New Product Reviews
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!
Click to watch Phil Lempert's new products video
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 Pecan Crowns
This is weird... there is a whole generation of people who grew up thinking the Whitman's Sampler was the best chocolate ever, and then there is the generation who grew up on Weight Watchers... Does anyone really think these are the same people? I don't! One piece of these Pecan Crowns is just one Weight Watchers point - sounds good, right? Not! Three little pieces are 160 calories, 10 grams of fat and 24 grams of carbs. Wanna lose weight and be satisfied? Just have one small piece of rich, dark chocolate - you'll be better off and what's with these ingredients?
Retails for $2.99
Whitman's Candies, Inc.
Kansas City, MO
888 311 3723
www.whitmans.com/weightwatcherschocolate
Lifeway Kefir Probiotic Wellness Bar: Sweet 'n Salty Peanut Flavor
Probiotics are all the rage - they balance the good bacteria in our digestive tract. That's the good news. Some more good news is that Lifeway's Wellness bar is one of the few products containing peanut butter that, according to the company, does not buy their peanut butter from the Peanut Corporation of America, which has been implicated in one of the largest food safety scandals ever. Now for the bad news - they do not list the types of good bacteria, or cultures and this bar is so sweet that you cannot even taste the peanut butter.
Retails for $23.00 for 12 bars: 1 bar / $1.92.
Distributed by Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Morton Grove, IL
847 967 1010
www.lifeway.net
Buzz Strong Real Coffee Cookies
I love coffee, so when someone sends coffee flavored products for review, I am skeptical at best. But Buzz Strong delivered on the coffee flavor and the recipe is a great balance between the chocolate and the coffee. The front of the label says 2 cookies equals 1 cup of coffee - but what does that mean? Is it the caffeine? It is not explained, but I want to know! And, what's up with the high fructose corn syrup and the palm fruit oil in the ingredients?
Retails for $1.49 for 2 cookies
Top Floor Creations, LLC
Nevada City, CA
530 205 9177
www.buzzstrong.com
Whole in the Wall Pesto Basil Flavor
This product is a HIT!
These Cheesy Cheese Pop Alongs are too good for kids! Not really! But don't think that these are just for kids - these whole grain, popped snacks are crispy and taste great - nothing is artificial and at just 90 calories mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and, oh yeah, the kids, will be very satisfied. My only complaint is that I personally would like a touch more cheese flavor. This company also donates 3% of their net revenue to help feed kids in under-served schools. Retails for $0.99 for a single serving
Revolution Foods Nest Naturals, Inc.
Emeryville, CA
510 225 4018
www.nestnaturals.com
Stevia Extract In the Raw
This product is a HIT!
I love Stevia and I have been anxiously awaiting the time when every food company and every American makes the switch from artificial sweeteners to the all natural, no calorie sweetener made from Rebiana extract from the Stevia plant. Unlike many of the other Stevia products now on the shelves, Stevia in the Raw does not add any sugar alcohols - it is just dextrose and Stevia extract and has a much cleaner taste. Retails for $3.99 for 50 packets
Cumberland Packing Corp
Brooklyn, NY
800 611 7434
www.steviaextractintheraw.com
Phil taste-tests and judges each product based on the following 8 criteria:
1. Taste (30 points): the most important attribute of any food
2. Value (20 points): is it worth it?
3. Health (15 points): based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?
4. Ingredients (15 points): what's in it, how natural is it?
5. Preparation (5 points): when applicable, how accurate or good are the directions *
6. Appearance (5 points): is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description
7. Packaging (5 points): Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as resealability, added freshness, better storage, etc.
8. Sustainability (5 Points): is the packaging biodegradable, is it wasteful, is the company endeavoring to offset their carbon footprint?
*products that do not have any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Sustainability | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 27 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
4 | 76 |
This is weird... there is a whole generation of people who grew up thinking the Whitman's Sampler was the best chocolate ever, and then there is the generation who grew up on Weight Watchers... Does anyone really think these are the same people? I don't! One piece of these Pecan Crowns is just one Weight Watchers point - sounds good, right? Not! Three little pieces are 160 calories, 10 grams of fat and 24 grams of carbs. Wanna lose weight and be satisfied? Just have one small piece of rich, dark chocolate - you'll be better off and what's with these ingredients?
Retails for $2.99
Whitman's Candies, Inc.
Kansas City, MO
888 311 3723
www.whitmans.com/weightwatcherschocolate
Lifeway Kefir Probiotic Wellness Bar: Sweet 'n Salty Peanut Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Sustainability | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 22 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
5 | 74 |
Probiotics are all the rage - they balance the good bacteria in our digestive tract. That's the good news. Some more good news is that Lifeway's Wellness bar is one of the few products containing peanut butter that, according to the company, does not buy their peanut butter from the Peanut Corporation of America, which has been implicated in one of the largest food safety scandals ever. Now for the bad news - they do not list the types of good bacteria, or cultures and this bar is so sweet that you cannot even taste the peanut butter.
Retails for $23.00 for 12 bars: 1 bar / $1.92.
Distributed by Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Morton Grove, IL
847 967 1010
www.lifeway.net
Buzz Strong Real Coffee Cookies
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Sustainability | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 28 |
16 |
12 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
5 | 82 |
I love coffee, so when someone sends coffee flavored products for review, I am skeptical at best. But Buzz Strong delivered on the coffee flavor and the recipe is a great balance between the chocolate and the coffee. The front of the label says 2 cookies equals 1 cup of coffee - but what does that mean? Is it the caffeine? It is not explained, but I want to know! And, what's up with the high fructose corn syrup and the palm fruit oil in the ingredients?
Retails for $1.49 for 2 cookies
Top Floor Creations, LLC
Nevada City, CA
530 205 9177
www.buzzstrong.com
Whole in the Wall Pesto Basil Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Sustainability | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
20 |
15 |
15 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
5 | 97 |
This product is a HIT!These Cheesy Cheese Pop Alongs are too good for kids! Not really! But don't think that these are just for kids - these whole grain, popped snacks are crispy and taste great - nothing is artificial and at just 90 calories mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and, oh yeah, the kids, will be very satisfied. My only complaint is that I personally would like a touch more cheese flavor. This company also donates 3% of their net revenue to help feed kids in under-served schools. Retails for $0.99 for a single serving
Revolution Foods Nest Naturals, Inc.
Emeryville, CA
510 225 4018
www.nestnaturals.com
Stevia Extract In the Raw
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Sustainability | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
17 |
15 |
15 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
5 | 93 |
This product is a HIT!I love Stevia and I have been anxiously awaiting the time when every food company and every American makes the switch from artificial sweeteners to the all natural, no calorie sweetener made from Rebiana extract from the Stevia plant. Unlike many of the other Stevia products now on the shelves, Stevia in the Raw does not add any sugar alcohols - it is just dextrose and Stevia extract and has a much cleaner taste. Retails for $3.99 for 50 packets
Cumberland Packing Corp
Brooklyn, NY
800 611 7434
www.steviaextractintheraw.com
Phil taste-tests and judges each product based on the following 8 criteria:
1. Taste (30 points): the most important attribute of any food
2. Value (20 points): is it worth it?
3. Health (15 points): based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?
4. Ingredients (15 points): what's in it, how natural is it?
5. Preparation (5 points): when applicable, how accurate or good are the directions *
6. Appearance (5 points): is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description
7. Packaging (5 points): Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as resealability, added freshness, better storage, etc.
8. Sustainability (5 Points): is the packaging biodegradable, is it wasteful, is the company endeavoring to offset their carbon footprint?
*products that do not have 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 on iVillage
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Hi! I currently use Stevia Extract in the Raw and absolutely LOVE it! I have two diabetic parents so sugar substitutes are very important to have in the home as well as eating healthy. This product tastes great and we use it everyday in our tea or coffee. I've told all my family and friends about this product since most people I know use artificial sweeteners. One of the best things about using Stevia Extract in the Raw is that it's an all natural sweetener. More people should definitely try this product and I'm glad it was one of the new product reviews this week. Oh and btw - I actually buy it at my local Acme for $2.99 a box so it's actually cheaper :)
Hi! I currently use Stevia Extract in the Raw and absolutely LOVE it! I have two diabetic parents so sugar substitutes are very important to have in the home as well as eating healthy. This product tastes great and we use it everyday in our tea or coffee. I've told all my family and friends about this product since most people I know use artificial sweeteners. One of the best things about using Stevia Extract in the Raw is that it's an all natural sweetener. More people should definitely try this product and I'm glad it was one of the new product reviews this week. Oh and btw - I actually buy it at my local Acme for $2.99 a box so it's actually cheaper :)