Almond Accents: Butter Toffee Glazed Flavored Sliced Almonds

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Sustainability	Total
20	15	13	11	5	5	5	0	74

With no less than 6 different types of sugars, I expected these Butter Toffee Glazed Almonds to be, if nothing else, SWEET... however, that was even a disappointment... I love adding sliced or slivered almonds to just about anything - they add great crunch, nutrition and flavor, but in this case; don't waste your money. And at $3.49 for just 3 ¾ oz, you'll be doing just that. Retails for $3.49 for 3 3/4 oz.

Paramount Farms, Inc.,
Los Angeles, CA
310 966 3586
www.almondaccents.com





Smartfood Popcorn Clusters: Chocolate Cookie Caramel Pecan Flavor

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Sustainability	Total
27	17	14	13	5	5	4	0	85

This product is a HIT!
The name Smartfood made me chuckle, especially when it appears on Chocolate Cookie Caramel Pecan Popcorn! How smart could that possibly be? Well, if all you are focused on is crunch and taste, you will not be disappointed and each bag is just 120 calories, 2 grams of fat and 5 grams of dietary fiber. There are 5 of these 1 oz bags in this box (which, by the way - is crazy - you could fit 10 of these bags in there...) This is an adult snack that will make you feel like a kid again - and the good news is that it is not sickeningly sweet! Retails for $3.50 for a box of 5 x 1oz packages.

Smartfoods, Inc.
Plano, TX
800 352 4477
www.fritolay.com




Cobram Estate Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Sustainability	Total
30	17	15	15	5	5	4	2	93

This product is a HIT!
When you think of olive oil you think of Italy, France, Spain and even California, but now you are gonna think of Australia! This Cobram Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of the smoothest and most aromatic I have ever tried. It comes plain and it comes in Lemon Twist; the plain is extraordinary, but I found the lemon flavor too overpowering in the Lemon Twist - so even though I tasted both, the rating is based on the plain. Retails for $9.99 for 12.6 fl oz.

Cobram Estate Pty Ltd
Port Melbourne, Australia
866 376 3814
www.cobramestate.com.au




Galaxy Desserts: Cappuccino Chocolate Mousse Duos

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Sustainability	Total
30	18	12	15	5	5	5	0	90

This product is a HIT!
Desserts should be indulgent, delicious and special... Chef Charon's Galaxy Dessert Mousse Duos are exactly that - sure they are expensive, but what could be easier than just taking one of these from the freezer and letting it thaw - it is gluten-free and even comes with a chocolate covered coffee bean on the top. The only complaint I can envision about these mousses could be that the little plastic pot is too small! Retails for $6.99 for a box of 4

Galaxy Desserts
Richmond, CA
800 894 2881
www.galaxydesserts.com




WorldCatch Wild Alaskan Salmon Burgers

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Sustainability	Total
29	16	15	15	4	4	4	1	88

This product is a HIT!
When I was in grammar school there was a cook named Elvira who made the best salmon croquettes and ever since then I have been searching for a replacement... This WorldCatch Wild Alaskan Salmon Burger might just be it! There are 680 mg of omega 3s per burger and they are seasoned just right with herbs, spices and natural mesquite. Here is my tip - brush the burgers with a little olive oil before cooking and they're perfect. These are all-natural with 18 grams of protein and only 3 g of fat and I only have one complaint - what is with the over-packaging? Four of these salmon burgers could fit in a box half this size. Retails for $9.99

WorldCatch Foods
Simons Island, GA
888 732 7251
www.worldcatch.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.