August 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!
Annie’s Naturals: Cucumber Yogurt Dressing
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
19 |
14 |
15 |
n/a 10 |
5 |
5 | 98 |
This product is a HIT!
Annie’s Naturals has been a leader in tasty organic foods; this dressing is a combo of yogurt, cucumber and mint with a “sprinkle of Indian spice”. Most salad dressing on the market is loaded with High Fructose Corn Syrup, but not this one that uses honey instead. But could I really believe that this dressing with 60% less fat and 50% less calories would taste good? Annie’s has made a believer out of me: this dressing has a great clean flavor with no aftertaste, and would be great on meats and sandwiches as well as salads. Available in other flavors. Retails for $3.99 / 8 oz.
Annie’s Inc.,
Napa, CA
800 288 1089
AnniesNaturals.com
GoGo squeeze: Apple Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
19 |
13 |
15 |
n/a 10 |
5 |
5 | 97 |
This product is a HIT!
60 Minutes made French wine famous in the US by reporting on the French Paradox. SupermarketGuru.com wants to make the French famous for applesauce! GoGo squeeZ (the most popular brand of applesauce in France) is a convenient and fun way to enjoy applesauce while walking, skateboarding, cycling or sneaking a snack at the movies. The only question I have about this tasty product is will a 3.2 oz. serving satisfy? But this handy pouch can be frozen to cool a lunch box or to create a healthy apple Slurpee-on-the-go! Available in other flavors. Retails for $2.99 / 4 x 3.2 oz.
GoGo squeeZ
Westport, CT
800 848 1127
materne.us
San-J: Black Sesame Rice Crackers
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
18 |
15 |
15 |
n/a 10 |
5 |
4 | 97 |
This product is a HIT!
If you’ve never had a black sesame rice cracker this would be the one to try. San-J, one of the oldest Japanese food companies has produced an oven-baked, tasty rice cracker, which is a great alternative for those trying to avoid wheat. These crackers are great by themselves, but you might have to experiment with topping flavors so that they don’t interfere with the tamari soy sauce taste. At one gram of good fat per cracker from the sesame seeds this is a very satisfying munch! Available in other flavors. Retails for $3.99 / 8 oz.
San-J International Inc.,
Richmond, VA
804 226 8333
san-j.com
Hansen’s Sugar Free: Natural Blueberry Pomegranate Sparkling Water
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 22 |
19 |
15 |
15 |
n/a 10 |
5 |
5 | 91 |
This product is a HIT!
When is the pomegranate phenomenon going to end? Don’t get me wrong, I love pomegranate, but it’s getting to the point of ENOUGH! I usually like Hansen’s recipes, but the taste of this combo doesn’t do much for me: I can feel the bubbles dancing on my tongue, but I can’t taste the Washington blueberries or the Italian pomegranates. There’s no artificial color or preservatives, but there’s also no juice. They are touting the fact that they didn’t use aspartame, but they did use sucralose which is Splenda – and that there’s no caffeine, but isn’t that a given in a sparkling water? Available in other flavors. Retails for $3.99 / 4 x 10.5 fl oz.
Hansen Beverage Company
Corona, CA
800-426-7367
hansens.com
Tyson: South of the Border Chicken Wrap
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 26 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 68 |
This product is a MISS!
I’m not a big fan of microwavable wraps or sandwiches because they usually come out either gooey, or falling apart. The folks at Tyson have figured that part out with a unique molded cooking tray that keeps the two wraps separated and in place. It cooks the wrap perfectly and it is actually very tasty. On the plus side it contains only white meat chicken, but I got a headache trying to find it on the list of ingredients. The “Salsa Tortilla” used for the wrap is interesting – it’s got an unexpected orange color, but also a nice flavor. Keep in mind, if you eat both of these wraps at one meal you’ll be getting 38 grams of protein – along with 800 calories, 42 grams of fat, 1720 milligrams of sodium and 60 carbs! Available in other varieties. Retails for $3.99 / 10 oz.
Tyson Foods, Inc.,
Springdale, AR
800 643 3410
tyson.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.
More from Phil Lempert:
- More new product reviews
- Get more tips and information on Today Show on iVillage
Many families are preparing their children with supplies, new school clothes, and trying to figure out just what to pack in those school lunch boxes! What foods will our kids eat? Which ones offer the best nutrition? Which ones are affordable, now that food prices are at the highest levels in the past 30 years?
One of the most important things to share with our kids is all about healthier eating. After all, it is no mystery that obesity levels in school-age children are the highest ever and that healthy eating habits have been proven to contribute to higher rates of success in school-age kids.
The combination of higher food prices, the obesity epidemic and our desire for on-the-go foods has influenced the food industry to make new foods that satisfy these needs. So on TODAY I revealed my picks for the school year 2008!
Back to School Naturally More(TM) Peanut Butter - Naturally More(TM) Peanut Butter features flaxseed for Omega-3 essential fatty acids, wheat germ for fiber, and egg-whites for lean protein. Naturally More(TM) easily differentiates itself from other natural peanut butters with the added benefits of Omega-3, fewer calories than other peanut butters, with 25% more protein, and 50% more fiber. Fortified with these powerful ingredients, Naturally More(TM) provides all the protein and essential fats needed to keep the body naturally balanced. Available in two varieties: Original and Organic, Naturally More(TM) contains heart-healthy wheat germ, flaxseed, flax oil, egg whites, Omega 3 and Omega 6. Suggested Retail $4.49 naturallymore.com
Lunchables changed the way kids eat – and boy, have they come a long way from tiny-sized foods in yellow plastic compartment trays! New Lunchables Fun Pack Wrapz meet Kraft's Sensible Solution guidelines and are available in two varieties: Grilled Chicken (two wheat tortillas, grilled chicken, mild taco sauce, ranch sauce, Nestle Crunch, and Capri Sun 25% less sugar Fruit Punch), Beef Taco (two wheat tortillas, seasoned ground beef filling, a blend of Kraft 2% milk natural reduced fat mozzarella and non-fat cheddar shredded cheeses, mild taco sauce, an Airheads treat, and Capri Sun Roarin' Waters Wild Cherry). Retails for $2.59 lunchablesmom.com
Forget “irradiation”…let's just fool people and call it electronic pasteurization! Last Friday, the Food and Drug Administration approved use of irradiation on still more foods. This time they approved the process for spinach and iceberg lettuce. Irradiation has been used for over 50 years on spices and in the past decades has spread to use on meats, poultry, and some shellfish. Irradiated foods must be labeled as such and carry the “radura” symbol. This logo is a green leaf-like abstract centered in a white circle.
Irradiated foods have not become mainstream. Many food industry experts believe that consumers are confused by the term “irradiation” and their questioning the safety of the process is an error in judgment.
Although in Friday’s announcement, the FDA did state that irradiating spinach and iceberg lettuce produces furan, a cancer-causing chemical – but did add that the level of the substance isn’t high enough to cause worry.
With all the food safety issues making the headlines, and the neverending stream of product recalls, you would think that most consumers would actually embrace a technology that could in fact prevent many food-borne illnesses and even deaths. Or, that’s what many trade associations and food companies are hoping for, which is why there is a renewed effort to have the term changed to electronic pasteurization, which may sound better to some – but I don’t think that’s the answer. And based on quotes coming from some produce trade groups and brands, neither do they.
First: in order to have the irradiation of our foods widely accepted it must be proven to be 100% safe and proven that it does not change the taste, texture or nutrient value of our foods.
Second: we need to give the FDA back the financial resources that it needs to conduct inspections and create and monitor systems that insure traceability and transparency.
Friday’s announcement was not a positive move forward. It was a band-aid that is too small, trying to cover up a wound that that no one seems to know how to heal.
Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!
On Track Snack Fruit Energy Bar: Peaches and Cream Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
20 |
15 |
15 |
n/a 10 |
4 |
5 | 98 |
This product is a HIT!
Every morning I wake up and ask myself: does the world need another energy bar? This fruit bar from On Track actually smells and tastes like fruit, so in this case maybe we can use another energy bar after all. I do have a couple of tiny criticisms though. While there’s no disputing the peachiness in the flavor profile I couldn’t identify any taste of “cream”. The label states this is an “Award Winning Energy and Nutritional Bar” and I am just left wondering – what award? Whose award? It makes no sense to list an award without stating what the award is. Available in other flavors. Retails for $1.20 / 1.4 oz.
Bouquet of Fruits
Fresno, CA
800 243 7848
bouquetoffruits.com
Heart Shape: Flax, Olive and Sunflower Blend Finishing Oil and Dressing
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
n/a 10 |
5 |
5 | 96 |
This product is a HIT!
This culinary “Finishing Oil” might just be one of the best combos ever – the blend of flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil and sunflower oil produces a light, grassy flavor with a beautiful color and an excellent nutritional profile, containing Omega Fatty Acids 3, 6 and 9. I love that the label on this product tells you exactly how much of each of these Omegas is contained in every tablespoon. The label also tells you to refrigerate after opening because flax seed oil can quickly turn rancid, hence the dark glass bottle of this excellent product. Available in other varieties. Retails for $9.99 / 8.45 fl oz.
Shape Foods
Brandon, Canada
877 333 8331
shapefoods.com
O.N.E.: Cashew Juice
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
17 |
13 |
14 |
n/a 10 |
5 |
4 | 92 |
This product is a HIT!
Brazil has given us Carnival, string bikinis and now cashew juice! While the idea of cashew juice might not be as attractive as the other two, it actually has a surprisingly good flavor – and did you know that a cashew nut grows inside a sweet and tasty fruit? This fruit is a rich source of vitamin C and according to this package “may help: calm an upset stomach, soothe a sore throat, protect the skin from problems like acne and eczema and fortify the immune system”. That’s all great, but with 33 grams of sugar from the organic sugar cane juice, the subtle, pear-like flavor of the cashew is overpowered by sweetness. The image on the package also shows a straw, which is somewhat misleading, because there isn’t one. Available in other flavors. Retails for $1.99 / 11 oz.
One World Enterprises, LLC
Brazil
888 663 2626
onenaturalexperience.com
My Husband’s Nuts: Chili Con Lemon Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 28 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
n/a 10 |
5 |
3 | 86 |
This product is a HIT!
You’ve heard all the stories about the farmer’s wife before, so think of this product “My Husband’s Nuts” as vindication. These “Chili Con Lemon” almonds are a crunchy and flavorful experience and I like how the taste evolves as you eat; the first taste sensation is all about heat, which then morphs into a tangy and pleasant citrus ending. This is a great product, but there are two things I don’t like: you might guess this one, but this package is not re-closeable which is just crazy when these nuts cost $6 for 5 oz – and that’s my second gripe. At that price these are hardly an everyday item. Available in other flavors. Retails for $6 / 5.5 oz.
Jennifer Rogers Etcheverry
Bakersfield, CA
866 688 7487
myhusbandsnuts.com
Montana Monster Munchies: Original Recipe Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 26 |
13 |
10 |
13 |
n/a 10 |
5 |
4 | 81 |
Who eats half a cookie? I hate it when a company lists the nutritional info based on a half a cookie – and I don’t care if the cookie is more than 3 inches in diameter! So, let’s take a look: one cookie is actually 354 calories, 28 grams of sugar and 18 grams of fat. This certainly isn’t guilt-free munching. And while it is a good cookie I certainly wouldn’t call it “The Last Best Cookie” as they do on the package. There’s also a bit of a conundrum here: while the aroma of the cookie promises peanut butter-y flavor the taste is chocolate-y and only very faintly peanut butter-y. Available in other flavors. Retails for $2.99 / 5.5 oz.
Montana Monster Munchies
Bozeman, MT
800 752 2158
mtmonstermunchies.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.
More from Phil Lempert:
- More new product reviews
- Get more tips and information on Today Show on iVillage
Coupons are everywhere. Industry experts estimate a whopping 400 billion coupons will be distributed this year... and this comes just in time!As more of us struggle to keep up with the rising food prices, using coupons is a quick and easy way to save big bucks. Since January of this year, more than $173 billion in coupons have been delivered just in those newspaper supplements and mailings alone.
With the average face value of food coupons now at 91 cents each and non-food coupons worth an average $1.61 the savings can add up quickly.
Tom Lemke, a talk-show guest on Oprah, explained years ago how he bought more than $400 of groceries for less than $100 using coupons. And, while Lemke's level of success is rare, coupons can easily shave 15-20% from every grocery bill. That's an annual savings of over a $1,000 for a family of four.
Check your supermarket couponing rules carefully – these days many who used to double coupon value are limiting the doubling value to those coupons under $1. For even more savings look for coupons that can be redeemed on products that your store have put on sale and offer additional savings with their frequent shopper card program. But here’s the catch – many shoppers have to give up their favorite brands in order to go with what’s on sale. With a little preplanning you wont have to: Stock up on your favorite brands when they are on sale and you wont have to sacrifice the quality you are used to.
Summer vacations are meant to be fun. Sun, sand and lots of fun. This year I decided that it was time for a tune-up, so I headed down to Miami and checked into the Pritikin Longevity Center. I had been there a dozen or so years ago for the first time and knew it was time for a refresher – a low-fat diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruit and hours of exercise.
I’m fortunate that I wanted to lose just a few pounds and my cholesterol and other lipids are in fine shape. Pritikin is my favored choice because aside from the hundreds of clinical research studies that have proven it to be one of the best long-term lifestyle approaches to health & wellness, it's also medically supervised and starts out with a thorough Doctor’s review, blood panel and stress test.
And I’m glad it does.
What I discovered and never thought possible was that I am borderline Vitamin D deficient. How could that be? I live in Southern California (the Sunshine State!) and consume foods that are rich in Vitamin D. So about two weeks ago I started taking Vitamin D3 supplements. Just slightly ahead of reading about the results of a new report in the Archives of Internal Medicine that was published just this past Monday, August 11, 2008.
The headline was jarring: Inadequate vitamin D could increase your risk of death by 26 percent! The study also found that of the more than 13,000 people who took part in the survey that 41 percent of men and 53 percent of women in the United States were not getting enough of this nutrient. The lead researcher, Dr. Michal Melamed, a clinical fellow at Johns Hopkins University was quoted as saying that, "The importance of vitamin D may be underappreciated. There are studies that link low vitamin D levels to the development of heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, hypertension and different cancers.” This study was conducted over an eight and a half year period in which levels of Vitamin D were measured in 1988, 1994 and in 2000. "Those who had the lowest levels of vitamin D had a 26 percent higher risk of death from all causes compared to those with the highest vitamin D levels," Melamed noted as well as reporting that this study confirms a trend seen in other studies which link vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk for breast cancer and depression in the elderly. The same researchers previously found that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of circulatory problems in the legs by 80 percent.
The U.S. Institute of Medicine suggests that the average person get between 200 and 400 IU of vitamin D per day. And while the best way to get vitamin D is by being out in the sun and in foods such as milk and fish, you never quite know until you test for it...as I found out.
So, my suggestion is that the next time you visit your Doc, have them check your level of Vitamin D. The research findings are clear; and it's one of the easiest ways to reducing risks for heart disease, some cancers, type 2 diabetes and peripheral vascular disease.
Historically, we’ve seen increases in those self-indulgences when money is tight. While it might seem to be contrary to conventional wisdom, keep in mind that while we can't afford that new car, or new fridge (or maybe even our mortgage payment), the mind is a remarkable thing – and it tends to force us to do things that will, in spite of the world around us, keep us sane and feel better. This is why that extra special bottle of wine, or savory triple crème brie or even an exotic spice or two winds up in those extra shopping carts and pantries.
But there is a major difference between these products (which typically offer an above average experience) and the new premium M&M’s (which do not). The taste of the new premium M&M’s is artificial, the inside is more mushy than typical M&M’s, and the color is shiny and mottled – it looks more like a faux marble kitchen countertop than something you would pop in your mouth. The biggest mistake in judgment, however, is removing the hard candy shell. For decades, brilliant television advertising touted “melts in your mouth, not in your hand” and helped make M&M’s one of the best selling confections; and easily one of the best known.
Brand managers covet certain job assignments, and I’m sure that being the brand manager of M&M’s is one of the most desired. After all, take a leading brand that could do no wrong: millions of consumers voting for new colors, peanut and plain stuffed toys and other merchandise flying off shelves, brand extensions that replaced the peanut with other nuts and filings – all hugely successful - because they kept true to the product heritage.
The most important asset that any brand has is its brand image, and the new premium M&M’s just doesn’t meet the criteria. They could spend millions of dollars convincing us that M&M’s without the candy shell are better than with the shell. Of course, then what happens to the conventional M&M’s? Or they just could put their Dove chocolate brand on these. That is after they work on the recipe to make them taste better … and bring down the price to a reasonable level because at $10 a pound, these M&M’s just aren’t worth it.
