Diet Food Reviews

Starbucks Egg White, Spinach & Feta Wrap

2009-11-20T19:04:07Z

The Starbucks Spinach, Roasted Tomato, Feta & Egg Wrap is currently the lowest calorie option listed under their breakfast menu, so I decided to try it out. But instead of breakfast, I had it for lunch one day when I was while I was there working. This sandwich is made with a whole wheat wrap stuffed with an egg white patty, spinach and feta cheese (just as the name implies).

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 wrap
Calories: 280
Total Fat: 9 grams, 14%
Saturated Fat: 3.5 grams, 18%
Sodium: 1140 mg, 48%
Protein: 19 grams
Carbohydrates: 35 grams
Fiber: 8 grams, 32%
Sugar: 4 grams
Price: $3.25

I don't usually buy egg sandwiches, but this proved to be very well engineered. There was nothing oozing or running out of the wrap, the texture was firm and moist, and some kind of sauce (or maybe it was the feta), provided a flavorful kick. And, the sandwich is quite satisfying enough for an albeit small lunch.

But, as with most food options at these types of places, the nutrition facts weren't the greatest. Each sandwich only has 280 calories, 32% of the daily value for fiber and 19 grams of protein, but also 18% of the DV for saturated fat and 48% of the DV for sodium.

]]> The ingredients list is also something straight out of a food chemistry textbook - I did mention that this was "well engineered."

Overall, I would probably grab this on a hectic day when I'm running around, instead of picking up a fast food burger.

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Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

2009-11-20T11:23:20Z

Fall is here! Do you want to know how I know that? No, it's not because my calendar told me so. It's because Edy's Pumpkin Frozen Dairy Dessert and Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea are back on the shelves! Plus, the talented Starbucks baristas are already whipping up the seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: Tall (16 ounces)
Calories: 200
Total Fat: 0%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 170 mg, 7%
Protein: 11 grams
Carbohydrates: 38 grams
Fiber: 0%
Sugar: 37 grams
Price: $3.49 (Tall)

I walked into Starbuck's yesterday with a Pumpkin Spice Latte on my mind. In a flash, I was picking up the 10% post-consumer recycled coffee cup and taking a seat. The aroma steaming out of the small slit in the lid was reminiscent of all things fall. And with my first sip, I was hooked. The steamy milk combined with the robust coffee and pumpkin spices that are synonymous with fall create an utterly creamy, awakening and comforting beverage.

To get the most bang for your nutritional buck, specialize your drink as a Tall Nonfat Pumpkin Spice Latte with no Whipped Cream. In this respect, your comforting fall treat will contain 200 calories, no fat but still 37 grams of sugar (ouch!), 11 grams of protein and 40% of the daily value forcalcium. Here's the trick to reducing the sugar and calories a little more ... special order. Since Starbucks has yet to offer a sugar free version of their seasonal latte, ask for half of the pumps of that sugary pumpkin syrup (I promise you won't miss it).

]]> Of course, you could order a Tall Cafe Latte with Nonfat milk (100 calories and 14 grams of sugar) or Hot Tazo Tea (o calories) and save a slew of calories (and some cash, especially since the Pumpkin Spice Latte is a quite pricy at $3.49 for a Tall), but I dare say that indulging in the seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte every now and then is well worth it. And luckily, since it's a seasonal item, it won't be here to tempt you for too long!

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Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats Chocolate Little Bites Cereal

2009-11-19T18:29:13Z

Upon first seeing Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats Little Bites in the stores, I snatched up the Honey Nut variety and enjoyed every last morsel. Adam from Grub Grade and Jilian from Back to the Nest, both left comments that the Chocolate version was the best. So you know what I was on the look out for when it was time to get more cereal?! Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats Chocolate Little Bites of course!

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 55 grams (46 pieces)
Calories: 190
Total Fat: 1 gram, 2%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 120 mg, 5%
Protein: 5 grams
Carbohydrates: 47 grams
Fiber: 6 grams, 23%
Sugar: 12 grams
Price: $2.50 (14.5 ounce box)

At first, I dug straight into the cereal box to see what I actually held before me. Dare I say, tasted like a fudge brownie?! Yes, I dare say it. The fudge brownie aspect is brought out even more thanks to the thin layer of white "icing" on top. The texture, of course, is nowhere near that of a fudge brownie, however, it holds the brownie flavor well.

Each tiny square is composed of tightly packed layers of shredded wheat that crunch and meld together so nicely. Furthermore, the size of these sweet treats makes them perfect for snacking. If you plan on adding milk, the chocolate goodness is still prevalent and utterly delicious, but some of the fudgy brownie flavor is overwhelmed by the sweetness of the milk.

]]> A good sized portion of 52 biscuits (55 grams) provides 200 calories, 2 grams of total fat which includes 1 gram of saturated fat,5 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber (24% of the DV) and 12 grams of sugar. The ingredients start with whole grain wheat, followed by (you guessed it) sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips (which also include sugar in it's ingredients list), cocoa. The sweetener sorbitol is also used and a couple of other components, which make up a short and sweet ingredient list.

I am most definitely going to be buying Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats Chocolate Little Bites again very soon. They make for an awesome treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, an occasional sinful breakfast or a simple and quick alternative to brownies (seriously, I think this is what makes them deserve 4 stars)! The 14.5oz box that I bought was worth every single penny of the $2.50 that I paid.

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Fiber One Banana Chocolate Chip Frozen Muffins

2009-11-19T11:28:18Z

Fiber One is cranking out new products left and right. The newest invention to pop out of their test kitchen is Fiber One Frozen Muffins, which intrigued me to the point that I just had to give them a try. Of course, I chose the Banana Chocolate Chip variety!

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 muffin (65 grams)
Calories: 180
Total Fat: 4 grams, 6%
Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams, 8%
Sodium: 180 mg, 8%
Protein: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 37 grams
Fiber: 7 grams, 28%
Sugar: 18 grams
Price: $4.50 (1 box of 4)

Contrary to what the box claims, 10-15 seconds in the microwave didn't do it for my little muffin, but 30 seconds seemed to do the trick. There is a thin sprinkling of granola with chocolate chips on top, that will crumble off as you rip open the package, setting the precedent high because that oat mixture is delicious! The muffin itself is very smooth and soft, almost to the point of being doughy, which I actually enjoyed. The banana flavor is very thorough with a hefty amount of chocolate chips adding their own level of gooey sweetness. The tasty granola mixture on top is almost better picked off when it's crumbling out of the package because it doesn't do much for the muffin except add a slight variation of chew to the extremely soft and dense muffin.

While Fiber One advises that these would be great for an on-the-go breakfast, I can't say that I totally agree thanks to the soft doughy nature of the product and the sticky oat topping.

]]> Each 65 gram muffin provides 180 calories, 6% of the daily value for total fat (and 5% for saturated fat), 7% of the DV for sodium, 28% of the DV for fiber and 18 grams of sugars. The ingredients list is a bit long starting off with water, whole wheat flour, sugar, banana puree, eggs, inulin and semi-sweet chocolate ... that was about 2 of the 18 or so lines full of ingredients.

I discovered Fiber One Banana Chocolate Chip Frozen Muffins for $4.50 at my local grocery store, but thanks to a $1.00 coupon that I had printed off from coupons.com, these 4 treats only cost me $3.50. Were they good? Yes! Would I buy them again? Maybe, if I didn't know that I could get a 56 gram Penny's Low Fat Desserts Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffin Top for 100 calories, or VitaMuffin Deep Chocolate VitaTops - again 56 grams for 100 calories. Both of these are also fiber rich (although not as much as the Fiber One muffins).

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Kellogg's Jumbo Multi-Grain Rice Krispies Cereal

2009-11-18T18:28:37Z

I have never been a fan of the airy and unsatisfying regular Rice Krispies (although Snap, Crackle and Pop have always had my heart). Well, now I can officially tell the boys that I genuinely like one of their products: Jumbo Multi-Grain Rice Krispies. When they ramped up the size of the infamous Rice Krispies, they also ramped up the density. Therefore, instead of a bunch of airy bits of nothing, you are presented with a bowl (or hand) full of more substantial, but still light and airy, cylindrical cereal pieces.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 cup (27 grams)
Calories: 90
Total Fat: 0%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 170 mg, 7%
Protein: 1 gram
Carbohydrates: 24 grams
Fiber: 3 grams, 11%
Sugar: 8 grams
Price: $2.50 (11.2 ounces)

Furthermore, this new (and, in my opinion) improved version is graced by a touch of honey, which makes all of the difference in the world. Actually, this cereal tastes 99% identical to Honey Kix, with Kix possessing a slightly different texture and shape.

Each 1 cup (27 gram) serving of Kellogg's Jumbo Multi-Grain Rice Krispies Cereal provides a mere 90 calories, no fat, 3 grams of fiber (11% of the daily value), 8 grams of sugar and 1 gram of protein . The ingredient list contains nothing out of the ordinary (rice, flour, sugar, cornmeal, honey, oil, salt and added vitamin) and manages to be on the shorter side.

]]> I paid $2.50 for an 11.2oz box of Jumbo Multi-Grain Rice Krispies and I could not be more satisfied with my new find. Not only is it yummy with a splash of milk, but it also makes a great snack straight from the bag, added to a trail mix or mixed with other cereals.

Gigi Reviews didn't like them though and neither did Chow's Super Taster, so tell us what you think. Have you tried this before? Do you like it? I know one thing, Snap, Crackle and Pop will definitely be visiting my house again very soon.

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Chex Cinnamon Cereal

2009-11-18T11:25:04Z

Chex cereal may seem boring, with varieties like Wheat, Rice and Corn - those words don't exactly conjure up lip smacking anticipation - however, I enjoy all of the aforementioned foods and knew that when I saw Cinnamon Chex, it was worth a shot.

I don't think there is a cinnamon flavored cereal reviewed that we haven't given postive ratings to, and Chex Cinnamon can certainly hold it's own. The first spoonful will immediately bring back memories of of cinnamon sugared toast - or conjure up those images if you've never had that particular treat (my mom used to make me as a child). The flavor is spot on with that delightful, almost buttery, cinnamon-sugar essence. There are also plain Chex dispersed among the powdery coated Chex, providing a neutral base for the delicious flavor to rest upon (kind of like the crust of cinnamon sugar toast).

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 3/4 cups
Calories: 120
Total Fat: 2 grams,32%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 190 mg, 8%
Protein: 2 grams
Carbohydrates: 25 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
Sugar: 8 grams
Price: $2.59 (13.5 ounces)

Now, that is the experience I had while eating it straight from the box. Once you add milk, kiss it all goodbye. Most of the powdery cinnamon sugar coating is sweeped off of the crunchy cereal and sinks to the bottom of the milk, making for a bowl of cereal that tastes oddly similar to plain old Chex cereal. Once all of the cereal is gone, you are left with some overly sweet milk. Long Story Short: Eat this stuff straight up (or perhaps mixed in yogurt).]]> Each 3/4 cup serving of Chex Cinnamon cereal provides 120 calories, NO FIBER, 8 grams of sugars and 2 grams of protein in addition to a whole host of vitamins and minerals. Having no fiber means that you will probably need more than one cup to keep you full. The lack of fiber in Kellogg's Crispix left us with a grumble in our tummy too.

Despite its utterly delicious taste sensation and reasonable $2.59 price tag, the lack of fiber and drowning of the cinnamon flavor in milk is an over-powering factor for making Chex Cinnamon Cereal something I will probably not buy again.

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Quaker Life Cereal (Original)

2009-11-17T18:23:37Z

Kids' cereals are notorious for being all sugar and little nutrition. However, Quaker Life Cereal is a classic kids' cereal that's yummy yet not laden with calories and sugar. Even though there are happy kids on the box, this cereal is tasty and nutritious enough for happy grown-ups too.

Life Cereal has a nice crunch with a mild sweetness and holds milk well. The box emphasizes that this cereal is made with whole grain Quaker oats, which promotes good heart health, and sure enough, the first ingredient is whole grain oat flour, not sugar. It is just simply delicious.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 120
Total Fat: 1.5 gram, 3%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 160 mg, 7%
Protein: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 25 grams
Fiber: 2 grams, 8%
Sugar: 7 grams
Price: $2.99 (15 ounces)

Each 3/4 cup serving of Quaker Life Cereal provides 120 calories and 1.5 grams of fat, none of which is saturated, 160 milligrams of sodium (7% if the daily value), 3 grams of protein and 25 grams of carbohydrates, which includes 2 grams of dietary fiber and 6 grams of sugars. In addition the cereal provides a variety of B vitamins and other minerals like calcium and iron. This cereal is also endorsed by the American Heart Association.]]> I paid $2.99 for a 15 ounce box and I really like this cereal for its simple goodness. The other flavors are not bad either. Check out the reviews of the Honey Graham (which looks like it has been discontinued) and Cinnamon. Another Quaker cereal which we adore is Quaker Golden Maple Oatmeal Squares ... abd the Brown Sugar variety. Okay - Quaker, we're going to stop gushin now.

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Quaker Life Cereal (Cinnamon)

2009-11-17T11:25:31Z

Life cereal takes me back to when I was a kid, when it was one of the only "sweet" cereals I was allowed to eat. Rediscovering Life years later has been wonderful because, as Quaker says, "You don't have to be a kid to love the sweet crunchy goodness of Life Cereal, and you don't have to be a grown-up to benefit from the whole grain Quaker Oats baked inside each square." I love Original Life cereal, so I decided to branch out and try the Cinnamon flavor which I picked up for $4.99.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 120
Total Fat: 1.5 gram, 3%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 150 mg, 6%
Protein: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 25 grams
Fiber: 2 grams, 8%
Sugar: 8 grams
Price: $4.99 (15.5 ounces)

I opened the cereal and poured myself a bowl to try dry. I love cinnamon, so I was eager to see Life's take on it. Turns out the cinnamon flavor worked well with the slightly sweet flavor of Life, and I love the crunchiness and flakiness of the cereal's squares. I added some 8th Continent Light Soymilk, and loved the flavor even more that way. Since I often add cinnamon to cereal (especially Kashi GoLean!) I was happy to find a cereal that did it for me!

Each 3/4 cup serving of Quaker Life Cinnamon Cereal provides 120 calories, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, 3 grams of protein, and a slew of the usual vitamins and minerals.

]]> The ingredients Quaker Life Cinnamon Cereal include whole grain oat flour, sugar, corn flour, whole wheat flour, rice flour, calcium carbonate, salt, and cinnamon - but then also has some strange colorings and a bunch of vitamins and minerals - disodium phosphate, caramel color, reduced iron, niacinamide, zinc oxide, dextrin, yellow 6, BHT (a preservative), yellow 5, red 40, natural flavors, thiamin mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, and blue 1.

The nutrition facts aren't great, but they're not bad for a sweeter, kids cereal. I'll look for this one on sale, and if you have kids, try giving them this instead of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which provides 130 calories, 10 grams of sugars and only 1 gram of fiber and protein.

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Honey Kix Cereal

2009-11-16T20:48:07Z

I have never been a big fan of Kix cereal. I have no problem believing in the "Mother-Approved" part of their slogan, but the whole "Kid-tested" part is a bit harder to wrap my mind around. All the kids I know like one thing today, and hate it next week - a pretty fickle bunch they are. My taste buds are not too far from a child's when it comes to cereal (I love it!), but, in my opinion, the General Mills produced Kix ceral has always been bland. I do however, like the large serving size of 1.25 cups; so when I discovered Honey Kix, I knew they were a "must-try" item.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1.25 cups
Calories: 120
Total Fat: 1 gram, 2%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 230 mg, 10%
Protein: 2 grams
Carbohydrates: 28 grams
Fiber: 3 grams, 12%
Sugar: 6 grams
Price: $3.00 (12 oz box)

Unlike the regular Kix cereal, the Honey Kix is sweeter and tastes MUCH better. The tiny, crispy, crunchy balls are lightly sweetened - enough to keep your mouth interested. Furthermore, the essence of honey shines through in a subtle way to enhance each bite. I have to say, this cereal is totally yum, and since each 1.25 cup serving provides only 120 calories and 6 grams of sugar, which makes for the perfect go-to snack for you "munchers" trying to watch your weight.]]> The ingredient list is pretty stellar and contains no artificial preservatives or flavors. As you may have guessed, the main component of this simple, yet delicious cereal is whole grain corn.

I paid around $3.00 for a 12oz box of Honey Kix, which contains 10 servings. After one bite, I took back all of the bad things I have ever said about Kix and their lifeless cereal. I then promptly added Honey Kix to my mental grocery list because when this box is gone, I will surely be getting another .

(Photo Credit: Eating Bender)

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Kashi Warm Cinnamon Oat Heart to Heart Cereal

2009-11-16T11:28:20Z

(Photo Credit: Beneath It All)

Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Oat Cereal is one of my favorite cereals, so when I spotted Kashi Warm Cinnamon Oat Heart to Heart Cereal on the shelves of Target today, I was torn between getting this previously un-tried variety, or sticking with my old favorite. My adventurous side won out, and I picked up the slightly over-priced $3.39 box out of sheer curiosity.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Calories: 110
Total Fat: 1.5 grams, 2%
Saturated Fat: 0 grams, 0%
Sodium: 80 mg, 3%
Protein: 4 grams
Carbohydrates: 24 grams
Fiber: 5 grams, 18%
Sugar: 5 grams
Price: $3.79 (FreshDirect.com)

The light dusting of cinnamon and subtle glaze of sweetness gives this Heart to Heart Cereal a snickerdoodle cookie type taste sensation. The sturdy Hearts and O's are tried and true, because no matter which flavors embody their crunchy base, they always stand up to milk very well. As a matter of fact, splash the milk of your choice (try skim milk or Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze) into the tempting bowl of Kashi Warm Cinnamon Oat Heart to Heart and enjoy how the cereal softens slightly, enhances the milk and melds into flavorful and delicious spoonfuls. To tell you the truth, I enjoy the delightful cookie-like flavor that the Warm Cinnamon Oat Heart to Heart provides more than the Honey Toasted Oat variety.]]> The nutrition facts are almost the same as that of Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Oat Cereal. Each 3/4 cup serving provides 110 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of sugars. The stellar ingredient list starts off with whole oat flour and can be viewed on Kashi's website.

Kashi Warm Cinnamon Oat Heart to Heart Cereal is one cereal that you need to pick up and try. It is worth every penny.

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Chocolite Crispy Caramel Bites

2009-11-13T18:29:45Z

Looking for an alternative to Hershey's Krackel? How about with a little caramel thrown in there for good measure? Look no further than Chocolite Crispy Caramel Bites, which combine the crunchy rice taste of Krackel with a rich, delicious caramel center. However, each Chocolite treat is sugar free, has just 30 calories and a whole 6 grams of fiber.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 piece
Calories: 30
Total Fat: 2 grams, 3%
Saturated Fat: 1 gram, 5%
Sodium: 40 mg, 2%
Protein: 1 gram
Carbohydrates: 8 grams
Fiber: 6 gram, 24%
Price: $1.59/ pkg (2 pieces)

I was a little skeptical of the crispy-caramel combination - aren't they sort of opposites? But when I dug in to my Chocolite piece, I was really impressed. Like the rest of the Chocolite family, these are super chewy and take a few bites to eat - a good thing, in my opinion as they last longer that way. The chocolate tastes natural, the caramel is rich and chewy, and the crispy bits add a nice crunch. I like these almost as much as the Chocolite Peanut Chews, and that's only because I love peanuts.]]> Each Chocolite Crispy Caramel Bites chew provides 30 calories, 6 grams of fiber and no sugars as previously mentioned. There is 1 gram of sugar lachols (erythritol and maltitol syrup). A 2-piece pack runs about $1.59 (or you can buy them online)

These are a fantastic alternative to chocolate candy. I love these little crispy guys, so if you're looking for something different from your regular chocolate snack, give these a try!

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Chocolite Peanut Chews

2009-11-13T11:23:48Z

I've heard so much about Chocolite chocolates that I was incredibly excited when I saw them for sale at a little health foods store near me; after all, I wanted to be sure I liked them before ordering a bunch online! I decided to pick up the Chocolite Peanut Chews. If I could find a substitute for all those not-so-good-for-you chocolate goodies that sneak their way into my diet, I would be ecstatic. Plus I'm a big peanut fan, and chocolate goodies are amazing.

These are terrific. The peanut and chocolate flavors are great, and they're super chewy (beware if you have tooth problems). With all that fiber, they were a perfect - and satisfying - snack. Each pkg has 2 chews, but the nutrition facts is for only 1 chew - why do companies keep doing these asinine things. 2 pieces provides 60 calories, 2 grams of saturated fat or 10% of the daily value, 12 grams of fiber (48% of the DV) and no sugars, but 2 grams of sugar alcohols.]]> At $1.49 a pop, Chocolite Peanut Chews are more expensive than candy bars, but they're still not badly priced and totally worth it. Diabetics will rejoice at having found this delicious sugar-free candy bar replacement. And the rest of us should also be stocking up on these little wonders - sugar free, high fiber, low carb, not a killer load of saturated fat, and portion controlled packages = 2 thumbs up.

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Luna Chocolate Mint Cookie

2009-11-12T18:25:47Z

(photo Credit: Branappetit)

I spotted Luna Cookies at the grocery store and decided to try one. There were three flavor possibilities - Berry Pomegranate, Chocolate Mint, and Peanut Butter Chocolate - but only the first two were available at the particular store where I was shopping, so I settled on the Chocolate Mint flavor, eager to see if this cookie lived up to the Luna reputation.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 bar (44 grams)
Calories: 150
Total Fat: 4.5 grams, 7%
Saturated Fat: 2 grams, 10%
Sodium: 125 mg, 5%
Protein: 10 grams
Carbohydrates: 22 grams
Fiber: 7 grams, 28%
Sugar: 10 grams
Price: $1.89 ea.

I opened the package and examined the cookie. It was thick and chocolatey, with a drizzle of white icing on the front (I'm not sure why they chose to put a picture of a chocolate bar on the front). I bit into it expecting nothing but chocolate mint goodness, and was somewhat surprised to find that the first flavor that hit me was a sort of prune-y one. However, as I chewed more, the chocolate and mint hit, and it became much more satisfying. One thing that struck me about this was how chewy it was; I have to say, it was almost too chewy - it took a lot of work to get it down! Still, it was satisfying and dessert-like.]]> Each 44 gram Luna Chocolate Mint Cookie provides 130 calories, 2.5 grams of total fat (4% of the daily value), 3 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber (16% of the DV) and 11 grams of sugar. There is also 15-25% of a variety of vitamins and minerals. The ingredients start with organic Brown Rice Syrup and organic Evaporated Cane Juice Syrup - I must admit it's rare that I see sugars listed first as ingredients. Luna bars are made with 70% organic ingredients.

A package with 1 cookie cost $1.39 each. Maybe the fig paste was what I tasted initially and it turned me off a little at first, but I did grow to like this cookie. Still, I think for now I'll stick with either regular Luna bars (like the Luna White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bar) or real cookies.

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Dove Beautiful Milk Chocolate

2009-11-12T11:25:22Z

I like to eat chocolate for its taste, not for any added nutritional value, so when I saw the skin-nourishing vitamin and cocoa flavanol claims on Dove Beautiful Milk Chocolate in the store, I very dubious. The curved box-like packaging was more reminiscent of a beauty product, which is what Dove is known for - that made me question this even more, but I was totally intrigued. There is a lot of text on the front of the box describing all its virtues, but the tiniest print tells the consumer to look at the nutrition facts for info on fat content - that is a clue as to what's in store.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 5 pieces (40 grams)
Calories: 220
Total Fat: 13 grams, 20%
Saturated Fat: 8 grams, 40%
Sodium: 25 mg, 1%
Protein: 2 grams
Carbohydrates: 23 grams
Fiber: 1 grams, 4%
Sugar: 22 grams
Price: $3.99 (5.3oz box)

I love the sweet and creamy taste of the chocolate. It was delicious and didn't taste as though it was nutritionally enhanced. It's small enough to be bite-sized but large enough to be savored.

A serving of 5 pieces of chocolate provides 220 calories and a whopping 40% of the daily value for saturated fat, along with 22 grams of sugars. The chocolate provides 10% of the daily value for vitamin C, calcium, vitamin E, niacin, biotin, and zinc - do you think that makes up for all that saturated fat? I think not!

]]> A 5.36 ounce box with about 4 servings typically costs $3.99 at Kroger, which is more expensive than regular chocolates. Really, the added nutrition promises is nothing more than a marketing gimmick, and hopefully not a successful one. I would rather have real chocolate that makes no promises other than a fantastic taste and maybe antioxidants (like Xocai X Power Squares); or even sugar free chocolate because diabetics need love too.

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Snickers Marathon Nutrition Bar (Honey & Toasted Almond)

2009-11-11T21:23:16Z

I was in the grocery store with my friend Rachel the other day, and I was on the hunt for a nutrition bar. As I scanned over the Balance and Kashi Bars that I tend to gravitate towards, my eyes lit on a Snickers Marathon Nutrition Bar in Honey & Toasted Almond. Snickers - a nutrition bar? Get outta here! Needless to say, I had to sample this. Plus, Rachel gave me her seal of approval, so it was a no-brainer: I picked one up for $1.89.

Later that day, I opened the Marathon Bar to sample it. The bar was similar to other Snicker bars I've had in appearance, consisting of a grain-rich matrix dipped in (milk) chocolate. It smelled sweet, and I took a bite. The honey was overpowering, and the combination of that with the almond flavor was too much. Still, I ate the whole thing, to see if giving it a little more time would make it better (it didn't).

The one thing the Snickers Marathon Honey & Toasted Almond Nutrition Bar does have going for it is nutrition. Each 44.2 gram bar provides that's for sure, weighing in at 150 calories, 10 grams of protein and sugar, and 28% of the daily value for fiber.

]]> Each Snickers Marathon Bar is definitely better for you than a regular Snickers bar, that's for sure. It's packing high protein, lots of fiber for a respectable amount of calories and not too much sugars. Unfortunately, I wasn't too fond of the taste of this flavor, and the price was a little high for me not to love it. I will however, be on the lookout for the Dark Chocolate Crunch flavor, which I'm hoping tastes better.

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