The 15 ShopRite Store-Brand Products I Always Buy

These are the groceries I can’t help but buy over and over again. They make my week so much easier—and healthier!

Reviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RD

Grocery shopping in New York City is a journey, to put it simply. Not only are the grocery stores significantly smaller than what would be considered “normal,” but if you don’t have a car, you’re either pulling your haul in one of your granny carts or lugging canvas totes onto subway platforms and up winding flights of stairs.

Thankfully, the pain of going to the grocery store shifted significantly when I moved a little more south in the city and found myself within walking distance of a full-size ShopRite. An actual suburban-level grocery store (shocking in the city, I know!) with lots of aisles, over 20 check out lines and a plethora of options to choose from.

This is when I discovered the joy of ShopRite’s store-brand products, specifically their Bowl & Basket line, which is more budget-friendly than the name-brand products they sit next to while still incredibly high-quality. I almost exclusively buy Bowl & Basket products now—here are 15 items that I reach for again and again.

Related: 3 "Helpful" Grocery Store Habits That Are Actually Rude

1. Uncured Ham, Pepper & Cheddar Egg Bites

If I’m being completely honest, I am very lazy when it comes to breakfast during the week. Weekends are meant for slow mornings with pancakes, but during the week, I like having high-protein, grab-and-go options on hand, like these egg bites filled with ham, Cheddar and bell pepper. There are two bites per sleeve and they're ready to eat after a few minutes in the microwave. Although the box says one serving is four bites, I find one sleeve to be the perfect amount in the morning, especially after a workout when I know I need to fuel my body with protein.

Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Skip Breakfast

2. Cheese Snacks: White Cheddar Cheese, Dried Cranberries & Roasted Almonds

Bowl & Basket offers a few varieties of these cheese snack packs, but this white Cheddar cheese combo is my favorite. An easy afternoon snack when I need it, these little packs have just the right amount of savory cheese, salty nuts and sweet dried fruit to hold me over between meals. I also love how compact they are, making it easy to throw one in my bag if I’m out for the day or if I have a long travel day ahead.

3. Watermelon Seltzer

Bowl & Basket has a lot of different flavors of seltzer to choose from, and while the typical go-to flavors like black cherry and lemon-lime are great, I gravitate toward their unique flavors, like this watermelon seltzer. It is light and refreshing, the watermelon flavor doesn’t taste artificial at all and it has a high amount of carbonation, which is my preference for a seltzer. It’s hard to share the big bottle when I buy it because it’s that good, and I often drink the whole thing by myself.

4. Berry Medley Frozen Fruit

Frozen fruit is a typical must-have for me, and at just $3.99 per 12-ounce bag, I think Bowl & Basket’s frozen fruit is an absolute steal compared to other stores. Berry smoothies are a must, but I also enjoy warming up a cup of these berries to top my pancakes or toss in my bowl of oatmeal.

Related: 5 Best Frozen Fruits to Eat Every Week, According to Dietitians

5. Mini Vanilla Ice Cream Cones

I’m a dessert-every-day kind of person, which is why I enjoy having mini desserts on hand. They satisfy my sweet tooth without going overboard on my sugar intake. These mini vanilla cones are coated in chocolate and topped with peanuts. A pack of 10 cones is $5.99, or about $0.60 per cone, which is more cost effective than a scoop at my local ice cream shop.

6. Argentine Raw Red Shrimp, Extra Jumbo

Bowl & Basket makes buying frozen seafood a joy, especially for options that are usually not so easily attainable, like this Argentine Raw Red Shrimp. They’re great for grilling or, my personal favorite, stuffing. I love to make this Baked Stuffed Shrimp with whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs, lemon and bacon—so delicious!

7. Everything Flatbreads

Putting together a charcuterie board is my go-to appetizer or snack when I have people over, so having crackers on hand is a must. I love the size of these Everything Flatbreads because they make it easy to spread on cheese or pile on meats—or both! The flatbreads also come in two other flavors, sesame and whole grains and seeds, if you want to mix and match.

8. Aloo Matar Curry

Having easy lunches ready in the pantry is crucial for a busy work-from-home day, and this spicy aloo matar curry has a permanent place on the shelf. Made with potatoes and peas, one container has 5 grams of fiber and only 1.5 grams of saturated fat. I like to pair it with toaster naan or serve it over brown rice. Keep in mind that it is slightly higher in sodium with 41% of your Daily Value in one package, but I find it worth it for the convenience. It is a tasty lunch that I don’t have to think about, and I’m all about eliminating the stressors during a hectic day.

9. Wholesome Pantry Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

While Bowl & Basket is often the store brand I buy, ShopRite also has a line called Wholesome Pantry, and I love these chips. I like the taste and flavor of blue corn tortilla chips, and they offer a big, 12-ounce bag at a great price—just $3.89! Just make sure you have a bowl of homemade guacamole or salsa ready to go once you open that bag.

10. Whole-Wheat Penne Rigate

ShopRite has a great line of whole-wheat pasta products, and my usual go-to is a box of the penne rigate. Each ¾-cup-serving has 5 whole grams of fiber, making it easy to add more gut-friendly fiber to meals like this Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach, and Feta Penne Pasta or this Cherry Tomato & Garlic Pasta.

11. Thin Crust Supreme Pizza

Frozen pizza is supposed to taste a little like cardboard—it’s part of the experience. So I was pleasantly surprised when I first tried this Thin Crust Supreme Pizza because it is much higher-quality compared to any other frozen pizza I’ve had. Despite being a thin crust, it is still sturdy enough to hold all of the toppings—pepperoni, sausage, peppers, onions and black olives—and doesn’t get floppy. Plus, the cheese doesn’t taste like sawdust. It actually melts really nicely onto the pie.

Related: Is Pizza Healthy? Here's What a Dietitian Wants You to Know

12. Tangy Pork Roll

Every family has their staples they love to keep in the house, and growing up, my mom and dad always had a couple boxes of pork roll in the fridge. Perfect for breakfast sandwiches or easy protein on a salad, it’s a nostalgic food I always grew up with. When I found Bowl & Basket sold a hickory-smoked Tangy Pork Roll, I had to give it a try—and now it’s back to being a staple in my fridge.

13. Butternut Squash Soup with Apple

For an easy lunch or dinner when I need something quick, I like to have this Butternut Squash Soup. Compared to the other Bowl & Basket soups, which are high in saturated fat, this soup is on the lower end with 6 grams per serving. It also has a decent amount of fiber for a soup—3 grams per serving—and is just 170 calories. However, I tend to consume the entire container in one sitting, so this lunch clocks in at 400 calories.

14. Sweet Onion Ground Beef Burgers

I used to shape and prep my own burgers, but after learning about the convenience of having pre-seasoned frozen patties, I honestly will never go back. These Sweet Onion Ground Beef Burgers have a great taste on their own and don’t need any extra seasoning to make them delicious. Just throw them in the skillet or on the grill and they’re good to go!

15. Spicy & Hot Jalapeño Sauce

This jalapeño sauce is my new must-have item—I put it on everything. Eggs, tacos and quesadillas, grilled cheese, burgers, cheesy pasta … the possibilities are endless. This sauce is creamy, tangy and has just the right amount of kick without being overwhelmingly spicy. It’s also low in saturated fat and sugar, a big win for pre-made bottled sauces, which is often high in those areas.

Read the original article on Eating Well.