The Best New Groceries to Hit Shelves This November

The start of the holiday season isn’t slowing anything down — there are still plenty of brand-new groceries hitting shelves this month. And while some may be limited editions (I’m begging you, Whole Foods, please keep those blue cheese bites in stock year-round!), most are hanging around for good.

I tried more than 50 new groceries (yes, I paced myself), in order to help you skip straight to the good stuff. Make some room next to the cranberry sauce in your shopping cart — here’s what’s worth checking out.

When I was in middle school, I’d make myself a big plate of pizza rolls every day for an after-school snack. So when Del Monte’s new Veggieful Bites — which look like a fancier version of my favorite middle school snack — arrived, I dove right in. There are three veggie-forward flavors, and I liked them all, but the Spinach and Feta was my favorite. The bite-sized dough pieces filled with warm, cheesy spinach dip could totally be served as a game-day app or wine-night snack in a pinch. Or, in my case, a delicious dinner for one.

Before opening the bag, I imagined these to be similar to yogurt bites, but instead of yogurt, the outside would be coated in blue cheese. This is not at all what the bites are like. They’re actually more like a soft, chewy cracker shell that’s stuffed with a puréed-fig filling and covered in a light dust of cheese powder that’s not overwhelming like blue cheese sometimes can be. After your first handful, you’ll likely need a second before deciding if you actually like them. Grab a bag quick, though, as the bites are a limited edition and might not be around for long.

At the risk of sounding like Donkey from Shrek … everyone likes parfaits. Even better? Parfaits that can be enjoyed by anyone — whether you eat dairy or not. Del Monte’s (they’re really pulling out all the stops this season) new dairy-free parfaits are perfect fruity, ready-to-eat treats. The strawberry just barely beats the mango, pineapple, and blueberry for best flavor award, but all four are delicious. The base of the parfait is a layer of real strawberry chunks in a strawberry sauce, followed by a layer of strawberry yogurt that’s super creamy and not too coconut-y, despite it being coconut-based. To top it all off (literally), there’s a tiny tub of granola to mix in, too.

Plant-based protein is having a moment (and I, for one, am totally on board), but that doesn’t mean we need to leave classics like chicken nuggets behind. As a compromise of sorts, Perdue Chicken launched their Chicken Plus line. Each serving has 1/4 cup of plant-based protein (mostly chickpeas and cauliflower), and while you still may want to serve your chicken with another serving of veggies on the side, it’s a nice head start. There are three different options — patties, tenders, and dino nuggets — and the dinos have got my vote. They ended up perfectly crispy on the outside — just slightly outshining the patties and tenders. Plus, dinos!

Sure, squeezing the juice out of a lemon isn’t the most difficult task in the kitchen (cutting a spaghetti squash in half, for example, is wayyy more difficult). But, it is annoying when you’re squeezing fresh juice into a mug of hot water and out slide a few rogue seeds that you now must fish out with a spoon. Again, not the worst thing in the world, but annoying nonetheless. Thankfully, the Wonderful Company just launched a seedless lemon. And believe me when I say that I squeezed and squeezed, and the only thing that came out of the fruit was juice. Wonderful, indeed.

The combination of Snack Packs and Fanta make for the ultimate taste of nostalgia that you didn’t know you needed. The orange gel tastes exactly like a classic Orange Fanta, just without the carbonation, and besides the orange, they’re also launching Grape and Pineapple. Here’s hoping Strawberry — truly the best Fanta flavor in my book — will be getting a gel soon, too.

Whether you’re a big tea drinker or not, Celestial Seasonings’ new TeaWell line is worth checking out. Each tea is infused with a blend of herbs and botanicals that have been traditionally used for promoting wellness, but also the teas just taste really good. (For the fullest flavor, I recommend steeping the tea for at least five minutes.) As it gets colder outside by the minute, I recommend sipping on the Organic Hibiscus Lime to stay warm. Its sweet-tart taste and coral color will at least transport your taste buds to a tropical place.

Which of these are you most excited about?