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! (Points system explained below the products!)

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

3 Musketeers 2 to Go: Mint with Dark Chocolate

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
29	19	12	12	n/a 10	5	5	92

This product is a HIT!

This new 3 Musketeers bar won me over right away. I already like the idea that it has 45% less fat than a typical candy bar of this type, but is still satisfying and filling. I like the two half bars per package, but what really got me was the great flavor – this dark chocolate mint combo takes a Peppermint Patty to the next level – delicious - and only enhanced by the light and fluffy texture!

Retails for $0.83 / 2.16 oz.

Mars, Inc.
Hackettstown, NJ
800 551 0698
3musketeers.com

Kopali Organics: Organic Mulberry

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
25	15	15	15	n/a 10	5	5	90

This product is a HIT!

These dried mulberries have a unique texture and taste and I have to say I really like this product. Kopali Organics is trying to do the right thing for our taste buds, for farmers and for the environment – which is great. They even went to the trouble of packaging these nutritious berries in a Ziploc even though it is a small package. My only concern is that they are going to have an uphill battle to convince consumers that these dried mulberries are going to be as tasty as other organic dried berries on the shelves, at least until they try them. A taste is worth it! Available in other varieties.

Retails for $3.99 / 1.7 oz.

Kopali Organics
North Miami, FL
kopali.com

Engobi Energy Go Bites : Lemon Lift Infused With Caffeine

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
26	19	10	10	n/a 10	5	5	85

This product is a HIT!

Any time a product is marketed with added caffeine, the amount of caffeine contained should be listed on the label. That should be a given! This peculiar new product (chips with caffeine) states on the package that “they spiked this stuff with more caffeine than those little energy drinks”… yet they still don’t say how much – truly exasperating! That being said, these chips actually taste pretty good; think kid’s cereal – Trix for example. I didn’t consume enough to get any kind of caffeine hit, but I did like the crunch. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $1.29 / 1.5 oz.

Rudolph Foods Co
Lima, OH
800 241 7675
engobi.com

Hormel Compleats: Beef Steak and Peppers with Savory Sauce and Noodles

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
20	17	14	10	10	5	5	81

This new product from Hormel has a lot going for it. I like that it’s loaded with protein, it’s convenient to have on hand when you need a meal but have no time, and it’s so easy to prepare you can’t really call it cooking. With its balanced recipe – 200 calories, 5 grams of fat and 20 grams of protein – this complete meal will certainly fill you up. I like the packaging; it’s eye-catching enough to grab your attention in the dairy case, which is where you’ll find this product in the supermarket. So those are the good points. On the down side the salty taste overshadows any other flavor or spice, the ingredients aren’t great and the beef is way too chewy. Available in other varieties.

Retails for $3.00 / 10 oz.

Hormel Foods, LLC
Austin, MN
800 523 4635
hormel.com

Snacktrition: Sea Salt Cashews Health Baked with Fiber

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
12	14	10	10	n/a 10	3	5	64

I wanted to like this product – I really did – because I love nuts. I love them for their great taste, and their nutritional value makes me think of them as nature’s gift. I don’t mind that these nuts are baked, or that they added sea salt, but what does elude me is the need to add inulin to pump up the fiber of these cashews. Nuts are naturally high in fiber and as for the package claim that this product “Nurtures Digestive Health”, I’m not entirely convinced about that because inulin can be difficult for some people to digest. The inulin added to these cashews almost doubles their fiber content – from 1.7 grams per ounce to 3 grams per ounce, but it also adds 2 grams of sugar – is it worth it? Available in other flavors.

Retails for $2.99 / 3 oz.

Mellace Family Brands
Carlsbad, CA
866 255 6887
snacktrition.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.

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