March 2008 Archives
Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!
Weaver’s Coffee and Tea The Blend Coffee Beans
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
18 |
14 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 97 |
This product is a HIT!
Well, you might already know this, but we'll say it anyway: WE LOVE COFFEE (check out our newsletter Coffee Chat NewsCoffee Chat News if you don't believe us) and when we first received our package of Weaver's we instantly noticed the rich aroma that was powerful enough to even make its way through the vacuum sealed bag. Typically coffee varieties that have any kind of "blend" reference in their name make us wary right off the bat. However, this was one of the best cups of coffee we've ever had. Needless to say, the actual recipe is proprietorial, but Weaver's did divulge that this blend contains seven of John Weaver's, the master roaster's, favorite beans that have been roasted at 3 different temperatures. Hmmm, very mysterious; something to ponder as you sip. The only improvement we could even think of would be Fair Trade Certification; as long as that delicious taste isn't affected. Other varieties available.
Retails for $14.99 / 16oz.
Weaver’s Coffee and Tea, San Francisco, CA
800 328 1178
weaverscoffee.com
Kahiki Naturals Vegetable Egg Rolls with Flaxseed Wrapper
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
18 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 97 |
This product is a HIT!
We really like this new product from Kahiki and we love the idea of using the same packaging technology that cooks make microwave popcorn to cook the eggroll, making it nice and crispy. Also, we love that they are using flaxseed. We found the veggie filling to be nice in appearance, crunchy and tasty. Another thing we love about this product is the fact that "Product of USA" is printed on the package, even though it's not yet required by law. And finally, we had a little surprise in store for us when we looked at the nutritional info for the sauce (which we found extremely sweet) and discovered that it actually only contained 2 g of sugar. Other varieties available.
Retails for $4.99 / 9.75 oz package
Kahiki Foods Inc, Gahanna, OH
888 436 2500
kahiki.com
South Beach Living Chicken Santa Fe Style Rice and Beans
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 15 |
17 |
13 |
12 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 92 |
The front of the package touts "WHITE MEAT CHICKEN", but the ingredients tell a different story in parentheses, where "cooked white chicken" is actually a mixture of chicken breast, rib meat and modified food starch – yum. The taste of the chicken can only be described as horrible, but we were surprised that the rice and beans were actually tasty. Good protein count, but otherwise? Other varieties available.
Retails for $2.75 / 9 oz package.
Kraft Global Foods Inc, Northfield, IL
800 932 7800
southbeachdiet.com/kraft
Smart Ones Fruit Inspiration Orange Sesame chicken
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 10 |
17 |
11 |
7 |
10 |
4 |
5 | 60 |
This product is a MISS!
It never ceases to amaze us how much those products that are designed as healthy alternatives miss the mark over and over again. This new offering from Weight Watchers called "Fruit Inspirations" is definitely not smart at all and couldn't be less inspiring. The overall flavor is as bland as the breaded chicken itself and we have to wonder if "breading" the chicken is really the best use of calories in a diet meal. There is a category this product might win though; this product would be a contender in the "longest list of ingredients" category without a doubt. Available in other flavors.
Retails for $3.99 / 9 oz.
Heinz North America, Pittsburgh, PA
800 762 0228
EatYourBest.com
Kim and Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels Original Twisted Omelette
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 15 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
10 |
4 |
4 | 73 |
This product is a MISS!
We saw this product at Expo West and were really excited about it – after all, anyone who grew up in New York and went to school in Philly has a genetic pre-disposition to love anything "soft pretzel" – that is until you take a bite of this one! If you read the description on the package "stuffed with eggs, peppers, onions and real mozzarella cheese" you might be lulled into thinking that's what this pretzel will taste like when you bite into it, but what hits your taste buds first is just SALT ... flip that package over and it's no wonder with 1170mg of sodium; nothing else is getting a chance! We also thought it was curious, (and perhaps illegal), that this company chooses to print in bold those nutritional facts they feel are more important (or healthful) – fiber and protein – while the rest of the nutritional analysis (not nearly as healthful) is in regular print. Is it just us or is this somewhat misleading to consumers? Lastly, we found the microwave instructions to be less than exact and our pretzel was mushy on the outside and cold in the center. Available in other flavors.
Retails for $2.79 / 6oz.
Kim and Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels, Chicago , IL
800 57 TWIST
kimandscotts.com
Points System:
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.
Most of us have heard that bananas are a terrific source of potassium – but did you know that potassium is found naturally in a wide range of fruits and vegetables, and many contain even more potassium than a banana?For example: a half a cup of raisins contains 1,126 milligrams – more than twice that of a single banana which contains just 451 mgs. A baked potato with the skin on contains 844 mg and half an avocado contains 742. An 8 ounce glass of orange juice delivers 474 mgs.
The next time you are in the produce section, read the nutritional information and you’ll find some pleasant nutrition surprises…and remember the Recommended Allowance for potassium is 3,500 mg every day.
More from the Supermarket Guru:
Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is a Brazilian berry originating from the Amazon Region that is considered one of nature's most complete and healthy foods. Acai is a palm tree that grows in the North of Brazil. It is known by the native people (indigenas) as "içá-çai", which means “fruit that cries”.
Many actually call it a “super food”. The acai berry is loaded with antioxidants, anthocyanins (approximately 20-30 times the amount in red wine), amino acids, essential fatty acids (all the beneficial fatty acids that are in olive oil to help lower LDL and maintain the good HDL), fibers and protein. Its antioxidant concentrations outweigh that of blueberries. Acai contains a healthy dose of plant sterols, another class of phyto-chemicals that have been shown to reduce cholesterol, protect the immune system, and relieve prostate enlargement.
The cardiovascular benefits of acai are the most well-known; studies show that anthocyanins can help prevent blood clots, improve blood circulation, relax blood vessels, and prevent arthrosclerosis. Some recent studies from the University of Florida indicate that acai may even fight cancer cells by blocking carcinogenesis on a molecular level and encouraging tumor cell death.
- Bison is the new beef
- Garbanzo is the new edamame
- Grapeseed is the new olive oil
- Stevia is the new Splenda
- North Carolina is the new Napa
Other content from Phil:
Garbanzo Beans or chickpeas are the most widely consumed legume in the world.
Buffalo (American Bison) were the Plains Indians' primary food source and once numbered in the tens of millions; but by 1900 they were nearly extinct with only 13 live American Bison left, all in the Yellowstone Park area. Today there are over 300,000 buffalo with about 280,000 being raised on private ranches.
In a front page article on July 11, 2007 in the San Francisco Chronicle, Noah Diffenbaugh, (an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue University) cautioned that Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara counties' grape-growing industries at the end of the century would be eliminated due to Global Warming. And while most of us may not be concerned about which wines we may be drinking in 2100, winemakers in North Carolina are hoping to get a running start.
Grapeseed oil is a polyunsaturated oil and can be used to fry, bake, sauté, or use in salad dressings. It is actually made from the seeds of grapes (Vitis viniffera), and this byproduct of winemaking has become a sought-after oil for cooking because of its high smoke point (320ºF.) and its clean light taste some call neutral, others find nutty. It blends well with herbs, spices, garlic, and shallots. Most grapeseed oil is imported from France, Italy or Switzerland with a few brands now emerging from the U.S. winemaking areas.
Stevia Rebaudiana is an herb in the Chrysanthemum family which grows wild as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves, including up to 10% Stevioside, account for its incredible sweetness.
One could argue that tennis is one of the most civilized activities. This past week I was lucky enough to spend time in Indian Wells California at the Pacific Life Open tournament. Those who know me surely would agree that my beat is much more pedestrian – the aisles of a supermarket or the kitchens of a restaurant; but I went not to just watch tennis…but also to check out the foods.
Supermarkets, restaurants, and tennis tournaments all cater to large groups of people, each with their own unique tastes; and trying to satisfy all these needs can be a daunting task. After all, even Starbucks, one of the best when it comes to customer service (whose coffee combinations number over a thousand) just announced scaling back their offerings in order to do a better job in delivering on that famous Starbucks experience.
However, if you have ever watched a tennis tournament you have experienced the power of the “thank you”. The tennis referee at the men’s finals between Novak Djokovic and Mardy Fish was able to use his dulcet tones to instantly quell the sold-out and at time overly enthusiastic stadium attendees with just two words.
And it was the same civility that I found at the dozens of food “tents” scattered around the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The offerings far exceeded my expectations (as did some of the prices): salads made on the spot with exotic or organic ingredients from Melissa’s Produce, fresh meats grilled on outdoor barbecues to be added to a colorful array of Mexican sauces and peppers for one of the best fajitas I ever tasted, a shrimp burger (which was a tasty alternative to a more traditional beef burger) and even a delicious Maine style lobster roll.
I knew I was in for a food extravaganza when I noticed that rather than the traditional Budweiser everywhere stands, there were Don Julio tequila margarita thatched huts in their place.
So what could food retailers learn? To celebrate! What I found the most important was that the people working in the food venues at the Pacific Life Open were enjoying themselves as much as those attending the matches. Trying to feed thousands of people at a time (3 meals a day) is certainly a daunting and tiresome task as anyone who has worked in a food stand or attended a county fair would attest; but the folks standing behind their counters weren’t rushing the customers, they took the time to explain some of the more unusual offerings and actually seemed to be happy to be there. My suggestion to the food retailers and restaurants of the world? Make sure to attend next year’s Pacific Life Open. For food ideas, service ideas and maybe even to recruit employees that actually know how to say thank you, and mean it.
Here’s my suggestion, put your kids in charge of the coupons. Give them your shopping list, the Sunday paper and the store circulars. You’ll avoid that tedious task and at the same time be teaching them how to save money. Coupons are one of the best ways to save money, but surprisingly less than 3 percent are actually redeemed.Give your kids half of what they save you as their weekly allowance, and when you are walking up and down the aisles let them hold the coupons and search for the product. Have them bring a calculator to keep a running total of the savings, and hand them their share at the checkout.
Get ready to be surprised at how focused they’ll be…and how much more money you’ll save!
Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!
Helen’s Kitchen Thai Yellow Curry
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
18 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
4 |
5 | 96 |
This product is a HIT!
We like this product a lot! The curry sauce is terrific; the flavor is very good and unlike so many prepared frozen dinners the ingredient list is simple and doesn’t read like a list from chemistry class with 20 or 30 ‘components’. Sometimes we’ve found vegetarian options to be a little lacking in flavor compared to their meaty counterparts – but that’s not the case here. There’s a nice balance between the vegetables, rice and tofu (although the tofu cubes are smaller than they look in the photo on the box) and it all works together nicely. And of course we love that this product is certified organic. Other varieties available.
Retails for $4.89 / 9 oz.
Helen’s Food Inc
Irvine, CA
866 328 8638
helensfoods.com/
White Toque Chocolate Domes
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
18 |
13 |
13 |
10 |
5 |
4 | 93 |
This product is a HIT!
Irresistible! That’s the only word that springs to mind to describe these “Chocolate Mouse With Hazelnut Crunch and Crème Brulee Center” frozen desserts! The mousse has a very nice consistency – not too aerated; rich and satisfying and not overly sweet as you might be expecting. The flavor is great and we found the combination of chocolate mousse and crème brulee heavenly! These mousses (or should we say meeses?) are perfect for entertaining, or as a relaxing solo treat (we suggest pairing with a good French White Burgundy – yep, they’re that good!) Our only complaint is about the packaging: the two piece container does keep the domes in place and protected, but it doesn’t prevent freezer burn – for such a high-end product we’d like to see them wrapped in cellophane too for extra protection. Also, a quick word of warning: the package directions say to leave the dessert to thaw in the refrigerator for 2 hours, but we think you might find it too soft – we suggest about 45 minutes. Other flavors and varieties available.
Retails for $6.99 - $7.99 / 6.3 oz ( 2 domes).
White Toque, Inc
Secaucus, NJ
800 B FROZEN
whitetoque.com
Marie’s Greek Vinaigrette with Feta Cheese and Garlic
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
18 |
13 |
12 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 92 |
This product is a HIT!
This great new product tastes really nice, with a full-bodied, very satisfying flavor. There is something we find odd, though: on the label it makes a claim we’ve never seen before: “Contains less than 2% High Fructose Corn Syrup”. So they obviously recognize that this is something consumers are trying to avoid, so we’re wondering: why not leave it out altogether and use sugar instead? We were afraid the flavor would be overpowering, but it isn’t and we’re thrilled to see that Marie’s are taking kitchen health and hygiene into account with the new pouring bottle shape instead of the wide jar that had to be spooned for serving, inviting in bacteria with each use.
Retails for $3.59 - $3.79 / 11.5 fl oz.
Ventura Foods
Brea, CA
800 339 1051
maries.com
Cool Soup Creamy Mango Spice
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 20 |
17 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 79 |
We were really excited to try this new product; we love the idea – ready to eat, drinkable soup – and we love the packaging, but unfortunately that’s where the love-fest ends! The Creamy Mango Spice flavor is really sweet and the combination doesn’t work as well as we thought it would. The flavors seem to be fighting each other; and one look at the ingredient list tells us why, peaches and apple juice follow mango on the list and the aroma of peach is overpowering, while the apple juice flavor just doesn’t work well with chili pepper. If Go Appetit had stuck to just mango we think this would have been great, but as it is they should have called it “Mango, Peach and Apple Spice” – it’s a bit misleading as it is. It’s rich in potassium, which is great, but packed with sugar - 26 grams - which we find excessive. Available in other flavors. Retails for $2.49 / 8 oz bottle.
Go Appetit foods
Houston, TX
866 7767940
goappetit.com
Snyder’s of Hanover Butter Sesame Pretzel Crackers
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 15 |
15 |
13 |
12 |
10 |
4 |
4 | 73 |
In 2009 Snyder’s of Hanover will celebrate their 100th anniversary – congratulations, Snyder’s! Unfortunately if they want to be around for another 100 years they might want to consider dropping this product. While you certainly do get a hint of butter aroma upon opening the bag it is quickly overwhelmed by the aroma of palm oil – and no wonder: check the ingredients of these “Butter Sesame” pretzels and you’ll see that there isn’t any – butter, that is. There is butterfat and natural flavors, but no actual butter. The package suggests piling on smoked salmon or chicken salad for serving – we can only hope you don’t try either – let’s just say we don’t think this flavor would be complementary to either one. Lastly, we’d like to see these pretzels in a re-sealable bag for storage. Available in other flavors.
Retails for $3.49 / 18 oz bag.
Snyder’s of Hanover, Inc
Hanover, PA
800 233 7125
snydersofhanover.com
Points System:
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.
We’ve all seen it – we open our freezer door and see those dry patches of white stuff under the plastic of our foods, or even on the top layer of our ice cream. Yeeech. The good news is that freezer burn wont make us sick, but it can make our foods taste bland and chewy. It is created when food is exposed directly to cold air. You can prevent it! And prevention starts as soon as you get home from the supermarket.
Keep all frozen foods in their original sealed packages, then place in another plastic freezer bag. Push as much of the air out of the package as you can.
If you want to open a package and divide into smaller portions and freeze those separately, remove the pieces from the original package – then wrap the individual portions tightly in a plastic cling wrap – again try to remove all the excess air. Then wrap in aluminum foil, then place in a plastic freezer bag.
Freezer burn seems to just love those pints of ice cream. To keep it out, make sure that you put a piece of plastic cling wrap or aluminum foil over the top of the container then replace the lid.
As with all frozen foods, be sure you write the date that you first put your foods in the freezer on the outside of the package. And while most people realize that foods won’t stay forever in there, we have a tendency to forget that after 6 months or so there will be a loss of flavor and texture.
This holiday is totally unique in the United States, where the beer is green, the pubs are overflowing with non-Irish warbling away and trying to tell a tale or two in an awfully bad brogue. Chicago, New York and other cities have elaborate parades, closets are stripped of everything green one can wear, and even coffee drinkers dedicated to the hot black cup willingly sip the brew through a head of cream that makes the whiskey-soaked Irish Coffee such a delight. These noisy celebrations are light years from the quiet observations that Ireland has celebrated for more than 1,000 years for the man named Patrick who 1- wasn't Irish 2- didn't make the snakes vanish from the Emerald Isle, and 3- didn't even liken the shamrock to the Trinity for he was a Protestant, not a Catholic and others claim he devised an entirely new Celtic religion.
He did write a few books, begin the conversion of the Irish from pagans to Christians, and helped to preserve ancient liturgical texts for a Europe that had become indifferent to these illuminated tomes.
Confession was an autobiographical account of a rather adventurous early life that made a decidedly pious turn, and Letter was a rant to slave owner Coroticus about the slave trade, something he knew keenly. Born Maewyn Succat about 385 AD, most likely in Wales, he was the son of a Roman official, and had a normal pagan upbringing that was the style of the time. (The date, the name, the place of birth are still contested but these details seem to have a consensus among today's scholars.) His life was to take on drama and trauma, however, when barely 16, he was captured by pirates sailing from Wales to Ireland and sold into slavery the moment he hit the lush green shores of this island. From then until about 22-years-old, he led a lonely life as a shepherd, succumbing to visions and dreams in which he heard the Irish people begging for his ministry. Escaping his enslaved shepherd's role, he found passage to France where he studied for the priesthood then returned to Ireland to fulfill his mission.
For the next 30 years, he baptized the pagans of Ireland, ordained other priests to carry on the Word, helped build and establish many churches, and monasteries, where Irish monks copied and preserved classical texts, delivering many to other European monasteries and churches bereft of these precious texts as a result of various conflicts. Most significantly, Patrick's efforts to make a total conversion of the Irish to Christianity (which occurred over the next two centuries) happened without warfare, making Ireland the only European country to convert the masses in a peaceful manner. The loss of paganism meant his despised slavery came to an end, human sacrifices were no longer de rigeur, and the Irish clans stopped warring with one another.
Although referred to as St. Patrick by Catholics world wide, the Protestant minority in Ireland depicts him as anti-Roman Catholic and believes his religious fervor founded the uniquely Celtic church that makes him a national – meaning Irish--hero, versus a religious icon.
Considering all the myths and fables surrounding this "saint," it's enough to make a person run to the kitchen and prepare a hot Irish coffee on the spot, or perhaps a creamy pie, or cake saturated with one of Ireland's many gifts to the world: whiskey. To that we say, Sláinte (Cheers).
Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!
Mission Multi-Grain Flour Tortillas
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
18 |
15 |
13 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 96 |
This product is a HIT!
These new multi-grain tortillas taste great (slightly sweet, which is nice), and come in a re-sealable bag which we love. There’s only 1g of sugar, but much more sodium than we were expecting: 340mg. If you compare to a slice of whole wheat bread that has about 80mg, there’s a significant increase.
Our only real complaint is that the texture of the tortilla is rougher than an average tortilla and we’re worried about cracking when you make a burrito – but it’s a small price to pay for all that great fiber – we love this product!
Retails for $3.99 / 17.5oz.
Gruma Corp
Irving
TX
800 443 7994
missionfoods.com
Oscar Meyer Deli Creations Flatbread Sandwich
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 25 |
16 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
4 |
5 | 74 |
If you scroll down you’ll find a flatbread sandwich that got panned and so in contrast we thought we’d include this product to review in comparison.
The bread on this sandwich is thinner and the crust is better – the susceptor included in the packaging cooks it well and thoroughly. The chicken is tender, if a little over-seasoned and there is little resemblance to the photo – especially as the wrap around paper in the image is nowhere to be seen in the actual product – which would make it easier to eat. For what it is this product does actually work well – although we have to say that all the over-packaging is not good for the environment. Available in other varieties.
Retails for $2.99 / 4.9 oz package.
Kraft Foods Global, Inc
Northfield
IL
1 800 222 2323
oscarmeyer.com
Oscar Meyer Lunchables Juniors Snack Combinations
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 20 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
10 |
3 |
2 | 65 |
This new product is aiming for convenience for moms and fun for kids with Honey Grahams in a Teddy Shape, Mozzarella sticks (not actually cheese, but Cheese Product) and Strawberry Yogurt Flavored Dip in separate parts of the container. Well, we'd like to see a kid trying to open this package without making the contents fly across the room - in which case they won't be needing a spoon - which is just as well because there isn't one! If the concept is to use the "yogurt" as a dip only - well then it's just plain messy and the flavor combo doesn't make much sense to us. Unfortunately, we have to say this product is probably the opposite of what we should be giving our kids for a snack. Available in other flavors. Retails for $1.99 / 4.53 oz (2 packs).
Kraft Foods Global, Inc
Northfield
IL
1 800 222 2323
oscarmeyer.com
Lean Cuisine Flatbread Melts Chicken Philly
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 5 |
17 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 | 29 |
This product is a MISS!
Nestle, Inc
Solon
OH
800 993 8625
leancuisine.com
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.
We just love pasta. Its easy to make, comes in lots of shapes and sizes and one of the least expensive meals you can make. But when you really think about it, it’s the sauce that makes the difference. Next shopping trip pick up a can of crushed tomatoes and a jar of your favorite sauce. Compare the ingredients. Most jarred sauces list tomato paste, water and a sugar (high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup) among the first ingredients. The crushed tomatoes typically list just crushed tomatoes and maybe added spices.
Now compare the price. Usually a can of crushed tomatoes will be less than half the cost. Buy it and try it!
Now compare the flavor. I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the robust, rich and fresh taste flavor. Add a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, crushed garlic and some spices and voila!
And just a reminder, when cooking that pasta, never add oil to the boiling water. The oil will coat the pasta and the sauce will slide right off.
Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!
Weight Watchers Cream Cheese Spread Individuals
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 27 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 90 |
This product is a HIT!
Not only do we love the portion control aspect of this new product from Weight Watchers, but surprisingly we also love the taste! We say "surprisingly" because we're used to the gummy taste and texture of other low-fat cream cheese options and we're happy to say it's missing from this one. They've done a nice job with this product; there is a faint aftertaste, probably because it contains inulin, but it's not at all unpleasant. Our one criticism is that while they are touting that the product is pre-biotic on the package they don't explain what "pre-biotic" actually means – and we want consumers to get the info they need. Available in larger packages as well. Retails for $3.29 for 8 individual 1 oz cups.
Schreiber Foods, Inc
Green Bay , WI
800 344 0333
Del Monte Healthy Kids Enriched Peach Chunks
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 25 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 85 |
This new product from Del Monte is setting our teeth on edge, not to mention giving them cavities; fruit is so naturally high in sugar to begin with, is it really necessary to add this much, resulting in 14g OF SUGARS per half a cup serving? Having said that, the peaches are nice and crispy and don't have an overly sugary taste. Keep in mind the vitamins are in the syrup, so if you're thinking of cutting back on the sugar by draining the liquid you'll also be draining most of the enriching additives. However this product looks great and tastes great and we'd like to see it individual portions so you don't have to deal with leftovers. Available in other flavors. Retails for $1.88 / 15 oz can.
Del Monte Foods
San Francisco, CA
800 543 3090
Maxxed Energy Pop
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 20 | 19 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 79 |
By putting this new Energy Pop in an individual can the makers are trying to build on the Redbull phenomenon – and in their effort to be cute they are ignoring everything we are trying to do to save Mother Earth! Like most energy drinks this pop has a putrid color and unlike most energy drinks this actually tastes good – due to the high levels of sugar and corn syrup in the ingredients. The question is whether or not a beverage can deliver the "rush" from Taurine, caffeine and Ginseng etc, better than licking a lolly pop for 15 or 20 minutes. The product states that it's not for kids and if you take it to the gym you might have a nasty accident – so we're wondering just who is this product is meant for? Retails for $1 / pop.
Charms, LLC
Covington, TN
773 838 3400
Everybody’s Nuts California Pistachios Salt and Pepper Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 25 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 76 |
We've been watching this brand for the last couple of years and while it is a clever gimmick to promote "Big, Open Pistachios" with the guarantee that every pistachio will be open, the reality is the product has to do a lot more. These pistachios are at least twice as expensive as other brands, but that's not even what bothers us most – which is that the flavor itself is very misleading: "Salt and Pepper" gives the impression that all that is added is salt and pepper – so to find sugar and other flavors added is disappointing – especially as it's not even a sweet flavor! We'd also like to see the plastic bag re-sealable for optimum freshness. Available in other flavors. Retails for between $2.99 and $3.99 / 7 oz package.
Everybody’s Nuts
Lost Hills , CA
Morning Star Farms Veggie Cakes
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 15 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 74 |
Here's a new product for all the vegetarians out there – but right off the bat we have a problem with this one – aren't most people choosing a vegetarian diet for health reasons? Well, one look at this ingredient list with all the unpronounceable items and you might be thinking this product is the antithesis of "healthy" ... frankly, when we think of a vegan or vegetarian diet we don't think of chemicals. The taste of the cakes is very bland, with only a hint of teriyaki (in this case, probably a good thing) and you can't taste the ginger. There's much more of a rice taste than vegetable; with carrots as the 4th ingredient they seem to be making an appearance for color only - perhaps if they renamed the product "Rice and Soy Cakes" it would be more realistic. Also available in Southwestern Style. Retails for approx $3/ 4 cakes (9.06 oz).
Kellogg Sales Co
Battle Creek, MI
800 962 0120
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.
