST CEREAL
It's long been understood breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
But choosing a cereal that's low in sugar and high in fibre is key to a healthy start, the nutrition expert said.
Taking out the award for best breakfast cereal was Carmen's Gourmet Porridge sachets.
Dr McMillan explained the porridge was not only a great mix of five different grains, plus seeds, but it also had no added sugar.
'It's really tasty, and nutritionally it ticks all the boxes,' said Dr McMillan.
Other nominees in this category included Freedom Farms Barley and Muesli Cranberry and Nuts, Sunsol 10+ Natural Muesli and Table of Plenty Natural Pink Lady Apple and Almond Muesli.
Carmen's Gourmet Porridge - a cereal that's low in sugar and high in fibre - ticked all the boxes
BEST SANDWICH BREAD
Given sandwiches are a staple for most kids' and adults' lunches, choosing the most nutritionally sound sandwich base is a must.
Coming in best in this category was Burgen Wholemeal and Seeds Bread, a bread Dr McMillan said 'just ticks all the boxes'.
Best in the sandwich bread category was Burgen Wholemeal and Seeds Bread
'One it's low GI so it's not going to send blood sugar levels soaring, and you get nine grams of fibre,' she said.
'That's almost a third for a man, and almost more than a third for women of your total fibre intake for the day.'
Other nominees for best base included Goodness Superfoods Better For U! Barley Wraps, Coles Gluten Free 4 Seeded Rolls, Tip Top Bakery Sandwich Thins Wholemeal.
Other nominees for best sandwich base included Tip Top Bakery Sandwich Thins Wholemeal
BEST PACKAGED SNACK
'It can be really difficult to find one that's very good and these bars [Freedom Foods Barley and Seven Seed bars] are one of the lowest sugar bars on the market,' the health expert said.
In addition to being low in sugar, Dr McMillan also noted the bars were high in fibre making them a great healthy snack.
Plus she joked, 'I think they're tasty. Even my kids will eat these bars.'
Freedom Foods Barley and Seven Seed bars (pictured left) took out the top award. Other nominees in the category included Nice & Natural Protein Nut Bars with 3 Superseeds
BEST READY-MADE MEAL
At the end of a long work day, it can be a life saver having a few frozen meals on hand when starting from scratch seems like too much.
The problem with many ready-made meals, the nutritionist said, is that often there's a lack of vegetables, coupled with the fact they're often loaded with sodium (salt).
The judges chose Woolworths Delicious Nutritious Asian Style Chicken as the best ready meal out there, because it uses wholegrains in its buckwheat soba noodles, and also included a decent serving of vegetables.
The problem with many ready-made meals, the nutritionist said is that often there's a lack of vegetables, coupled with the fact they're often loaded with sodium (salt)
'For a ready made meal this is really doing pretty well,' Dr McMillan said.
'Michelle Bridges [personal trainer] worked with the Woolworths nutrition team to ensure the sodium content is really low, that they're not using added sugars,' she continued.
Other nominees in this category included Lean Cuisine Steam Slow Cooked Beef Pasta, Edgell Canellli Bean Salad, Woolworths Delicious and Nutritrious Peri-Peri Style Chicken with Whole Grain Rice.
BEST KIDS' LUNCHBOX SNACK
Packing a lunch-box that is tasty and nutritious can be a challenge for even the most creative parent.
Dr McMillan pointed out lots of kids are failing to meet their basic calcium intake, which made the winner in this category - BabyBel Mini Cheese Light - a perfect fit.
'Kids love these because you unwrap them, they're stored in wax so the cheese is great in there,' the dietitian said.
'I put one of these with a quartered apple for a recess snack.'
Other nominees included Kez's Kitchen Free and Naked Popcorn Bars, Freedom Foods Crunchola Chewy Bar Apple and Cinnamon and Tucker's Natural Snack Bites Quinoa.
The winner of this category - Babybel Mini Cheese Light - helps kids increase their intake of calcium
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Weet-Bix is just about as iconic a breakfast cereal as you could get. It's a national favourite, and one that's a staple in most Australian households.
Now the classic cereal has had a modern makeover and has been especially formulated for those concerned about their cholesterol.
The judges ruled Sanitarium Weet-Bix Cholesteral Lowering their product of the year for it's innovate lead in helping address a health issue that affects many.
The judges ruled Sanitarium Weet-Bix Cholesteral Lowering their product of the year
'It's got plant sterols which are naturally occurring compounds that really help to lower cholesterol levels in the region of somewhere like nine per cent,' Dr McMillan said.
The health expert explained it was possible to make dietary changes over the course of two to three months that 'can really have an impact on your cholesterol levels.'
For a full list of winners across all categories visit Healthyfoodguide.com.au
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