The Obsessive Compulsive Snacker

The Best of Intentions

2009-11-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

At the start of this year, I had all the intentions of keeping up with my readings and taking notes from each chapter. Two months in? Forget about the notes, I've barely cracked open a couple of my textbooks! It's wierd because I feel like I'm constantly doing work, yet I'm not getting to actually reading my texts. Of course, blogging has always been at the back of my mind but never quite achieved (just like those notes in Politics I promised myself I'd take...a month ago.) And now we're almost DONE the semester!!!

So let me ask you, where does the time go?

100-Calorie Chips Ahoy Candy Bites

Christie Thinsations

Calories: 100 per 23g pack

Fat: 4g (2g saturated)

Carbs: 17g

Protein: 1g

Ingredients: Semisweet Chocolate Coating (Sugar, Chocolate (Natural and Processed With Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla, Salt, Vanillin), Chocolate Chip Cookie[ enriched flour(wheat flour, Niacin, Reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid , Semisweet Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Dextrose, Soy Lecithin -An Emulsifier Sugar, Whole Wheat flour, Palm and/or Soybean Oil, Glycerine, Molasses, Corn Flour, Leavening (Baking Soda and/or Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate), Calcium Sulphate, Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavour, Soy Lecithin], Sugar, Artificial Color (Includes Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1), Gum Arabic, Confectioner’s Glaze (Carnauba Wax, Beeswax, Shellac), Cornstarch, Corn Syrup

Part 2 in the Candy bites series. Again, not exactly health food. (Maybe you caught that in the name “Candy” Bite?) But they are a good treat for your chocolate or sweet tooth cravings. Remember my review on the Chips Ahoy crisps? These are way better. For one, they don’t dissolve into thin air on the tongue. These Bites are even more like the original Chips Ahoy cookie. Little spheres of cookie dough, complete with cute nano-sized chocolate chips, are enrobed in decent chocolate then coated with an appealing tan and brown spotted candy shell. These have a strong cocoa scent and smell like Chips Ahoy cookies.

I like the fact that the semi-sweet chocolate, while not exactly Callebaut grade, still tastes and it melts on the tongue like real chocolate. The cookie inside is sweet and crunchy with the occasional hit of chocolate chip. It’s a surprisingly chocolate-loaded snack. You really get chocolate in each bite. The cookie part provides a buffer so that it isn’t a complete chocolate overload. That makes it all the more satisfying for my sweet tooth. I was quite impressed that they managed to get the portions they did in the 100-calorie limit; I certainly didn’t feel cheated after one bag. Even though there are a lot of funky ingredients in here, there doesn’t seem to be any hydrogenated stuff. I don’t eat these everyday but I think Christie’s hit a good one with these. It’s hard to choose between the Oreo version and these because it all depends on my mood: Am I craving more chocolate flavour (Chips) or just a super sweet bite (Oreo)?

Pros: 100 calories, real chocolate, no trans fats, good portion
Cons: High sugar, low fibre, artificial ingredients

Score: 8.5/10 (Excellent Occasional Snack)

English is NOT For Slackers

2009-10-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Forget what stereotypes you've heard about English Majors, forget the rididules the engineers like to throw at us. English classes are most certainly, defintely, NOT slack. For all the lame, deprecating jokers out there, I'd like to see you argue a brilliant, multi-dimensional thesis at the drop of a hat. I'd like to see you write eloquent, thought-provoking essays in a single sitting or afternoon. I'd REALLY like to see you come up with a coherent manuscript worthy of publication. And get paid for it.

Engineers and business people can go out after graduation safe in their knowledge of the availibility of a generic job. Meanwhile, anyone studying humanities actually has to slog through the world, fighting tooth and nail for a decent place and wage in the working populace. So dispel all your preconceived falsehoods. Students in English class really don't sit on their butts and twiddle their thumbs, throwing out random poetry lines for the sake of things. We work hard for those lines.

That said, my rant is over. I'm just a bit peeked from writing my first English paper and am thoroughly fed up with Lit. Chaucer in Middle English is no walk in the park, I almost prefer reading Shakespeare to him. Let's just say, I'm not a classic literature gal. I like me my modern stuff thank you very much. But I can pull off some brilliant bullshit when the devil's breathing down my neck (aka deadlines). So there's my excuse for not posting any snack bytes lately.

Granola Crunchers—Peanut Butter
From Quaker

Calories: 90 per 23g pack

Fat: 3.5g (2.5g saturated)

Carbs: 14g

Protein: 2g

Ingredients: Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Whole Grain White Corn, Whole Grain Oat Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Polydextrose, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Soybean Oil, Whole Grain Brown Rice Flour, Reduced Mineral Whey, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Molasses, Honey, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Natural Flavors, BHT

I’ve already written about the cinnamon flavour, so it was only fair I tell you about the others. Quaker first came out with Cinnamon and Chocolate flavours, and then they developed Peanut Butter. I’ll get to chocolate, eventually, but today’s post is all about the PB. (Actually, I forgot to buy the chocolate kind when they were on sale!)

These start out the same way as the other crunchers with a base of puffed corn circle, coated then rolled in quick oats. The only difference is that the frosting-like coating is peanut flavoured instead of cinnamon. I found the coat on these crunchers thicker than the cinnamon kind but that could just be variation between batches. They were just as sweet as the Cinnamon version and had a nice nutty smell. The frosting reminded me of extra sweet PB, it was creamier than the ones on cinnamon cruncher’s. It was apparent in each bite that this was all about peanuts. Once again, I loved the extra texture and toasted taste that the oats lend.

I usually get the cinnamon kind. But these are good when I want to change or crave a peanut hit without the fat of Peanut Butter. If only there wasn’t so much junk in the frosting…I’d eat these more often. Why is it that the yummy stuff is so often full of hydrogenated crap?

Pros: Delivers on sugary PB flavour, 90-calories, crunchy/creamy/nutty goodness
Cons: Hydrogenated oil, artificial ingredients

Score: 8/10 (Good Occasional Snack)

Tell Me It's Not True! Tell Me Gourmet is Still In Print!!!

2009-10-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

I read an article today on MSN or AP News or somewhere online...I forget, but that's not important. What is, is Gourmet Magazine really being cancelled??? Forever??? As in DISCONTINUED and GONE from subscription?
Please tell me it ain't so. This is the publication that started my love of food and got me interested in cooking. I've been reading it since my first year of highschool. And now it's become another casualty of our dying print and publishing culture. Oh, look at where our printed word has gone. Please, does anyone have info on this sad sad developement?
I implore you guys, SAVE GOURMET!!! Bon Apetite is NOT a good substitute, no matter what Conde Nast claims.

Cha Cha Cha...CheeCha!

2009-10-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

CheeCha Potato Krackles—Triple Cheese Nacho

Calories: 90 per 20g

Fat: 2.9g (0.9g saturated)

Carbs: 16g

Protein: 1g

Ingredients: Potato flour, wheat flour, corn starch, potato starch, canola oil, salt, modified milk ingredients, rice flour, lactose, romano/cheddar/parmesan cheese, maltodextrin, tomato powder, lactic acid, natural and artificial flavour, disodium inosinate and guanylate, onion powder, soybean oil, disodium phosphate, garlic powder, tartrazine, mono and diglycerides, spice, sunset yellow FCF.

When I first tried these months ago in Victoria I had no idea these were from the same company as the CheeCha Puffs I reviewed earlier. Then again, I have issues with reading closely. Hence the reason I often buy the wrong snacks! This time though, I did not make a mistake. These were delicious!

The Krackles provided cheesy puffed goodness in every mouthful. They had a strong smell even though they weren’t thickly coated in the bright orange powder. It was a nice change from the neon orange sticks I’m used to seeing. Once I forced my nose out of the bag long enough to sample some—let me tell you, open a bag of these and their contents will perfume the room—I was hooked. I love, love, LOVE these. You wouldn’t think, looking at the comparably sparse dusting of cheese powder, that the flavour would be very strong. You would be wrong. These snacks not only reek of cheese, they also taste of it. This snack had dimensions. There was a depth of flavour from the mix of three cheeses. There was sharpness from the cheddar, with a hint of creamy, saltiness from Romano and Parmesan. I appreciated that they used real cheeses in the seasonings, you can taste the difference. These puffs were like potato chips only not overwhelmingly salty. Each puffed circle was evenly seasoned and had a crisp snap when bitten. I’d say these were like Cheetos puffs except that wouldn’t do them justice. CheeCha Krackles are loads better than Cheetos could ever hope to be. For one thing, they didn’t taste like fake stuff or look radioactive. No frying also means no greasy fingers. I had to limit myself to one serving at a time or I’d finish the whole bag in one sitting. Luckily each serving is a huge handful and a half. My trick is to pour the puffs into a dish and pack the rest away so that I won’t be tempted to just keep eating. Because, trust me, it’s impossible to just eat one.

I’m not much of a Salt and Vinegar girl but I am a cheese powder addict so I’m very happy to have found these at Safeway. Since moving to Kingston, I am happy to say Shopper's Drug Marts stock this flavour regularily.

A note: while these snacks don’t have MSG or trans fats, they aren’t exactly all natural. They do have a few artificial ingredients and colour but the majority was recognizable to me and the rest were in miniscule amounts near the end. At least they don’t scare me as much as most potato chips out there…

Pros: Excellent cheese powder, not greasy, big serving size, crispy

Cons: Found at Safeway and Shoppers only so far

Score: 9.5/10 (Must Try Now)

Smoking is NOT the same as Smokies

2009-09-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

Note to my anonymous commentator: Thank you for your concern. I'm not sure I made it clear, this blog isn't about health food necessarily. It's about what I find tasty or disgusting. Yes, I try to keep things unhydrogenated, natural yadda yadda but I don't always succeed. I've read an entire book on food additives in highschool so I do know carmine and where it comes from. I happened to like that particular brand of yogurt, and it's often on sale. But in case you didn't read too closely, I did say I wouldn't buy that flavour again cause it tasted wierd. Don't think less of me for it. And please don't hate me; I'm a college student. I've got to eat somehow.

Okay I've mostly accepted my situation in Kingston, I'm here to learn first and foremost after all. But one thing that's been niggling at my mind is the amazing amount of smokers on the streets. Maybe I've been too sheltered all my life--I highly doubt it, my grandpa's a lifelong smoker and I come from BC people...the land of potheads so I'm told--however, the sheer number of cigarettes I see dangling off fingers is astounding. Don't you people know those little cyclinders will kill you? The thing is, it's not adults doing most of the smoking, I'm seeing so many young kids sucking at it as if their life depended on it. I have to walk by a 7/8th grade school every morning and, every morning, I see (and smell) groups of these tweens on the sidewalks lighting up. There's something wrong when no one bats an eye if underage brats to smoke out in the open. At least back home, we did it behind school buildings or in bushes :)

I can't stand cigarettes or any derivative of it, weed/pot/coke, drugs in general disgust me. If I were to say one bad thing about Kingston, it would be that I have to smell the pungent smoke everywhere I go. Something I never had to do in Victoria mind you.

Is this just a phenomenon to me? Does anyone else notice this?

On a completely different trajectory, being a student living alone has opened my eyes up to the sinkhole of time that is dinner. I never appreciated the time it took for me to make something to eat, until I no longer had that time to spare. Now, I come home and I've got a million notes/chapters to read and assimilate and absolutely no energy to do either. So I find myself searching for the fastest, easiest, way to grab a decently balanced meal. And sadly, that usually means anything prepackaged.

Tailgate Turkey Smokies

From Lilydale

Calories: 130 per 100g

Fat: 6 (2g saturated)

Carbs: 1g

Protein: 19g

Ingredients: Turkey, water, modified milk ingredients, salt, sodium phosphate, garlic powder, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrate, spice, dextrose, onion powder, smoke.

Pre-Fast Food Nation I loved hotdogs, I really did. Post-Fast Food Nation…well…let’s just say I haven’t been able to stare a sausage straight in the face without feeling nauseous. It makes me sad how scary a simple hotdog can be and that I can’t trust what goes into my food. I haven’t been able to eat a wiener from the meat aisle in over two years. I had almost forgotten what a hotdog tasted like when I stumbled on these turkey dogs. Ok, it was the flashing “NEW” sign that attracted me to them. Then I read the ingredients and saw the answer to the end of my sausage abstinence. Only a couple of strange ingredients (I assume their used to cure the sausage) and no MSG or fillers to speak of. It’s a commercial, processed food miracle!

I’ve never had a turkey dog before and didn’t know what to expect. These didn’t disappoint. Each 8-inch smokie made a good, filling meal and was packed with protein. They were on the salty side when tried plain and bunless like I originally did. The sweetness from ketchup and relish balances everything out though. I loved the snap to these dogs; the skin was identical to ball park pork versions. They were meaty, juicy and satisfying and had a very nice smoked flavour. There wasn’t definitely fat in them but they weren’t dripping with it. I like to grill the sausages to emphasize their charred taste but you could also heat in the microwave; the skin will still retain its bite. Quick, easy, and tasty, I was a happy customer after my first mouthful.

My hotdog hankering was fulfilled without sacrificing flavour or nutrition. There’s no longer a need to fear the dog. Only problem now...I CAN'T FIND THESE IN KINGSTON!!!!!!!!!

I tried to get artsy here

Pros: No MSG/Trans Fats/Artificial Colour or Flavour, High Protein, Quick and Easy to prep, juicy and well seasoned meat, nice snap

Cons: High sodium (790mg)

Score: 9/10 (Worth Eating Again)

BloggerAid, Famine, and the Great Potato Snack

2009-09-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

So I've decided to join BloggerAid Changing the Face of Famine. It's a wonderful community of foodies, bloggers and all sorts who are doing their part to fight a global battle. If you're wondering what the hell I can possibly contribute, you're not alone. I have not a clue. But if anyone has suggestions, by all means enlighten me.

Right now, school is still so new to me. Esspecially with the huge class sizes and lecture halls. I'd like to mention that I come from aprivate school of 500 where classes of 20+ was considered too big. Then there's the getting around campus and the city. Lucky me, I do love the university buildings; all that old architecture is amazing. I've pretty much memorized the five buildings I need to for class. The city on the other hand... let's just say I'm still determined to get familiar with it and leave it at that. Slowly but surely, I'll adapt to this new home of mine. I'm not a quitter and I don't see myself backing out of here anytime soon. I just hope I adapt before the snow comes on :)

I'd like to thank Giz and Val for being my first REAL, non commercial commenters. Fellow Canadians unite! Or is that Kingstonians? I'm deliriously happy about your comments. Your support is much appreciated.

Now if I could brainwash some others to contribute, we could have a proper little chat!

On to the snacks. Can't forget the snacks! I bought these in Victoria, before I left. So far I haven't seen this flavour in Kingston stores.

CheeCha Potato Puffs—Salt & Vinegar

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22897642@N05/3935756012/

Calories: 90 per 20g

Fat: 3g (0g saturated)

Carbs: 15g

Protein: 1g

Ingredients: Potato flour, potato starch, sunflower oil, sea salt, salt, white vinegar powder, dextrose and citric acid.

Another great discovery from my foray into the chip aisle of which I’ve recently taken to haunting. It used to be that I avoided the chip aisle like the plague, partially because I don’t eat deep fried potato flakes or bland tortillas, and partially because I didn’t think there was be any offerings other than those listed above. Oh how wrong I was.

One day I was looking for good salsa and I figured I’d find some with the chips. But I got distracted by the sheer variety of flavours and types of chips available and spent way too much time reading the packages. Then I came upon these. ‘Potato puffs?’ I thought to myself, ‘That’s new.’ Hey, they weren’t soaked in oil! I bought these Salt and Vinegar puffs, hoping to find something that rivalled the crunch factor of potato chips. I wasn’t expecting to finish them in two days flat. Infatuation started the minute I opened the bag, sharp malt vinegar mixed with earthy potato scent hit my nose exactly as a bag of Lays would’ve. These were very lightweight, round circles resembling bicycle wheels. While light, these weren’t like Cheetos and didn’t make me feel like I was eating air. The puffs were as crunchy as any chip could be and had an excellent potato taste. They mimicked chips in their crispiness and snap. Personally, I felt they tasted more like French fries, which was even better! These were very vinegary and every puff was well seasoned. You get the crunch, the taste, and two large handfuls without the fat or calories, I tell you, these are the new potato chip. If only these came in more flavours, I could get real serious about these…

Oh, and I did eventually remember to get the salsa. After I got home.

Pros: BIG serving size, not greasy, natural ingredients, excellent vinegar flavour/smell, just like potato chips, gluten free

Cons: Needs fibre

Score: 9/10 (Worth Tracking Down)

Back In the Snacking Groove

2009-09-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hey people! I've finally got my life organized enough to throw out another review. Enjoy!

The Simply Bar—Lemon Coconut

Calories: 140 per 37g

Fat: 2g (0.5g saturated)

Carbs: 14g

Protein: 17g

Ingredients: Soy Crisp (Non GMO Soy Protein, Tapioca Starch, Salt), Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Coconut, Natural Flavour, Canola Oil.

These were among the last things I bought before I left home for University. I bought it thinking I could eat it as part of lunch, since I’d be in the air from 12 to 6pm. Actually, I went to the store intending to buy Cliff Bars/Elevate me! Bars but these caught my eye cause they were so new. Yup, you should be familiar by now of my fixation with the new and shiny. I ended up buying both flavours because they were having a promotional sale. I’ve only eaten this one so far though.

I liked these on sight for the simplistic ingredients, high protein content, and relatively low calories. My only gripe is that there’s not really much vitamins/minerals. I ate these not in the air, but in the car on the drive to Kingston later that night. We didn’t have time to stop for a proper meal so I just snacked my way to the hotel. Bars are easier to eat in the car and since these were quite sticky, they didn’t leave crumbs behind when I broke pieces off. The Simply Bar is similar to a long, thin rice crispies square. The soy crisps are rounder and smaller of course, and there was none of the super sweet marshmallow coating. What they did have were big strips of coconut and a light lemony taste, enhanced by a wonderful coconut-citrus smell. The crunch of soy went well with the occasional rich nutty coconut flakes. It was sweet but not overwhelming and best of all, didn’t leave my fingers glued together afterwards. Very important considering there’s no sink in a car. One bar was a very satisfying snack, the protein in it providing long-term energy for the long ride. I’d eat these again if they weren’t usually so expensive. (2.80 CAD each!)

Pros: High protein, vegan, lower fat, milk/gluten free, soft bar/crunchy crisps, coconut strips, good balance of lemon/coconut
Cons: Expensive, not everywhere

Score: 8.5/10 (Should Try, Would Eat Again)

Going legit in Kingston Ontario

2009-09-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

Hi people. It's been forever...ok maybe not that long. Who knew settling in would take so long? Well, Kingston is...small. Like smaller than Victoria, which I thought was practically impossible. And it's more rundown than I imagined. I confess to being slightly let down when I saw the city. I don't know what I was expecting, but that wasn't it. Luckily, the room I have isn't half bad: there's even a tv with cable in it! All to myself!
I've had a slew of laptop issues, so that's partially responsible for my slow posting. First it was the wireless connection (wrong passkey), then it was the internet explorer (still don't know what went wrong), THEN it was my bluetooth mouse (wouldn't connect to computer, go figure). I had to completely gut the laptop hardware THREE, count 'em, THREE times. Just finished reinstalling the basics today. And am praying things don't get worse.

I'd also like to celebrate my initiation into Foodies Blog Roll. Oh yeah, we're going legit now people! From now on, I'm hoping this will lure more readers and perhaps COMMENTS too!!!! :)

Mini Crispy Minis=Crispy Nano?

2009-09-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Bitesize Crispy Minis—BBQ
From Quaker

Calories: 90 per 20g

Fat: 2.5g (0.3g saturated)

Carbs: 16g

Protein: 1g

Ingredients: RICE FLOUR, CORN (WITH GERM REMOVED), SUNFLOWER OIL WITH NATURAL TOCOPHEROL ADDED TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS, SUGAR, SALT, BROWN SUGAR, WHEY POWDER, MOLASSES, ONION POWDER, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, YEAST EXTRACT, CHILI PEPPER, TOMATO POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, CITRIC ACID, BARLEY MALT FLOUR, MALIC ACID, PAPRIKA EXTRACT, SPICES, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM DIACETATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE AND DISODIUM INOSINATE, NATURAL FLAVOR.

I first saw these on a trip to the Superstore a year ago. I almost overlooked them because I thought they were another addition to the sweet, 90-calorie pack versions of which I had no interest in eating. On closer observation I saw that they were savoury and they were sale priced. That cinched the deal for me. I suddenly found myself harbouring a craving for some Crispy Minis.
These are oh-so-cute miniature sized versions of the original Crispy Minis and are a perfect bite each. They have a strong smoky smell which compels me to inhale every time I open a packet. A surprising number make up each portion and they come mostly intact. Each little, circular, puffed rice chip is dusted liberally in a burnished orange powder and sprinkled with tiny black specks of what assume to be pepper. They are lightweight, with the same crunch factor of original Crispy Minis, which makes them an easy choice over potato chips any day. Actually, the powdery coating is almost identical to BBQ chips. The snacks have the sweet-salty-tangy thing going on, each opposing flavours balancing out on the tongue to provide a good savoury result. Usually, I can’t be bothered to finish a whole bag of one flavour of anything before they go stale, so these individual packs are a good idea for me. If you find you like the BBQ flavour, I’d suggest buying the bags of normal sized Crispy Minis for a better price. The only difference is in snack size and you’d have to do your own portioning.

Pros: No Trans-fats, 90-calories, sweet and salty tang, good chip substitute
Cons: Expensive if not on sale, needs fibre

Score: 8/10 (Buy When on Sale)

Calling all Kingston People

2009-08-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

My days are numbered now. In just a few more days it'll be time to move away to Kingston, Ont. for University. Scary thought that. This'll be my first year away from home and a reliable mode of transportation (car and parents), but it'll also be my first year away from parental control. Can you be anticipatory and scared shit out of your pants all at once? I am. First though, I have so much to do, so many things to clear up at home and not to mention packing. How am I going to fit a year's necessities in two suitcases? Winter in Ontario will not doubt be the death of me. I do NOT do cold very well...Then there's also my timetable problems, does everyone have issues with their timetable at the beginning of the year? My Uni isn't very helpful with that stuff; the website sends me running in circles for an hour everytime I try to get some info or contact someone. Either way, there'll be changes a foot soon enough. And not the least, I'll have to find a decent snack supplier in Kingston. Any grocery suggestions from kind people out there???

Classic Kettle Corn
From Lesser Evil

Calories: 150 per 40g (I eat 30g)
Fat: 2.5g (1g saturated)
Carbs: 29g
Protein: 1g
Ingredients: Evaporated Cane Juice, Popcorn, Brown Rice Syrup, Clarified Butter, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Lecithin (Soy and Sunflower).

I think I’ve found love. I’m not joking. I think I’m developing an obsession with Lesser Evil snacks. Remember when I said I’d grabbed three Lesser Evil products from my last grocery excursion? Well, this kettle corn is absolutely, without a doubt, amazing and I thank the day Loblaw’s decided to stock all their stores with it. They have a breathtakingly short list of ingredients which reads like my pantry, no artificial anything, no trans fats and they’re low fat too! They also have a nice toasted corn smell. Only someone stupid enough to be on the Atkins Diet would find fault with these little morsels. I haven’t even begun waxing poetic about their taste.

And my god, they taste utterly divine. This is coming from a girl who hates caramel in any incarnation, caramel corn included. But these aren’t like any caramel corn I’ve ever had. Each popcorn kernel is plump and fluffy, enrobed in a shatteringly crisp sugar crust. The light, coffee coloured coating is buttery like the best butter and cream laden toffee. A good salty back note does wonders to contrast the rich, caramelized flavour, preventing a flatness I’ve always associated with sugar coated anything. These corn kernels are not an overwhelming, sickly sweet overload, although I adore the occasional clusters and glob of cooked sugar goodness. They are, however, a very filling handful and a half per portion. 30g or 120 calories worth is usually more than enough to satisfy my sweet tooth (for the time being). I love that the kernels aren’t tacky to the touch; all it takes is a surreptitious lick afterwards to ensure your fingers won’t be sticky. I finished the big bag in three days and I’m astounded at how much I’m craving them now.
If you know where these are available, go buy them. Now. Believe me, it’s a crime if you don’t try these at least once, at whatever price they are. Screw whatever low carb diet you might be on. Compared to the junk in those meal replacement bars, this popcorn snack might as well be considered an antioxidant.

Pros: Divine taste, buttery and rich, low fat, crisp coating/fresh corn, low fat, all natural, no corn syrup
Cons: Expensive, not available everywhere

Score: 10/10 (Get-your-butt-to-the-nearest-available-source-and-buy MUST Try)

French Toast Cereal? Too Good To Be True

2009-08-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

French Toast Crunch
From General Mills

Calories: 110 per 29g
Fat: 1g (0.2g saturated)
Carbs: 24g (1g fibre)
Protein: 1g
Ingredients: Whole grain corn, sugar, degermed cornmeal, corn syrup, modified corn starch, salt, calcium carbonate, rice bran oil and/or high monounsaturated canola oil, golden syrup, colour, natural and artificial flavour, monoglycerides, caramel colour, cinnamon, wheat starch, mono and diglycerides, gum acacia, citric acid.

These were definitely an impulse buy. I didn’t NEED to get more cereal, but they were singing my name and how could I pass them by after that? I’ve never seen these at any grocery stores before and I feared I’d never see them again. Plus, they were marked down so it wasn’t like I splurged…can you see my justification?

For sure, French Toast cereal is a novelty item; they are little toast shaped cut outs with caramel coloured rims. Too cute!!! If nothing else, the kawaii factor is enough for me. The bright yellow colour was a bit disconcerting at first. I honestly thought they’d over done it with the food colouring on purpose. Appearances aside, these weren’t remarkable. The French toast pieces had a sugary, fake syrup smell. I couldn’t detect a hint of the maple the box was touting nor did I get a hint of the cinnamon. I did, oddly enough, smell some spice notes like turmeric or curry, which was weird since the ingredients didn’t list anything of the sort. Maybe it’s just the combination of ingredients that caused such results. The cereal was on the sweet side and I was disappointed that there was no discernable maple flavour at all. If I tried, I could say there was a hint of brown sugar but that’s a stretch. You’d think with artificial flavourings, they’d manage to make it taste like something. Nope, the cereal was quite unmemorable and it certainly didn’t deliver on the Maple Syrup promise. I did like the crunchiness and how the lacquer-like coating covered every single toast piece. However, I wouldn’t suggest you buy it for breakfast. Too little fibre, too much sugar and not enough real ingredients to warrant another box. Like I said before, it’s a novelty I had to try, that’s all.

Pros: Calcium (10% DV), vitamin/mineral enriched, cute shapes
Cons: Sugar loaded, low fibre, artificial ingredients and taste, no real maple flavour.

Score: 6.5/10 (Not Worth The Hype)

Rice Pudding Redux

2009-08-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

No Sugar Added Rice Pudding—Original
From Jell-O

Calories: 70 per 106g
Fat: 2g (1.5g Saturated)
Carbs: 13g
Protein: 2g
Ingredients: Water, Rice, Xylitol, Cream, Milk Protein Concentrate, Contains Less than 1% of Salt, Calcium Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (for Smooth Texture), Carrageenan, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Natural and Artificial Flavour.

Well, I said I’d try the Original flavour, and I never lie (at least not where food is involved). The first chance I got—after I cleaned the fridge of the super sweet Crème Brulee pudding, that is—I drove to Safeway to scope out the other Jell-o flavours they had. Sadly, they didn’t have Cinnamon because, as you probably figured out by now, I’d eat anything cinnamon flavoured. I had to be happy with the Original version instead. Firstly I’d like to complain about the limited distribution of these things, I have only ever seen them in Safeway, and second, 6 puddings shouldn’t have cost me $4 CAD + tax. Although it’s cheaper than Kozy Shack, I’m not sure quantity out weighs quality. However, these puddings were a far cry better than the Crème Brule kind.
First off, the Original seems to have a looser consistency. But I’ve learned that this can vary between batches and not flavours. The rice was better distributed, not as clumpy, but more cooked than they were in the Crème Brule kind. The grains weren’t mushy though. I liked the vanilla pudding a lot more too. It was creamy and thick but not as gelatinous as the other kind I tasted. The pudding was a pearly white colour and gave off a faint vanilla scent. It wasn’t syrupy like the Crème Brulee and there was a good vanilla bean taste (almost like they used real vanilla extract).Definitely an improvement from my other experience of Jell-o rice pudding. The verdict is still out on whether this can match up to Kozy Shack. It’s certainly not a chore to finish and considering that it is cheaper, I’d probably buy these more often.

Pros: 70-calories, smooth and creamy, no Hydrogenated oil, clean flavour, no aftertaste
Cons: Not as nutritional as could be, can be expensive if not on sale, hard to find.

Score: 9/10 (An Excellent Regular Snack)

There's Limited Edition Yogurt?

2009-08-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

Limited Edition Silhouette Yogurt
From Danone

Calories: 40 per 100g
Fat: 0g
Carbs: 7g
Protein: 4g
Ingredients: Skim milk, concentrated skim milk, strawberry puree, modified corn starch, lychee puree, gelatin, polydextrose, whey protein concentrate, artificial flavour, pectin, natural colour (carmine), sucralose Splenda (16mg), potassium sorbate, active bacterial cultures, sodium citrate, citric acid, calcium lactate, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D.
Skim milk, concentrated skim milk, raspberry puree, modified corn starch, dragon fruit puree, gelatin, polydextrose, whey protein concentrate, artificial flavour, pectin, natural colour (carmine), sucralose Splenda (16mg), active bacterial cultures, sodium citrate, calcium lactate, malic acid, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D.

This is going to be a 2-in-1 bundle pack review. I saw them on sale a while back in Safeway and I couldn’t pass them up because they just looked so interesting. The covering had such a pretty design and I’ve never seen either flavour combinations in yogurt before. Since their expiry date wasn’t till Aug 19th I figured I’d be safe buying the whole case. After all, I go through two or so a day…yes, I know I’m a yogurt freak.

Strawberry-Lychee
Of the two flavours, I liked this one the best. It had a good floral, strawberry scent and an appealing pink tinge. The yogurt was tangy, sourer than Yoplait Source. Even though Danone yogurts don’t seem as thick as Yoplait, it wasn’t watery and was still creamy smooth. I liked that the Lychee was quite prominent while the strawberry added sweetness. I was disappointed there weren’t any Lychee chunks, the strawberry chunks were also notably less than that in the regular version. I guess that’s the difference in limited edition stuff.

Raspberry-Dragon fruit
A disclaimer before I start: I’ve never actually eaten dragon fruit so I wasn’t not quite sure what I to expect with these. Can anyone describe to me what real dragon fruit tastes like? They’re too expensive to buy in my supermarkets right now.
Forgive me if I seem off with the flavours here, I’m trying my best to guess and describe them based on what I know. There is a strong raspberry smell and a strange sour note to this yogurt. I’m not sure if that’s the Dragon fruit aspect. Again, this yogurt isn’t so thick but is smooth. I’d really liked to have some dragon fruit pieces in there so I could’ve had a sense of what I’m supposed to taste. As it was, all I really got was the raspberry. I think this caused it to be tangier than the previous one. There was a tropical note that I’ll attribute to Dragon fruit. . This was yogurt in the most basic sense, fruit flavoured, slightly sour, and no fruit pieces at all. I’m not sure I like the flavour, because I wasn’t quite sure what I was eating and it seemed a weird combination. I don’t know, is dragon fruit normally sour?

This was a limited edition and thus, a novelty buy. Even if it weren’t, I don’t think I’d eat these flavours regularly seeing as they don’t taste all that special. I even prefer the regular versions because they have more fruit pieces and better defined flavours.

Pros: Calcium (10% DV), No sugar added, fat free, smooth and tangy, vitamin enriched
Cons: Few/No fruit pieces, need more prominent flavours

Score: 6.5/10 (Don't Bother)

Cinnamon Fibre!

2009-08-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

All Bran Bites—Cinnamon/Brown Sugar

Calories: 100 per 28g pack
Fat: 3.5g (1g saturated)
Carbs: 21g (5g Fibre)
Protein: 2g
Ingredients: Sugar/glucose-fructose, whole oats, wheat bran cereal (wheat bran, sugar, malt [corn flour, malted barley], salt, vitamins [thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, d-calcium pantothenate]), soybean, palm and palm kernel oil shortening, oat hull fibre, wheat flour, wheat bran, modified corn starch, cinnamon, blackstrap molasses, natural and artificial flavour, baking powder, salt, soy lecithin, modified milk ingredients, BHT.

When these first came on the market a couple of years ago I didn’t pay them much attention. Then I started trying to boost my fibre intake and the easiest way was cereal, AKA All Bran Flakes. That’s when I noticed they also had these 100 calorie snack packs and I figured it couldn’t hurt to try them. Definitely one of my better snacking moves.
I’ve never counted, but there are probably 15 pieces of the square Bites to a pack and they each smell wonderful. I love the strong cinnamon smell that wafts from the bag and a distinct brown sugar scent only adds to the appeal. The cinnamon is definitely at the forefront in both smell and taste; you can also see the specks mixed generously throughout each square. I like how the quick oats aren’t ground up but mixed in whole, providing points of interest in the uniform brown surface. These Bites have a sweet, nutty flavour and unlike Christies Thinsations don’t disintegrate on the tongue like an airy cloud. They have crunch and a good biscuit like quality that provides bite resistance and texture without becoming mushy. After eating a pack, I felt satisfied and full.
Nutritionally, they aren’t too bad. They certainly have the fibre I was looking for, without too many strange ingredients. More importantly, I didn’t feel as if I was chewing on plywood.

Pros: Fibre (20% DV), substantial portion, excellent flavour/smell/texture
Cons: Expensive

Score: 8.5/10 (Stock Up When On Sale)

No More Evil Snacking

2009-08-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Krinkle Sticks—Sour Cream and Onion
From Lesser Evil

Calories: 160 per 40g (I eat 30g at a time)
Fat: 3.5g (0g saturated)
Carbs: 27g (3g fibre)
Protein: 3g
Ingredients: Potato flakes, potato granules, potato starch, salt, annatto coloring, sunflower oil, non-fat milk powder, onion powder, evaporated cane juice, salt, natural butter flavour, natural onion flavour, lactic acid, dehydrated parsley.

These were my biggest discovery of July. I’ve known about Lesser Evil from the USA but I’ve never actually tasted any of their products, mainly because I’ve never found them in local grocery stores. The Superstore started stocking LE snacks last month and I’ve made it a goal to try all three kinds before the end of summer. I’ve already bought the snacks, now I just have to get around to eating them! It’s hard, but someone’s gotta do it.
These Krinkle sticks caught my eye first with the flashing green bag and shiny letters. Plus, they were in what I call the “Better for You” aisles that I can’t resist poking around in. The distinct onion smell hits you right away, then you get earthy potato and it’s like breathing into a bag of Lays Sour Cream and Onion. The “sticks” are zigzag shaped like crinkle cut fries. They actually remind me of the Chinese shrimp cracker snacks I used to devour as a kid, before I found out how bad they were for me. I’m happy to say these are good for me and better tasting to boot. A few sticks were lighter, almost airy like puffed corn, most were dense but all had excellent crunch. Little green flecks of parsley lent each Krinkle visual appeal. All without a greasy finger in sight!

Texture-wise they were more like a thicker, denser, rice cake than a light crispy chip. However, flavour was just like potato chips. The onion was definitely at the forefront with a sour hint as accent. These sticks weren’t heavily coated or as salty as most chips. But they were well seasoned. And the portion size…WOW, it’s a lot for 160 cals. Even 30g was one BIG handful, 25-30 or so Krinkles for about 120 cals. And they were sooo addictive I couldn’t keep myself away if I’d tried. Luckily, they were also so filling that I couldn’t eat more than a serving in a sitting. I can’t wait to try the other flavours.

Pros: excellent flavour and smell, not greasy, 75% less fat than potato chips, big serving size, no artificial ingredients, very satisfying crunch
Cons: Hard to find, can be pricey

Score: 10/10 (Must Try if Available)

Stick to Regular Ritz

2009-08-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Ritz Sticks—Multigrain

Calories: 90 per 20g
Fat: 3.5g (1g saturated)
Carbs: 13g
Protein: 1g
Ingredients: Enriched wheat flour, vegetable oil shortening (vegetable, modified palm, modified palm kernel), multigrain blend (rolled oats, corn meal, cracked wheat, cracked rye, barley flakes), sugar, salt, glucose-fructose, ammonium bicarbonate, malt flour, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate, soy lecithin, amylase, protease, papain.

When I was in Middle School I once scarfed down half a box of mini Ritz crackers in one sitting. I don’t know what got into me then but the same impulse hit me a couple of week ago. I was craving Ritz something fierce. But self-preservation kicked in at the goracery store and I managed to convince my inner glutton that, if I was to (hypothetically) go on a cracker binge I might as well try to get something better for me than the regular stuff. Stupid me, I went and bought multigrain.
These crackers were 2-inch long sticks with a brown toasted look and not much else going for them. While they were flaky, they didn’t have the rich, buttery taste I associate with Ritz. They were quite dry and barely tasted like anything. There was definitely a noticeable lack of salt on these; I saw only an occasionally speck and tasted it even less. Over all, these were a huge disappointment. Very bland and flavourless, I imagine they’d be good for dipping stuff in but that wasn’t what I wanted in my Ritz fix. I spent a couple of days valiantly trying to eat these but after a few servings, I’m sick of them and I can’t figure out what to do with the rest. I’m considering feeding the ducks tomorrow because the red box sitting in a corner downstairs is giving off accusatory waves, making me guilty and annoyed at the same time. To an injury to insult, the nutritional values aren’t that much different than regular Ritz. I feel cheated.

Pros: Flaky, crisp
Cons: Bland, dry taste, needs salt, low fibre.

Score: 4/10 (Wouldn’t Buy Again)

Chocolate Pudding, meet Cherry Cordial

2009-08-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

No Sugar Added Black Forest Pudding
From Kozy Shack

Calories: 50 per 99g cup
Fat: 0.5g (0.4g saturated)
Carbs: 9g
Protein: 2g
Ingredients: partially skimmed milk, water, modified food starch, inulin (chicory root extract), cocoa, black cherries, corn starch, salt, natural flavours, sucralose, citric acid, carrageenan.

I still remember the day I first tried a sugar free pudding cup…it was from Kozy Shack, you know…and it was amazing. Their chocolate pudding was the first sugar free version I ever tried and I fell so in love with it that I ate it non stop, almost daily, for two years. If I hadn’t cut back, our grocery bills would’ve skyrocketedJ. Since then, Kozy Shack has been the candle I hold everything up against.
The rice, tapioca and chocolate kinds can be found easily where I live but, until recently, I’ve never caught sight or smell of any other KS sugar free products. So when I found this in Save-On-Foods I snatched it up, fearing it was a figment of my sun stroked imagination. At over $4 CAD for 4 cups, it ain’t cheap but I wasn’t going to wait for a sale. I opened one at lunch time and stared at it for a few seconds, confused. Chocolate pudding filled ¾ of the cup and the darker, cherry filling was at the very bottom. Were they meant to be eaten separately or mixed? The package didn’t mention any mixing…

I wanted to do my money justice and get the most out of the experience. You see my dilemma? I know. I’m probably the only person on the planet who spends her time planning the right mode of attack on a pudding cup. In the end, I dipped my spoon in and stirred the lot up. It wasn’t easy because the cup was filled to the top and the pudding was extremely thick. I ended up with half the pudding on my fingers the first try. But it was goooood pudding.
The chocolate part is just like KC’s regular stuff; creamy, rich, chocolate flavour without funky aftertastes. The dark cherry syrup was very similar to pie filling; chunks of cherry mixed into a thick sauce. The sauce was sweeter than pudding but also had sour notes that sparked the tongue. Definitely NOT like cough syrup. Once mixed, the whole concoction was lumpier than other puddings. The label said Black Forest pudding, I have to disagree. This pudding tasted exactly like a big chocolate cherry cordial. The ones with quality cherries soaked in liquor then covered in fondant and chocolate. It was sooo good, the sourness of the syrup played wonderfully with the chocolate and the results weren’t sickly sweet at all. I’d much rather have these than a regular truffle. It lasts so much longer. The 4 puddings survived three days in my fridge and I’m considering going back to buy more, screw the price tag.
Another thing I love about Kozy Shack is that they’re committed to a more natural product; just look at the ingredient list, it’s like something I’d make at home.

(After Attempting to Mix It)

Pros: Fibre (3g), low fat, low cal, No Added Sugar, creamy thick chocolate, bright cherry taste
Cons: Hard to find, expensive

Score: 9/10 (Would Eat Regularly, if not for price)

Are You Out There? This is V.

2009-08-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Before I turn into a ranting lunatic I'd just like to say, I am not soliticing. Soliciting is annoying, I am not annoying. (I hope I'm not)

What I am is...begging? If that's the right word, I'm begging for someone--anyone--to leave a few words and tell me how I'm doing at this blogging thing. Does that sound as much like a desperate and needy ex-girlfriend to you as it does to me? Sad I know, but I'd really appreciate it if someone could take their time and scrawl a few words in my comment boxes. Then I wouldn't feel like a narcissist yapping to myself.

I mean, it only takes a second or two. And you'll make my day so much brighter! Think of it as your good deed for the day.

So PLEASE Leave A Comment!!!

Cinnamon and Oats, My Nose Just Can't Resist

2009-08-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

Quaker Granola Crunchers—Cinnamon

Calories: 90 per 20g pack
Fat: 3.5g (2g saturated)
Carbs: 14g (2g fiber)
Protein: 2g
Ingredients : Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Sugar, Whole Grain Puffed Cereal (Whole Grain White Corn, Whole Grain Oat Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Whole Grain Brown Rice Flour, Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, BHT), Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil (Insignificant Amount of Trans Fat), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Polydextrose, Soybean Oil, Reduced Mineral Whey, Soy Lecithin, Cinnamon, Molasses, Natural and Artificial Flavours, Non-fat Dry Milk Solids, Dextrose, Salt, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Honey, Blue 2 Lake, Sodium Bicarbonate.

If I had to admit to a single quirk, it would be my nose. I can’t help but sniff anything and everything I eat and I love the smell of cinnamon anything; cinnamon buns, cinnamon churros, even cinnamon toast crunch cereal. I’ve been known to stick my nose straight into a bowl and inhale until the powder coats my nose. When I was small, I’d even chew sticks of cinnamon, relishing what I assumed was their natural sweet taste. Thinking back on it, I was sure a strange kid. Now that I’ve grown up (a bit) I know that cinnamon sticks alone, while aromatic, don’t provide a decent sugar hit. But granola crunchers do. And lucky me, they come in cinnamon!
Oh boy, do these smell good. Just like the cinnamon churros I had years ago at Disneyland. When I first bought these over a year ago, I was expecting something along the lines of granola clusters. In fact, they are like extra thick, super sized Cheerios coated in a cinnamon frosting then rolled in quick oats. They’re crunchy and very sugary, but not to the point you need water to finish. The oats give each little sphere a nice nuttiness and texture. The frosting part is what gives this snack its sweetness and reminds me of unbaked cinnamon bun filling. Each packet comes with about 15 crunchers, a decent portion for 90 calories.
I’d eat these everyday if they didn’t have so many scary ingredients (I honestly think Quaker could make them healthier) and weren’t so costly. As it is, I buy them whenever they’re on sale for 2.50 a box.

Pros: 90 cals, good portion, strong cinnamon smell and taste, fibre.
Cons: Hydrogenated oils and scary ingredients.

Score: 8.5/10 (Would Eat Regularly)

Mocha Yogurt, You're Oh So Svelte!

2009-08-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

Liberte Organic Svelte Yogurt—Mocha

Calories: 130 per 175g
Fat: 0.1g (saturated)
Carbs: 21g (18g sugar)
Protein: 11g
Ingredients: ultra filtrated organic skimmed milk, organic mocha preparation, bacterial culture, organic cane sugar, milk protein concentrate.

My favourite aisle in the grocery has got to be the natural/health food one; it’s the one that I always have to glide by even if I know I won’t buy anything because of the absorbent price tags. What can I say? There are so many interesting products out there and I love that some of them can be good for me too! If I could, I’d buy everything at once. But logic, and parents who hold the purse strings, dictate I be frugal. So it’s only on occasion or when there’s a sale that I’ll come home with a new organic product from those shelves. This yogurt was the latest loot from my last grocery run.
I’ve been eyeing the Liberte brand for some time; it was organic, had interesting flavours and that was enough to interest me. It turns out Liberte is a Quebec company, so it’s Canadian too! Unfortunately, most of the yogurt I saw on shelves was extremely high fat, and I didn’t fancy eating a huge container of 8% fat yogurt by myself in two weeks. I did eventually find Svelte, their fat free line, and even better was that it came in Mocha flavour. I’ve never had coffee flavoured yogurt before and couldn’t get it out of my mind. To hell with it, I had to try it. And it was worth the splurge I tell you.

I didn’t realize that this was an unstirred yogurt, so I was sceptical when I first opened the top and was confronted with nothing but plain white. I had a taste. It was tangy and smooth, but definitely plain. I thought I’d made a mistake, and then I had the brilliant insight to scoop to the bottom and viola! Chocolate-y brown syrup! The syrup was like coffee flavoured maple syrup. Blending it all though, was a bit difficult because the syrup was on the bottom and the yogurt was kind of thick. I had to be very careful not to spill any precious drops over the side. I don’t drink coffee or anything of the sort but, as I am a scent whore, I’m addicted to its smell. Once blended, it smelled like cappuccinos, faint but very evident. And it did taste like coffee! The yogurt became lightly sweet, retaining some tang, with slightly bitter back notes hinting at espresso. I have to say, I wasn’t sure about the little bitterness but it’s addicting and totally balances out.

Pros: Organic, Canadian, calcium (15% DV), fat free, yummy flavours
Cons: Expensive, not in all stores

Score: 9/10 (Definitely Try, Would Buy Again)

Hello Jelll-o! Butterscotch is NOT Interchangeable with Creme Brulee

2009-08-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

No Sugar Added Rice Pudding—Crème Brulee
From Jello

Calories: 70 per 106g
Fat: 2.5g (1.5g saturated, 0.1g Trans)
Carbs: 13g
Protein: 2g
Ingredients: Water, Rice, Xylitol, Cream, Milk Protein Concentrate, Salt, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, flavour, Carrageenan, sodium phosphates, colour, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Natural and Artificial Flavor.

I’m not a big fan of flans, custards or any dessert so related. Those are a big waste of my calories since I can’t stand the taste or texture. However, I am a big fan of rice pudding (it’s the rice that gets to the Asian in me). So when I saw this in Safeway last week, I snatched it right up without reading in closer detail. Hey, I saw “Rice Pudding” and “70 Calories” and figured it was worth a try. Unfortunately I didn’t read the side that indicated “Crème Brulee” until I got home.
Well, as things go in my world, if you bought it then you finish it. As it turned out, it wasn’t much a chore to eat all 6 cups. I don’t know what I expected but the pudding didn’t look much different from other rice puddings I’ve had in the past. I guess I thought there’d be a sugar crust or dusting on top. The pudding part was more tan than white, the grains of rice were also caramel coloured, and the entire thing jiggled like a Juicy Jel. Not as fluid as a chocolate pudding. Taste wise, it wasn’t overly sweet. The rice didn’t dissolve into mush and I have to say that was a relief. It was creamy and smooth and really good right out of the fridge. There was a subtle caramel flavour to the pudding part, I think the rice had a coating of caramel syrup too. I was disappointed though because the overall effect was more similar to butterscotch Jello than a crème brulee. While I don’t profess a great knowledge of crème brulee, I was anticipating something with more exotic nuances. It wasn’t a bad pudding, just not what I’d hoped for. I think the developers should go back and re-examine the flavour profile for Crème Brulee. I probably wouldn’t buy this kind again if there were others.
This time I was lucky. Next time…I’ll read the fine print. But first, I’m going back to get the original.

On a nutritional note, there weren’t any hydrogenated oils listed (thank god) so I’m going to venture and say the 0.1g Trans Fats come from the milk products and cream, which are completely natural and actually good for you.

Pros: Sugar free, 70 calories, low fat, creamy taste, no hydrogenated oils
Cons: No fibre, little calcium (4%), doesn’t taste like crème brulee

Score: 7/10 (Try Once)

An Oreo In Any Other Form Is Just As Sweet

2009-08-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

Oreo Candy Bites
Christies Thinsations

Calories: 100 per 22g pack
Fat: 3.5g (2,5g saturated)
Carbs: 17g
Protein: 1g
Ingredients: White Confectionery Coating (Sugar, Palm Kernel and/or Palm Oil, Skim Milk, Milk, Soy Lecithin -An Emulsifier, Artificial Color, Artificial Flavor), Chocolate Cookie [Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid), Sugar, Cocoa, Whole Wheat Flour, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Glycerin, Corn Flour, Baking Soda, Calcium Sulfate, Salt, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Artificial Flavor), Sugar, Artificial Color (Includes Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow Slake, Blue 2 Lake), Gum Arabic, Confectioners Glaze (Carnauba Wax, Beeswax, Shellac), Cornstarch, Corn Syrup.

Ok I’ll admit this is certainly NOT one of the healthiest items on the snacking list. Heck, with all those un-pronouncable things in it, you could probably consider it one of those glowing neon "non-foods” TV health experts are warning us away from. Why feature it? Because it’s yummy. And that’s what really matters to me. Besides, I’m not advocating you eat the whole 6 packs in one sitting…like I almost did J
Seriously though, it’s one good 100 calorie sugar bomb. Spherical “bites” of oreo cookie are covered in a sweet, white frosting and then shellacked in either white or dark brown candy coating similar to Smarties or M&M’s. It’s exactly what you would get if you were to take an Oreo cookie, make it round and turn it inside out. There was even a faint Oreo sweet smell. The cookie bit becomes the filling and vice versa. It tasted exactly like the original, loads better than the flimsy “crisps” version. The cookie part doesn’t dissolve on contact with your tongue and the coating is just as saccharine as an Oreo filling. Together, they work perfectly. Just like its famous parent. And just like you would an Oreo, I’d suggest a glass of milk or water to wash it all down because, make no doubt about it, this is one sweet treat.
I didn’t count but there where probably twenty or so of these to a packet. Believe me, that’s enough to satisfy the craziest sweet tooth. Like I stated before, I wouldn’t recommend these on a regular basis, because who are we trying to kid? These aren’t exactly health food. However, as an occasional snack, these definitely curbed the snacking urges in me—for awhile.

Pros: Super sugary and satisfying, 100 calories, comparable to original cookie
Cons: Not much nutritional value, junk food, hydrogenated oils

Score: 8/10 (An Occasional Snack)

100-Calorie Packs: The Next Big Thing?

2009-08-07T16:09:00.001-07:00

100-calorie Chips Ahoy
Christie Thinsations

Calories : 100 per 23g pack
Fat : 3g (0.5g saturated)
Carbs: 17g
Protein: 1g
Ingredients: Enriched wheat flour, semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, dextrose, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, artificial flavour), sugar, canola oil with TBHQ/citric acid, glucose-fructose, corn starch, sodium bicarbonate, modified milk ingredient, salt, ammonium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate, artificial flavour.

When they first came out with “100-calorie” stuff and proportioned packs, I sneered at the sad attempt to curb North American gluttony. People who’re overweight from excess food are going to keep eating too much unless they make lifestyle changes; the “100-calorie” labeling will only fool them into consuming a few more packs. I figured that anything, in small enough amounts, can be “only” 100 calories; a tablespoon of butter is less than that! So I thought the Thinsations from Christies was just a scaling down of their original products. Again, I was wrong.
The company went and developed snacks that tasted like the original, but (of course) was different. Take this reformatted Chips Ahoy version. They’re tan, hexagonal shaped, thin, crispy munchies (I don’t know whether to call them crackers or cookies) that are peppered with tiny patches of chocolate. They smell like Chips Ahoy, or any other shelf stable chocolate chip cookie I guess, and they have a nice snap when bitten. I liked that they used chocolate without a bunch of unpronounceable ingredients in it. The chocolate bits melt so that the chocolate taste lingers. Unfortunately, the cookie part has less substance and will dissolve in your mouth upon contact with saliva. So after the initial crunch, you get mush. Tasty, sweet, mush but still…the mush can get lodged in between your teeth. I would’ve liked to chew. I shouldn’t be surprised since these thin crisps are light and airy; that’s the compromise you make for 100 calorie snack with decent portions.

I don’t normally like Chips Ahoy or any other crispy, commercial chocolate chip cookies (I prefer chewy home baked ones), but I wouldn’t mind eating these crisps again. It could be that I thought of them as sweet crackers. They also lasted longer than a single cookie would. As far as I’m concerned, longer snack time + fewer calories = happy me.

Pros: 100 calories, comparable flavour to original, nice aroma, decent chocolate distribution, no trans fats
Cons: Turns mushy in mouth

Score: 8/10 (Will Eat Again)

I've Discovered Edible Cardboard

2009-08-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Health Valley Spelt Flakes

Calories: 100 per 30g
Fat: 1g
Carbs: 24g
Protein: 4g
Ingredients: organic wholegrain spelt flakes, organic fruit juice concentrate (apple, pear or grape), sea salt, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and natural Vitamin E (for freshness).

Their website says: "Nutty" flavoured Spelt is combined with fruit juice sweeteners."

My tongue tells me otherwise.

This is the stuff of nightmares…ok, I’m hyperbolizing (slightly), but that’s because I’m seriously ticked off with spending almost 5 bucks on a box of paper flakes. Awful doesn’t do things justice but there isn’t enough adjectives in our English vocabulary to express the bland, dry, insipid profile of these flakes. I’ve always wondered what people meant when they say the cereal tastes like cardboard, now I know. I thought they would be like Nature’s Path cereal flakes, like the Heirloom Grains or something similar, lightly sweet, sturdy and crunchy. Personally, I’ve always liked the flavour of Bran Flakes and that sort. But these were a whole different story.
I knew something was right the minute I opened the box. It didn’t have the usual roasted grain smell; it didn’t have any smell at all. And while crunchy, the flakes were also wafer thin, leaving me with an insubstantial feeling after ingesting. Maybe I just felt cheated because these weren’t sweet at all, not even a hint of that “organic fruit juice”. They were extremely dry to eat straight up—as I like to do for all cereal—and they were completely flavourless. None of the toasty taste I associate with these kinds of cereal at all. I believe I’ve just discovered an edible imitation of paper.
I’m sure if you drenched the flakes with chocolate or sweetened soy milk, it would be bearable but I didn’t. I couldn’t bear to finish even half the box. Yes, I admit, I gave up. This is the first thing in years, and the first “organic” product ever, that I’ve thrown away unfinished. That just pisses me off further.
The only thing “nutty” about this stuff is the person who’d willingly scarf it up.

Pros: Not Many. Organic, high fibre (4g)
Cons: Tasteless, expensive, cardboard texture, few vitamins/minerals

Score: 3/10 (Won’t Touch Again With a Meter Stick)

Cottage Cheese Goes Greek

2009-08-04T10:51:00.001-07:00

Mediterranean Cottage Cheese
From President’s Choice

Calories: 100 per 113g
Fat: 1g (1g saturated)
Carbs: 10g
Protein: 12g
Ingredients: Milk, Skim Milk powder, bacterial culture, chicory root inulin, salt, citric acid, guar gum, mono- and diglycerides, xantham gum, carob bean gum, microbial enzyme, carbon dioxide.
Seasoning: Corn maltodextrin, dehydrated vegetables (red bell pepper, onion, cucumber), sugar, salt, onion powder, dehydrated parsley, garlic powder, spices, dextrose, tomato powder, lemon juice powder, silicon dioxide, natural flavour.

Another dairy post, I know. It does seem like I do a lot of those. But notice how none are actually pungent stuff? I started eating cottage cheese to get more protein in my diet as well as calcium (because I don’t drink milk). It was a low fat product that gave a lot of bang for each calorie buck. When I found they came in flavours, it was like the Red Sea parted for me.
The Superstore started stocking these along with the strawberry kind a while back. I found the fruit cloying before so I’ve stuck with the savoury this time. There are pieces of red and green veg mixed into the peachy tinged sauce, the cheese is in nice, smooth chunks and the flecks of herbs gave it appeal if not much discernable flavour. The light herb scent does pique my appetite.
It’s pretty standard tasting to me. Cottage cheese can be quite neutral and thus will take on savoury or sweet easily. In this case, the natural tanginess works well with the Mediterranean style. The sauce is a tad runny. It has a briny taste reminiscent of olives. Unfortunately, the cheese curds aren’t sponges which soak liquid up and can be bland unless eaten coated with sauce. The veggies are usually limp and uninteresting but they do provide a slight textural crunch. I found this an improvement over the plain cottage cheese and it’s not a bad side to with dinners. It’s nutritious with fibre and special probiotic cultures to aid digestion, and convenient for when I don’t want to mix up my own.

Pros: Probiotics, fibre (3g), protein, calcium (10% DV), nice sauce
Cons : Limited distribution, limp veggies

Score : 7.5/10 (A Decent Snack)

Learning to Like Dairy

2009-08-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

Fat-Free Kraft Singles (Swiss)
Thin Sliced

Calories: 30 per 21g
Fat: 0g
Carbs: 2g
Protein: 5g
Ingredients: Modified milk ingredients, water, skim milk cheese, sodium phosphate, maltodextrin, cheese flavours, salt, sodium citrate, carrgeenan, cellulose gum, sorbic acid, yeast extract

You wouldn’t have guessed from the slew of dairy products I’ve been eating lately, but I actually dislike dairy. I can’t stomach the smell of most cheeses and ever since I was small, I’ve hated drinking milk. I blame it on the fact that my parents always, ALWAYS served it warm. If you’ve never had warm milk, count yourself lucky because it smells wrong and is drinkable only when mixed with liberal amounts of Nesquick or Hot Chocolate powder. Up until last month, I’ve also had this strong aversion to anything labeled “processed cheese.” When I see “Processed cheese” I envision the gross stuff in Handi-Snacks pack or the brightly coloured bags of Cheese Strings that Dad bought but I could never bring myself to finish. Then there was this horrid experience with Velveeta when I was in Kids Club Daycare, which turned me off molten anything for the longest time.
For some reason though, Kraft Singles don’t envoke the same revulsion. It could be that I’m attracted to the packaging. As you probably can guess by now, I’m quite visual and an appealing package is a major plus. However, that doesn’t explain why I won’t eat Cheese Strings or YoTubes, since they also have colourful outsides. No, I don’t think it’s the pretty, light blue covering that has me eating a slice (or two) a day. I think it might be the fact that each slice is so thin I don’t feel overwhelmed. Plus, they’re wrapped individually and I’ve always been a sucker for single servings.
And how do they taste? Well, they aren’t like those pungent, artisan cheeses you get in the deli that’s for sure. I still can fathom how Mom eats blue cheese (it tastes like what paint smells, if that makes sense). And if I’d wanted to treat myself to something expensive, I buy Parmigano Regiano. For something really mild, I like how it is a bit salty and slightly sharp. I also like that they don’t stink like feet. I’m not sure if there’s a difference between Swiss and Mozzarella versions but as soon as I finish this 24 pack, I’m going to find out. It’s just too bad I can’t find the fat free versions in 12 packs.
One downside is that this stuff isn’t good melted. It’s ok if you make grilled cheese; there’s bread to sop it up. But don’t try it melted straight up cause you’ll have to peel it off the roof of your mouth. It also leaves a filmy aftertaste. I guess that’s another major difference in processed cheese vs natural. On the bright side, the slices are filled with unidentifiable chemicals like I expected. And no hydrogenated fats either! Which is more than I can say for Soy cheese.

Pros: Calcium (10% DV), Protein, Low Carb, Fat free
Cons: Doesn’t taste good melted

Score: 8/10 (An Everyday Choice)

New Month, New Start, (Hopefully) New Comments too

2009-08-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

So this is me trying to restart my blog with of new frame of mind. Please read and comment!

Veggie Chicken Burgers
From Yves Veggie Cuisine

Calories: 100 per 75g
Fat: 2.5g (0.4 saturated)
Carbs: 7g
Protein: 13g
Ingredients: Water, soy protein product,wheat gluten, canola oil, natural flavour, spices, torula yeast, carrageenan, modified cellulose, salt, unmodified cornstarch, evaporated cane juice, lemon juice powder, potassium chloride, beta carotene. Assorted vitamins and minerals.

I had this a couple of nights ago for dinner, the first time I cooked it, I didn’t add anything. No seasoning, no soy sauce, nothing ‘cause I thought they would be already seasoned enough. I mean, they sure smelled seasoned, kinda like Braggs seasoning, or soy sauce. So I didn’t want to overload it (happened before to me). Well, that’ll show me to second guess myself. They came out very bland. I don’t know why I was surprised; other vegetarian burgers I’ve tried from Yves had needed extras to make them tasty.

Uncooked and Unseasoned...unappetizing as well?

Cooked, Seasoned, Naked on Top :)

Luckily, I did some quick thinking and sprinkled on some herbs and soy sauce, then popped the burger back on the pan for another minute in hopes that the heat will bring out more flavour. Finally, I added a scoop of organic salsa (review to come) and what d’ya know, it worked!
Eaten plain, the burger is quite flavorless. It doesn’t taste bitter or funky but I can’t really say it tastes like chicken either. The burger is dense but not as mealy as tempeh. After finishing it, I felt like I’d actually eaten something substantial. Once I added stuff to it, I quite enjoyed it. These burgers are good vehicles for herb and spice experimentations, I’ve tried a curry and cumin version, a Greek/Italian herb version and an Asian one. It’s also good that they don’t take long to heat through, so they can be a quick protein for your meal and still leave you room for dessert!
While these burgers aren’t bad, they’re not memorable and I don’t think I’d buy them again because they were a bit expensive. I know of other vegetarian entrees that give more bang for the buck.

(Don't they look so much better now?)

Pros: Vitamins/minerals (iron, zinc, B12 etc), no trans fats or artificial flavour/colour, high protein, pre-cooked, vegan
Cons: Bland on their own, expensive

Score: 7/10 (Maybe try once)

Snacking to MAINTAIN Weight

2009-07-31T13:48:00.001-07:00

Last night, I had a sudden epiphany in bed about where I wanted to take this blog. For a long time, I've read articles and entries about people trying to LOSE weight. But I've never read much about anyone trying to KEEP their weight where it was. Maybe North America really is getting too fat and losing weight is all we can talk about these days. I can't help but wonder if, as a society, we're so dissatisfied with our own images that we are on a constant mission to change the way we appear. I can't pass a single day without seeing a weightloss commercial/product being touted or hearing someone talk about their ongoing fight with the bulge. With all these "skinny" messages being sent out, it's no surprise to me that more people are getting eating disorders. In this kind of environment, an eating disorder would be hard to stop.

I am by no means 100% content with how I look, but I've learned the hard way that I am who I am and being skin and bones will never make me happy. I am so much more than a thin body. So I'd like to restart this blog and dedicate it to all those who are trying to accept and maintain their current body. For those valiant few trying to stay away from the weightloss mania our world has spiraled into. I give you my word that the stuff I post and review are things I have actually eaten. Instead of focusing on losing weight or something similar, I'd like to share with everyone a realistic, 17-yr old's diet. It's not all that nutritious or healthy, but it's not complete trash either.

I am just starting to learn to be my own person and live in the body nature gave me. I'll eat what I want and show the world you don't have to be a health freak to maintain a decent weight. In the process, I hope to come to terms with my flaws.

Goldfish vs Gators, Who Did YOU Think Would Win?

2009-07-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Cheddar Gators
From President’s Choice

Calories: 100 per 20g
Fat: 4g (1g saturated)
Carbs: 12g
Protein: 2g
Ingredients: Enriched wheat flour, cheddar cheese (milk, bacterial culture, salt, microbial enzyme), canola and/or sunflower oil, yeast extract, salt, sugar/glucose-fructose, natural flavour, onion powder, spices, amylase, protease, annatto, monocalcium phosphate, baking soda, rosemary extract (contains soybean oil)

Goldfish has nothing on these crocs! I picked a box of these up at the Superstore thinking to do a taste test alongside the ubiquitous fishy crackers, unfortunately they were out of regular Goldfish at the store. Luckily I’ve had Goldfish before (hasn’t everyone?) and I’ve gotta tell you, Cheddar Gators blow them out of the pond (or would that be lake?). The minute I opened the package a strong cheddar smell hit me and I knew I was in for a cheese-y experience (no pun, honest!). The crackers looked just like the picture on the box, I was glad most of them weren’t broken into ity-bity pieces. The gators were bright orange but not in that neon glowing way. There were specks of salt dotted on some, which reminded me of the Cheeze-Its I had in California. The Cheese Nips here just can’t compare...
Anyways, back to these crackers. They are longer than goldfish and had a nice crunch when bitten. No soft, sawdust feel here. Oh no, these were flaky and packed a serious cheese punch. They have this rich, buttery flavour, almost like a crisp savoury butter cookie. You could totally tell there was real cheese inside. I loved the bit of “je ne sais quois” from the spices. I’ve always found something lacking in cheese crackers before, now my suspicions have been confirmed: spices add a whole other dimension to the cheese flavour. The touch of salt was also an excellent accent to the cheddar taste.
If that wasn’t enough, these crackers contain no artificial flavours or colours or hydrogenated anything, so you can feel less guilty about eating the whole box yourself J Even better is that one serving equals 33 crackers! Yes, 33! So eat them one by one and make snack time last. And if you fold and clip the baggy they come in, they’ll stay fresh for a long time.
Can you tell I’m in love?

Cons: Can only be found in stores where President’s Choice products are available.
Pros: Calcium (6% DV), nothing artificial, no hydrogenated oils (trans fats), strong cheddar taste, satisfying portion size

Score:10/10 (Must Try)

Yogurt Crazy

2009-07-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Yoplait SOURCE—Vanilla Tango Selection
Apple Crumble Flavour

Calories: 35 for 100g
Fat: 0g
Carbs: 5g
Protein: 4g
Ingredients: Skim milk, apples, active bacterial culture, milk and whey proteins, modified cornstarch, gelatine, natural and articial flavours, pectin, locust bean gum, concentrated lemon juice, cinnamon, sucralose, potassium sorbate, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3, colour.

Before I start could I please ask someone--anyone--to give me some feedback on how I'm doing? I'm desperate for comments, I'll take anything you've got!

I’m a yogurt junkie, I’ll happily spend my time walking up and down the dairy aisle. It’s like a jungle of exotic colours with a mind-boggling list of flavours. I’ll pick up one carton and get distracted two seconds later by another one two spaces down. The thing is, I get bored with just one kind. What happens when I buy a carton is that, by the time I get half way through, I’m sick and tired of tasting it day in day out. Since I tend to eat only a bit at a time, it takes a while for me to finish one average 600g container. That can get frustrating real quick when you’re eager to eat all the available flavours. Or even worse, you pick up an icky one and have to finish it. My solution? Buy the little single servings in Costco sized packages. They usually come in three or four different tastes and if you get them in the 16-packs, it isn’t so costly (like 6 dollars CAD on sale). This way, I can switch if I get tired of one and switch back later to finish it off.
I know Yoplait has some really neat fat-free, sugar free selections in the USA like pineapple upside-down and orange creamsicle and (my favorite) white chocolate strawberry. I have them all the time when I go to California and I really miss them because, here in Canada, you can’t find ‘em anywhere. Believe me, I’ve tried everywhere. It seems the closest I can get is Yoplait Source.
That’s not to say it’s bad, in fact, I quite like it. I picked up the 16-pack because it looked interesting with its half and half thing going on. Plus there was this Apple Crumble flavour. It’s the closest I’ve gotten yet to the Apple Turnover version in the States, minus the apple chunks though. Half the container was plain vanilla and the other half was a darker cinnamon specked apple yogurt. It gave off a good apple-ly smell reminiscent of apple pie, you couldn’t really discern much from the vanilla side. It looked a bit runny when I opened it so I closed the top and shook it. Stupid thing to do on reflection since it ended up messing up the perfect dividing line between vanilla and apple. If you’re willing to sacrifice looks for consistency though, I’d suggest shaking it before eating. I actually like it better with the caramelly apple blended in the vanilla. I usually take a bit of apple then a bit of vanilla. Otherwise, the apple taste might just be too strong.

(Before Shaking It, see the nice contrast?)

The yogurt is smooth but not thick, you definitely won’t mistake it for the full fat stuff. But it’s satisfying and not cloying like some that I’ve eaten in the past. There’s no grittiness either. I like it as a snack or near the end of my meal. I like that it doesn’t have a ridiculous amount of sugar 'cause even the organic, natural stuff is often chockfull of the sweet stuff. It’s a nice way to get your calcium (10% Daily Intake per container) without filling you up and it doesn’t come at a hefty calorie price. It’s also got a decent list of ingredients. The downside is the artificial flavour and color. But I know that natural flavours can come from nastier sources than some artificial ones, so I’m not too concerned by it. And I definitely prefer Splenda (sucralose) to other sweeteners; it has the best taste based on what I’ve tried to date. I eat this regularly but it’s still not the same as white chocolate strawberry.

Pros: 10% Calcium, Vitamin A and D low calorie, no fat, low sugar, protein
Cons: Artificial flavour, colour

Score: 9/10 (Will Eat Regularily)

Cheated From My Chocolate Fix

2009-07-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

EnviroKidz Koala Crisp Cereal
From Nature’s Path

Calories: 110 per 30g
Fat: 1g (0.3g saturated)
Carbs: 25g (11g sugar)
Protein: 2g
Ingredients: Organic brown rice flour, granulated organic sugar cane juice, organic cocoa, natural chocolate flavour, sea salt, organic molasses.

I’ve been dying to try the kid’s line of cereal from Nature’s Path but it’s so damn expensive I couldn’t bring myself to buy any. Then, I got a dollar off coupon and there was a sale at the local grocery store. And the rest is history. I picked this 325g box up for 2.99 CAD.
I was expecting something like the cocoa version of rice krispies. You know how rice krispies practically disintegrate when they touch your tongue? Well, these require you to actually chew. These were rounder, more robust little pebbles with a slightly shiny cocoa coating, not powdery at all. Some of the grains stuck together into clusters. I enjoyed the more substantial crunch and light, sweet taste. It didn’t feel like a sugar over load like conventional kids cereal, though there was quite a bit of sugar in it. There wasn’t a prominent chocolate taste like you’d get in say Nesquick or Cocoa Puffs; it was more just a bland sweetness. The “crisps” didn’t smell like much; I was expecting a stronger chocolate aroma. Although you might detect a faint, weird smell, possibly from the cocoa powder? I’m not sure. It wasn’t enough to detract from the overall experience but I did find it distracting (I spent 5 minutes sniffing the bowl trying to decide if the scent was offending or not, it was inconclusive). All in all, I wished I could taste more cocoa-ness. I wonder if the Gorilla Munch will be better? *Sigh* I’ll have to wait until the next sale…
I’m not going to bother with the fat facts, because—hello!—most cereal is low fat! If you’re giving it to kids, you’ve got to remember the sugar is pretty high and there aren’t any of the added vitamins or minerals in regular cereal.

PS: Please leave a comment and tell me how I'm doing at this reviewing business. I'd also love to have some recommendations from anyone.

(I like to eat my cereal dry, do you?)

Pros: Gluten free, nothing artificial, organic ingredients
Cons: No added vitamins or minerals, 11g sugar, weird smell, bland.

Score: 6/10 (Wont Buy Again)

Pudding Please!

2009-07-25T22:03:00.001-07:00

No Sugar Added Jello Pudding (Chocolate)

Calories: 60 per 106g
Fat: 1.5g (1g saturated)
Carbs: 16g
Protein: 2g
Ingredients: Water, xylitol, modified corn starch, cocoa, modified milk ingredients, hydrogenated coconut and palm kernel oil, salt, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, sodium alginate, natural and artificial flavour, sucralose, maltodextrin, colour, acesulfame-potassium.

My name is V. and I have a problem. I am a snack addict. And I’m constantly on the prowl for the latest snack foods. You know the ones, anything “healthy”, new, or funky. I know that the fun, bright, eye-catching, boxes are especially designer to suck mindless consumers into their over-processed world…and they work. Can you blame me? People are paid to create the interest, I’d like to think I’m helping ensure their job futures.
I love to sample, I have an attention span the size of a gnat and when it comes to what I put in my mouth, I can be particular. Very particular.

That’s not say I shun that which doesn’t come with organic, natural and fair-trade on the label. The bottom line is, I have to like the taste and want to eat the product again. So let’s start this baby off with something simple, non-taxing and relatively safe for all. And what could be more non-threatening than chocolate pudding, eh?

Yeah yeah, there are many who turn up their noses at the “commercial junk,” but let me tell you, the junk ain’t so bad. This one’s even diabetic friendly (I think). I found the Jello no sugar added chocolate pudding in the refrigerated aisle a while back, but my dad has something against ANYTHING and EVERYTHING “no sugar” or “fat-free” so I had to wait till I was on my own to try it out. And I liked it. I did a taste test alongside the regular versions from Hunt’s and Jello and honestly, I couldn’t taste much difference between them. The chocolate flavour was strong; there wasn’t that nasty aftertaste that I often associate with artificial sweeteners. Since it was refrigerated, it went down smooth and cold. From now on I’m storing all my puddings in the fridge. This pudding was thick and coated my tongue pleasantly, not chalky or gritty. It also gave off a faint chocolate aroma. Those of you used to the home-made, whole milk and cream and eggs stuff might find it lacking in creaminess, it isn’t ridiculously rich but it’s still satisfying. I could’ve done with out the bit of hydrogenated oil at the end up the ingredient list. But for 60 calories, it’s still a pretty good deal. And I do find myself digging in often.

Pros: Good chocolate hit, low calorie, low sugar
Cons: Itsy-bitsy bit of Hydrogenated oil (really wish they didn’t use that)
Score: 8/10

Hello World, I present the Snacksters Manifesto

2009-06-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

"This is my letter to the world,Who never wrote to me..." Emily Dickinson

How does one start a blog? What's considered an appropriate opening? Do I go with sincere and honest (possibly boring) or should I try and be as outrageous and ridiculous as I can in hopes that I will attract some random lurk's attention? Because, of course, I'm an attention whore. If I could afford it, I'd probably be paying people to read this right now. 'Cause between you and me (assuming there is a 'you' and I'm not rambling into empty cyberspace), I have no clue how a sucessful blog comes to be, but stay with me and I promise I figure it out soon.