Muscle & Fitness/Hers: New favorites: eating healthy just got a little easier with these new products

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New favorites: eating healthy just got a little easier with these new products

Beth Saltz

HEALTH NUTS WERE JUMPING out of their Birkenstocks at the recent annual American Dietetic Association conference, with all the low-fat, high-fiber food that a granola girl could dream of. With nary a Hostess cupcake or Cheeto in sight, companies showcased their good-for-you goodies and professed their commitment to helping America eat healthier. One impressive trend comes courtesy of General Mills, which now makes all of its many cereals with whole grains. Sure, some are still sweetened, but every healthy bit helps. From cheese to crackers to coffee, companies are introducing products that are better for your body. Here are a few of our favorite new foods to hit the market, along with some outstanding older items, each one a likely fit for the fit-minded woman.

Most frozen fish is coated in carbs, lessening its value as a lean protein source. Gorton's Grilled Salmon, Classic Grilled Flavor, is a great addition to your plate, with 17 grams of protein per serving. Since it's not breaded, there's only 1 gram of carbs and 100 calories per fillet. $2.99 for a two-serving package; www.gortons.com

I was running late and skipped breakfast, but Balance Bar came to my rescue with a quick, protein-rich snack. Balance GOMix Energy Snack Mix is tasty and crunchy, making it a great alternative to traditional trail mix. The "protein clusters" resemble astronaut food, but the dried strawberries and blueberries make the whole mix delish. With 200 calories and 15 grams of protein, it's definitely enough to hold you till your next meal. In three flavors for $1.39 per bag; www.balance.com

Most cereal bars are just a step up from a Snickers--they're low in fiber and high in sugar. But Kellogg's new All-Bran Bar is a tasty and convenient snack with a whopping 5 grams of fiber. Each 130-calorie serving has just 3 grams of fat and 11 grams of sugar. We love the Brown Sugar Cinnamon variety (it also comes in Honey Oat). $3.49 per box; www.kelloggs.com

If you're a lemon addict like me, you'll eagerly squeeze a handful of wedges into your iced tea or water. Since carrying a lemon around is hardly convenient or practical, I was thrilled to discover True Lemon, a packet of flavored crystallized lemon you can stash in your purse or gym bag. Zero calories, zero carbs, zero sweetener and you can even use it in lemony recipes like herb salmon and dill dip. $2.99 for a 40-packet box; www.truelemon.com

You'd think a cereal with 14 (that's right, 14) grams of fiber per serving would taste like a bowlful of cardboard shavings, but new Fiber One Honey Clusters is flavorful and satisfying. This whole-grain cereal is lightly sweetened and will definitely start your day on the right nutritional foot. Available in January 2005.

"Ho-hum, another low-carb pasta." That was my initial reaction when I found out about Barilla Plus, a new pasta line coming out in March. But then I learned that this multigrain pasta is designed to kick in some extra fiber, protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Now I say, "bravo!" $1.79; www.barilla.com or (888) 281-6400

For an alternative to diet soda and plain water, many women love Crystal Light. Now their new On the Go packets make it easy to flavor up a bottle of water in seconds. In Iced Tea and Raspberry flavors; 10-count box for $3.29; www.crystallight.com