Skillet meals have become all the rage and look at this picture; it looks so pretty and when the product cooks it actually looks very close to this. This product cooks in 3 steps in a skillet or 2 steps in a microwave. I chose to try it in the microwave. While there was an aroma of garlic I couldn't taste any garlic. What I did taste was salt. And the chicken is not chicken breast, but chopped and formed. It is made up of chicken, water, modified tapioca starch, salt and sodium phosphate and it was chewy. The big benefit is that 32 oz of pasta, vegetables, chicken and sauce is only about $5. Retails for $4.99 - $5.99

Gourmet Express
Greenville, KY
504 214 9575
skilletmeals.com




Kashi Thin Crust Roasted Vegetable Pizza

  This product is a HIT!

For the best pizza in the world go to Star Tavern in Orange, New Jersey; if that's too far away head to the frozen food case of your local supermarket where you'll see no less than 20 different brands of frozen pizza. One of the newest and tastiest is Thin Crust Roasted Vegetable Pizza from Kashi. The crust, is not as crispy as I would like, which is probably due to the fact that it's made from 7 whole grains, sesame and flax seed. What's extraordinary about this pizza is the texture and taste of all these vegetables. The sauce and the cheeses are in perfect balance and does not overpower the other ingredients. And speaking of cheeses it's both mozzarella and provolone. Retails for $5.99.

Kashi Sales, LLC
La Jolla, CA
877 747 2467
kashi.com



Chiquita Smoothies Banana Colada

  This product is a HIT!

I remember when my parents used to buy frozen concentrate orange juice in a package similar to this one. Why did we ever get away from buying frozen concentrates anyway? They're less expensive, lighter to carry and all they do in those cartons is add water anyway. Chiquita has introduced smoothies, in this case Banana Colada. You need a blender, ½ can of cold water and 2 cans of ice cubes (and a spoon to get the contents out of the can, or let it sit out for a few minutes). The flavor and texture are fabulous. This is dairy free and gluten free and there's no question that adding a little rum would make you the best bartender on the block. An 8 oz glass contains just 125 calories, just the smoothie, does not include the rum and is vey filling, but remember it's also loaded with natural sugars from the banana, pineapple, grape juice and coconut - in fact 24 g, but it's worth it. Retails for $3.99.

Old Orchard Brands LLC
Sparta, MI
800 330 2173
chiquitasmoothie.com



Sonoma Crisps Apple Sticks

    They look like French fries, but they're crunchy, slow baked apples. They're expensive, less than an ounce, about 60 pieces will cost you a little over $2. It's a nice alternative to other snacks, but to be honest with you I'm not sure that I would make them part of my regular snacking routine. Ok taste but too expensive. Retails for $2.20.

Salad, Inc
Sebastopol, CA
310 792 7445
sonomacrisps.com



Mr. Q. Cumber

  This product is a HIT!
Forget those Main Line women with their cucumber sandwiches over tea. Just drink it. How goofy is this? I love this name Mr. Q. Cumber. It is actually a sparkling cucumber beverage. It smells like cucumbers and it tastes like cucumbers. This is all natural and uses cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Sure the summer's over, but now you can enjoy cucumbers in a bottle, but 7 oz will set you back 90 calories. Retails for $1.09.

Global Beverage Enterprises
Pompano Beach, FL
954 793 0637
globalbeverageenterprises.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.

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