Readers' Choice Awards Best Health Food Brands of 2026

We all remember the days when healthy eating meant a sad desk lunch of grilled chicken and rice choked down out of obligation. When exactly did that era end? Probably when hundreds of health food brands started experimenting with chickpea pasta, functional soda, and snack bars that taste more like dessert than a brick of protein powder.

We asked which of 16 standout names you couldn't live without, and boy, did you answer. The votes are in, the comments got personal fast, and one brand ran away with it. Here's how it all shook out in this round of the Reviewed Readers' Choice Awards.

Winner: Lundberg Family Farms

Rice has grown in Richvale, California, under the Lundberg Family Farms name since 1937, when Albert and Frances Lundberg settled there after leaving Nebraska during the Great Depression. The family became the first in the U.S. to market a branded organic rice product, and today roughly 70% of its 14,000 acres are certified organic, with regenerative techniques like returning rice stalks to the soil dating back to Albert's original methods. The farm also runs entirely on wind-energy offsets, a distinction that's earned it recognition from the EPA.

Our experts highlighted the rare mix of multigenerational farming and genuine environmental follow-through as the reason Lundberg stands out on a crowded rice shelf.

Lundberg didn't just win—it won by a landslide, and readers had a lot to say about why. Family ownership came up constantly. "ROC certified, family-owned—true stewards of the land," one voter wrote. The Regenerative Organic Certification clearly resonated too, with multiple commenters citing it by name alongside praise for the company's environmental record. A few votes went in more personal directions: one reader credited Lundberg's rice with helping manage years of digestive issues, and more than one person thanked the brand for "saving baby ducklings" during harvest.

Runner-up: Bob's Red Mill

Whole grains have been the focus at Bob's Red Mill since 1978, when founder Bob Moore opened the business in Oregon. In 2010, he transferred full ownership to his employees through an employee stock ownership plan. Today the company makes more than 400 products, from flours and cereals to baking mixes, many of them stone-ground on the same quartz millstones the brand started with. That employee-ownership structure is part of what makes Bob's stand out on a shelf full of private-equity-owned competitors, and it's paired with a level of consistency that keeps bakers loyal.

Our reviewers noted both the ownership model and the product's reliability as reasons this one belongs on the list.

Employee ownership was the single most repeated theme in the comments here. "Employee owners make Bob's Red Mill products," one voter wrote, and several others echoed it nearly verbatim, citing the same detail as their deciding factor. Consistency mattered just as much: one reader called it "dependable and consistent, highest quality."

3. Amy's Kitchen

Organic, vegetarian frozen meals have been the mission at Amy's Kitchen since 1987, when founders Andy and Rachel Berliner started the company and named it after their newborn daughter. Their catalog has grown to more than 250 products, from pizza and enchiladas to burritos, soups, and bowls, with more than 130 gluten-free options. Every item skips meat, eggs, GMOs, and hydrogenated oils, which has made Amy's a reliable freezer-aisle pick for households juggling different dietary needs. That consistency, paired with genuine breadth across cuisines, is why our panel kept coming back to this one.

Longevity showed up again and again in the comments. "I've been eating Amy's my entire life. It's still good 30 years later. Now I get to feed it to my kids," one voter wrote, and another echoed that Amy's has stayed family-owned "40 years later." Several readers pointed to the brand's non-ultra-processed, organic positioning, with one calling it "real food that's easy and actually tastes good."

4. Food For Life

Sprouted-grain bread built a following for Food For Life, best known for its Ezekiel 4:9 line, made from minimally processed sprouted whole grains rather than refined flour. The company has extended that same approach into tortillas, burger buns, and cereals, giving shoppers a way to build an entire sprouted-grain pantry rather than just a single loaf.

The brand's commitment to minimal processing has held steady even as it's expanded its product range, which is part of what keeps it a recognized name for anyone who reads ingredient labels closely and why it made our list.

Faith and family came through clearly in this batch of feedback, alongside the usual praise for taste and quality. "Christian-owned business, great morals and amazing bread," one wrote. Someone else noted that the company donates products to churches and food banks in the community.

5. Banza

Chickpea pasta put Banza on the map after brothers Scott and Brian Rudolph launched it in 2014, and the brand has since expanded into rice, mac and cheese, and a chickpea-crust pizza. That surprisingly mouth-watering swap gives shoppers more protein and fiber than traditional wheat pasta without asking them to give up the format they already know.

It's grown into a nationally recognized brand, reaching tens of thousands of retail locations, and it's kept a playful, high-energy marketing presence that's helped chickpea pasta go from niche to shelf staple. Our panel pointed to that combination of category-defining product and consistent visibility as the reason it made the list.

Protein and fiber were the words readers reached for most. "Great source of fiber and protein with a great taste," one voter wrote, and someone else added: "People need to eat more beans... Banza makes it easier to eat beans. That's great."

6. Aloha

Clean, plant-based ingredients are the foundation of Aloha, which makes protein bars, mini-bars, powders, and drinks, promising to skip all the typical artificial additives. You'll find flavors from Chocolate Fudge Brownie to Key Lime in its lineup. The mini-bars give shoppers a smaller, chocolate-forward option when a full-size bar feels like too much.

It's also a certified B Corp and employee-owned, which appealed to our reviewers as much as the taste did. Between the ingredient list and a flavor range wide enough to avoid snack fatigue, Aloha earned its spot by making protein-forward eating something actually worth looking forward to.

Readers who voted for Aloha clearly know their labels. One called out the absence of "stevia, or sugar alcohols like other plant-based foods," while another praised the balance of "10 grams" of fiber against "less than 5 grams of sugar per bar."

7. Simple Mills

Almond and other seed flours replaced grains entirely at Simple Mills, founded in 2013 by Katlin Smith to give gluten-sensitive shoppers a baking mix, cracker, and cookie lineup that doesn't feel like a compromise. The almond flour crackers, introduced in 2016, have become one of the brand's signature products, and its crunchy cookies have grown into one of the top sellers in the natural cookie category.

"Almond flour in almost everything," one reader wrote, summarizing the brand's whole appeal in five words. Others kept it just as brief, citing "great ingredients and quality" and the availability of a "gluten-free option" as their reasons for voting.

8. Primal Kitchen

Seed oils were the target when Primal Kitchen launched in 2015 under Mark Sisson and Morgan Buehler, who set out to rebuild pantry staples like mayo, dressings, and marinades using avocado oil instead. The lineup has grown to include dairy-free options and products sweetened with honey or monk fruit instead of refined sugar, giving you more ways to swap out condiments without losing flavor. The brand's ingredient-first approach was compelling enough to catch the attention of Kraft Heinz, which acquired the company in 2018.

That swap has held up, and it's the practical change that earns Primal Kitchen a spot on our list.

"Primal Kitchen has such a wide variety of products that always feel healthy, clean, and flavorful. My favorite brand for all meals!" one voter wrote, and another summed it all up in a single word: "variety."

9. Olipop

A soda-style drink built on prebiotic fiber instead of sugar was the simple pitch behind Olipop when it launched in 2018. Founders Ben Goodwin and David Lester started small, with about 40 stores in Northern California, before the brand's growth took off. It's now stocked in tens of thousands of stores nationwide. That trajectory makes Olipop one of the clearest examples of how fast the functional soda category has grown, and our panel noted both the product's better-for-you formulation and its rapid mainstream adoption.

Readers who voted for Olipop kept coming back to the soda swap itself. "It is a great alternative to regular soda. Olipop tastes great!" one voter wrote. Another liked getting fiber out of what still feels like a treat, writing that it "makes it feel like a fun afternoon" pick-me-up.

10. Bragg

Apple cider vinegar is the product most shoppers know from Bragg, which has been part of the natural health conversation since 1912, when founder Paul Bragg started what the company calls a wellness movement in Santa Barbara, California. Its collection also includes olive oil, liquid aminos, nutritional yeast, and dressings.

Bragg separates itself by publishing wellness content and running a panel of health experts alongside its products, carrying forward Paul Bragg's original approach of teaching, not just selling. Our panel cited that dual role as the reason Bragg has stayed relevant for more than a century.

One reader went well beyond the product itself, writing about the company's customer service: "every time I've chatted with them through messages they have been nothing but kind, loving, and supportive," and naming the nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar as personal daily staples. Others were more succinct, citing "consistent product" and a "commitment to quality, simple ingredients."

Our Experts

Donna Adinolfi

Adinolfi holds a communications degree and studied at William Paterson State University and New Mexico State University. With over 40 years in travel, she is an expert in wellness resorts, healthy eating, self-care, and mindful living. Her writing and photography appear in TravelWorld Magazine, Balance Magazine (Travel Editor 2000–2010), and Mindful Adventures. Donna is a member of NATJA and IFWTWA.

BethEllen Clausen

Clausen is a freelance writer with a heavy emphasis on art and culture. She is a member of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association and the LA Wine Writers, and she writes for Food, Wine and Travel Magazine, the Napa Valley Wine Academy, and Costco Connection. You can read more about Clausen's experiences at her website, Organic Wine Travel.

Susan Lanier-Graham

Lanier-Graham is an award-winning food, wine, and travel writer with more than three decades of experience exploring destinations around the world. She has visited luxury resorts, boutique properties, and hidden gems across six continents, bringing a discerning eye to every stay. As publisher of Wander With Wonder, she leads an award-winning digital publication that inspires readers to discover exceptional travel experiences. Her work blends firsthand insight with a passion for storytelling, offering trusted recommendations on where to stay, dine, and explore. Susan’s expertise helps travelers confidently choose destinations that transform trips into unforgettable, experience-rich journeys.

Reviewed Editors & Experts

Reviewed editors and experts have hard-earned insight from a broad range of backgrounds, and our nomination panel includes independent researchers, subject matter experts, and editorial team members. We provide unbiased, experiential editorial coverage on products, brands, and companies across the U.S.