The New $9 Freezer Find You Should Buy on Your Next Grocery Run

Happy April! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the tulips are blooming. April is a wondrous time of year because we can finally emerge from our dusty down coats, like butterflies coming out of their cocoons, and feel the sun on our faces. There are also a lot of new grocery items to look forward to, like a cherry lime-flavored ginger ale perfect for picnics and an ice cream flavor reminiscent of a desert vacation town.

Here are just a few grocery items I’m excited about this April (so far), with more standouts to come throughout the month. Check back next week for the latest launches you don’t want to miss.

1. Premier Protein Cookie Dough Shake

Protein shakes have come a long way. I used to find them difficult to choke down; I thought most had a clumpy consistency and unbearably sweet flavor. Premier Protein’s new cookie dough shake is nothing like that, though. Yes, it is sweet, but it’s smooth and easy to drink, with a prominent vanilla flavor that really is reminiscent of buttery chocolate chip cookies. Drinking it straight is great, but I particularly like blending it with frozen bananas, chia seeds, and peanut butter. Each bottle boasts a whopping 60% of the daily value protein, so if you’re looking to beef up your protein intake, this is a great option.

Buy: Premier Protein Cookie Dough Shake, $29.99 for a 12 (11.5-ounce) bottles at Amazon; also available at retailers nationwide

2. Yoplait Protein Strawberry Yogurt

I grew up on Yoplait so, admittedly, the flavor is very nostalgic to me. The new protein version tastes just like the original — creamy and smooth with ample strawberry flavor, but no strawberry pulp. If you’re someone who prefers fruit-flavored yogurt but does not want actual chunks or seeds in it, this is the yogurt to try. There’s 30% of daily value protein in a single cup with only three grams of sugar. It doesn’t have a prominent fake sugar aftertaste that many protein yogurt options do, which is why I’ll definitely continuously be reaching for this. Pair it with granola and fresh fruit for a more filling breakfast parfait.

Buy: Yoplait Protein Strawberry Yogurt, $1.69 for a 5.6 ounces at Instacart

3. Alec’s Palm Springs Banana Date Shake Ice Cream

Pulling over for a banana date shake on the two-hour road trip from Los Angeles to Palm Springs is a rite of passage. Alec’s really captures that experience in its new banana date shake ice cream flavor, which tastes exactly as it sounds: ripe banana ice cream is studded with sweet dates, dark chocolate chunks, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Even if you’re not in sunny Palm Springs, having a scoop of this ice cream can transport you.  

Find it in stores: Alec’s Banana Palm Springs Date Shake Ice Cream, $8.99 for 14 ounces at Sprouts, Fresh Market, and Whole Foods

4. Simple Mills Pizza Pop Mmms

If you haven’t already tried the original cheddar flavor of Pop Mmms, get those first. They taste exactly like a beloved fish-shaped cracker, but with 1/3 cup of vegetables in every serving. This new pizza iteration follows the same philosophy and has the same puffy, diamond-shaped cracker, but with a robust tomato note and a dusting of Parmesan cheese. For all fans of pizza-flavored snacks, who also wouldn’t mind getting a little extra fiber per serving (2 grams, or 7% of the total daily value), these puffed-up crackers are for you. The best part is that a single serving is 44 crackers, so snack away.

Buy: Simple Mills Pizza Pop Mmms, $5.39 for 4 ounces at Amazon; also available at retailers nationwide

5. Canada Dry Zero Sugar Fruit Splash Cherry Ginger Ale

I am someone who always wants a sparkling little treat in the afternoon, and Canada Dry’s new cherry ginger ale really fits the bill. The flavor is definitely more cherry-lime and reminds me of something you’d find at an old-school soda pop shop or a Sonic (and I mean that as the highest compliment). The cherry component is sweet, there’s a small hint of lime, and all it blends together perfectly with the fizzy ginger ale base. (Love the classic? Try the best ginger ale money can buy.)

Buy: Canada Dry Zero Sugar Fruit Splash Cherry Ginger Ale, starting at $7.99 for 12 (12-ounce) cans at Instacart; also available at Target, Walmart, Amazon, and more

Spot any exciting new groceries this month? Tell us about them in the comments below.