With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket, people don't have time (or the money) to test every product on the shelves – so we do it for you!

Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

Lays Classics Potato Chips Singles

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
28	20	13	15	10	5	5	96

What we love about this package, besides its convenient travel, snack and by default fewer calorie size, is that because of the air-tight process it prevents the chips inside from getting crushed and broken – so there isn't the usual slew of crumbs at the bottom of the package that you would usually find. This package also eliminates some packaging in the store – and what we also love about Lays is not only are they now cleaning up their packaging, but for some time now they have been simplifying their list of ingredients; potatoes, sunflower oil and salt – and that's it – and no palm oil – great!

Retails for $2.29 for 6 x 1 oz bags.

Frito-Lay Inc, Plano, TX
800 352 4477
lays.com

Love Candy Milk Chocolate

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	17	13	15	10	5	5	95

Here's a great new candy bar – excellent flavor, very good mouth-feel, excellent texture and a refreshingly simple list of ingredients which we love! No HFCS – of course it's high in sugar as any candy bar would be, but it's nicely put together and looks nice and somehow they managed to get the nuts to stay crunchy - not the usual mushy candy bar nut texture. I guess you have to say we love this candy!

Available in other flavors.

Retails for $1.99 / 1.5 oz bar.

Love Candy, Dallas, TX
214 965 8717
lovecandy.com

Banana Berry Flavor Smoothie

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
28	19	11	12	10	5	4	89

The great thing about new Yo on the Go is its shelf stable packaging which allows it to be stored without refrigeration. On the package it tells you to "Just Chill and Go" and its small 4 oz. size makes it a handy lunch box addition or travelling snack. It tastes good and it's a good flavor combo for kids. It is a bit high in sugar, but no more so than most of these juice beverages – we just wonder if adding Niacin, B12 and B6 – even though they have great health benefits – might not create a bit of a kid sugar-rush in this combination?

Available in other flavors.

Retails for $3.99 for 8 4oz packages.

Whitney's Foods Inc., Jamaica, NY
718 291 3333
whitneysfoods.com

Mini Chocloate Chip Cookies

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
20	14	13	12	10	5	3	77

The label on these cookies says they are "Nature Approved" and we just wonder that actually means – it seems as though it could be misleading to consumers who know they should be looking for more healthful options. There are no trans fats which is good, but the choice to use palm oil, even if it is non-hydrogenated, means you can taste it in the cookies. As for the all-important cookie texture, well, it isn’t chewy and it isn't crispy – they have their very own texture – it's crewy! The price of $6 for 7 oz. is on the steep side we feel, especially for a container that's basically a plastic take-out box and isn't particularly user-friendly for resealing and air-tight storage.

Available in other varieties.

Retails for $6 for 7 oz container.

Fabe's, Salinas, CA
818 901 7700
www.fabesnatural.com

Pasta Express Arrabiata

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
28	17	5	13	4	4	2	73

Now, we thought this would be an intriguing new concept in quick microwaveable meals, but by the time you go through the steps we wondered how much time you actually save compared to a stovetop preparation – at least you save on dishes, but combining the sauce and the water takes some time – it's just not as simple as it looks. That said the flavor of the sauce is good, as are the flavor and texture of the pasta – not at all soggy as you might expect. One serving is very high in carbs - over 60g and with over half the daily recommended amount of sodium. We're wondering if this product is worth all the effort.

Also available in Puttanesca.

Retails for $4.49 for 5.3oz package.

Italian Foods Corp, Oakland, CA
510 444 9050
www.pasta-express.it