6 Healthiest Foods at HEB That Nutritionists Love

October 5, 2023

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If you live in Texas or Mexico, you’re probably a fan of HEB grocery stores. The stores are always bustling and have friendly, helpful employees. The product selection is huge and the produce section is always full of beautiful, vibrantly colored fruits and veggies. The variety can be downright overwhelming! We reached out to some registered dietitians and asked them about the healthiest foods at HEB that they buy for themselves. Here are seven of the healthiest foods at HEB that nutritionists love, eat themselves, and highly recommend for others.

1. Blendables

Are you a breakfast smoothie person? HEB makes that easy with their Blendables frozen smoothie starters. Jennifer Hanes, RD of Go You! Nutrition Counseling buys these often and loves the time savings they provide.

“Personally, breakfast is the meal I’m least willing to spend a lot of time on,” she says. “These frozen packs are great for providing a base of a variety of fruits and vegetables for an awesome, easy smoothie.”

HEB offers ten different flavors and they all include fruits and vegetables and nothing else. There are no processed ingredients, just pure produce frozen and ready to go in your blender. Hanes has a tip for variety, “Choose one that includes produce that you don’t frequently eat in your day-to-day routine and sounds yummy, add a protein (silken tofu, nut butter, protein powder) and get a super quick, easy, filling, and long-lasting breakfast that doesn’t irritate you before your caffeine kicks in!”

More info: Blendables

2. Meal Simple Complete Meals

HEB makes life easy: they have hundreds of different chef-inspired full meals ready every day. Some are heat and eat, and others are grab-and-go. Whether you’re looking for vegetarian options, fish, a fresh salad, a cold snack, or anything else — Meal Simple has it available.

“I love H-E-B’s ready-to-heat meals,” says Hanes. “These meals always seem to have a good balance of vegetables, complex carbs, and proteins that can help support you as you strive for balance and nutrition in a way that supports your mental health. And it’s a good way to get in vegetables and other fibers that you don’t normally cook.”

She brings up two reasons she loves them and buys them often: “They are perfect for lunches or those nights when everyone is scattered and may have to fend for themselves for dinner. To make it even easier, H-E-B is nice enough to stock these ready-to-heat meals in categories that make sense, such as vegetarian, Asian-inspired, Italian-inspired, and snacks.”

More info: Meal Simple by H‑E‑B Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Bowl

3. Fresh Goat Cheese

Most people are familiar with cheese made from cow’s milk, but have you tried goat cheese? It’s soft, creamy, and spreadable. And again, this HEB product has simple, wholesome ingredients and a wealth of nutrition, making it one of the healthiest foods at HEB.

“H-E-B’s traditional fresh goat cheese has a good amount of protein per serving,” says Curissa Groll, RD. “Pair this goat cheese with some whole wheat crackers and sugar snap peas for some added carbohydrates and fiber for a more balanced snack. A flavor bonus is adding a drizzle of honey on top of the goat cheese!”

More info: Fresh Goat Cheese

4. Vegan Whole Grain Naan

Whether you’re vegan or not, you’ll love this soft naan bread. Stephanie Wells, RD and owner of Thyme To Go Vegan Nutrition Services tells us, “I love HEB’s Vegan Whole Grain Naan as a quick side for curries and soup or as a base for homemade naan pizzas. This naan is super soft, which you usually don’t expect from whole wheat products, especially after heating it on the stove for a few seconds.”

This classic naan bread has a healthy twist – it’s made with whole wheat flour and has plenty of fiber and protein. Wells says, “It’s a great source of complex carbohydrates with four grams of dietary fiber per half piece serving and even contains five grams of protein. This naan is an easy and delicious way to eat more heart-healthy whole grains!”

More info: Vegan Whole Grain Naan

5. Yia Yia’s Favorite Mediterranean Style Hummus

Looking for something delicious to dip the naan bread in? Pick up a tub of Mediterranean style hummus next time you’re at HEB. It’s full of real ingredients and nutrition like calcium and potassium. Wells buys it regularly and recommends it highly.

“I’m a big fan of using hummus as a nutritious spread on sandwiches, as a dip for sliced vegetables, and as a healthy addition to charcuterie boards,” she says. “I keep coming back to HEB’s Yia Yia’s Favorite Mediterranean-Style Hummus because it truly tastes like I made it fresh at home, unlike many other store-bought hummus products.”

It will fit the bill for many types of lifestyles: whether you’re vegetarian, gluten free, low carb, or vegan, this hummus will work for you.

“Because it’s made with tahini, canola oil, and extra-virgin olive oil, it contains heart-healthy unsaturated fats and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids,” Wells adds.

More info: H‑E‑B Deli Yia Yia’s Favorite Mediterranean Style Hummus

6. H‑E‑B Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon Fillet

When you think of healthy food, you may think of salmon. And for good reason: it’s packed with nutrition.

“Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids which are anti-inflammatory and great for heart health,” Groll says. “Salmon is also a great source of protein and can help with building lean muscle tissue.”

HEB’s sockeye salmon doesn’t have any preservatives or anything processed — it’s just fish. And as a bonus, studies show that those omega-3 fatty acids may even ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

More info: H‑E‑B Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon Fillet