PFR 111: Quaker True Delights Instant Oatmeal Hazelnut Latte Flavor

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
Jul 072010
 

PFR for Quaker True Delights Instant Oatmeal Hazelnut Latte Flavor

Rating

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Cons

  1. Artificially-high fiber
  2. Overly-sweet
  3. High-calorie

Pros

  1. Tastes great!
  2. Filling without making you logy
  3. Fairly low in sodium

Details

  • Serving size: one packet (40 g)
    (Likely true serving size: three packets [120 g])
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 150
  • Fat (saturated): 2.5 g (0.5 g)
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 28 g (4 g)
  • Sugars: 9 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Whole ingredients? No, but the main ones are
  • Hidden sugars? No
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

Yes! This is right tasty and a great break from boring old oatmeals.

Final Words

Aside from the facts that this oatmeal is higher in calories and added fibre than is really needed, it’s quite good. The flavor is pleasant and there are actual bits of hazelnut included in each packet. It’s also really nice to see a manufacturer listing ingredients in mixed case instead of all caps, so you can actually read what’s in each packet. I still think one packet is a ridiculously small serving size, but on the whole this product deserves all eight stars!

PFR 110: Glenny’s Classic Fruit & Nut Energy Bar

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
May 252010
 

PFR for Glenny’s Classic Fruit & Nut Energy Bar

Rating

★★★★★★★★★☆

Cons

  1. High calorie
  2. High fat

Pros

  1. Great taste
  2. Satisfying

Details

  • Serving size: one bar (40 g)
    (Likely true serving size: one bar)
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 180
  • Fat (saturated): 9 g (1.5 g)
  • Sodium: 5 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 22 g (2 g)
  • Sugars: 15 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Whole ingredients? Largely
  • Hidden sugars? No
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

Yes, occasionally.

Final Words

Most “energy bars” taste like sweetened cardboard to me, so I avoid them. I picked this bar up at Trader Joe’s, though, and thought I would give it a try since it looked like there were mostly identifiable ingredients. I wasn’t disappointed. It’s tasty and even somewhat filling despite its small size. The bar is high-calorie, though, so don’t make it a staple of your diet or you may find yourself with quite the expanding waistline!

PFR 109: Fiber One Frosted Mini Wheats Cereal

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
May 232010
 

PFR for Fiber One Frosted Mini Wheats Cereal

Rating

★★★★★★★★★☆

Cons

  1. High carb count
  2. Mini-wheats are kind of rough-edged

Pros

  1. Great taste
  2. High fiber
  3. No sodium!
  4. Whole grain!

Details

  • Serving size: 60 g (one cup)
    (Likely true serving size: 120 g [two cups])
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 200
  • Fat (saturated): 1 g (0 g)
  • Sodium: 0 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 50 g (9 g)
  • Sugars: 12 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Whole ingredients? Pretty much!
  • Hidden sugars? No
  • HFCS? No!

Worth It?

Absolutely.

Final Words

I almost could not believe my eyes when I looked at the package—no sodium at all in a processed food?! Yet, there it is, and I have to say that I don’t think the missing sodium negatively impacts the flavor, texture, or really any aspect of the cereal. I hope other manufacturers will take heed and follow suit whenever possible. In fact, it’s difficult to find a negative for this cereal. If you are a cereal eater in the morning, this one should definitely be on your “short list” to buy and try regularly.

PFR 108: Wegmans Instant Oatmeal, Lower Sugar, Maple & Brown Sugar

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
Apr 302010
 

PFR for Wegmans Instant Oatmeal, Lower Sugar, Maple & Brown Sugar

Rating

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Cons

  1. Excessive sodium
  2. Artificially sweetened (though it’s Splenda, at least)
  3. High carb-count

Pros

  1. Great flavor
  2. Lower calories
  3. Filling
  4. Convenient

Details

  • Serving size: 34 g (one packet)
    (Likely true serving size: 2–3 packets)
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 120
  • Fat (saturated): 2 g (0.5 g)
  • Sodium: 300 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 24 g (3 g)
  • Sugars: 4 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Whole ingredients? Mainly
  • Hidden sugars? No
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

Generally, yes—just be wary of that sodium count!

Final Words

If there’s one nail in the coffin of this product, it’s the sodium count—300 mg in one packet is truly overkill, and Wegmans really needs to lower the value (take a look at Quaker’s lower sugar oatmeals!). The use of sucralose (Splenda) for sweetening lowers the calorie count by a respectable ⅓, but they could simply have used less real sugar and the oatmeal would still taste good, at least in my opinion.

PFR 107: Olde Cape Cod Toasted Sesame Soy & Ginger Dressing

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
Apr 292010
 

PFR for Olde Cape Cod Toasted Sesame Soy & Ginger Dressing

Rating

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Cons

  1. Small bottle, a bit spendy
  2. Sodium could be lower
  3. Might be high-carb for those who care

Pros

  1. Yummy!
  2. Fat-free
  3. Versatile

Details

  • Serving size: 25 g (2 T)
    (Likely true serving size: 25 g)
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 40
  • Fat (saturated): 0 g (0 g)
  • Sodium: 230 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 9 g (0 g)
  • Sugars: 6 g
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Whole ingredients? Yes, I think so
  • Hidden sugars? No
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

Yes!

Final Words

It’s good on many things, meat, fish, veggies as well as salad.  It tastes light but flavorful, good balance.  It won’t overpower your food.  The little sesame seeds are fun to chew if you get one between your teeth.
Ingredients:
Vinegar (Red Wine, Cider & Distilled), Corn Syrup, Water, Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt, Caramel), Honey, Sesame Seeds, Spices, Horseradish, Mustard, Salt, Garlic Corn Syrup Solids, Xanthan Gum, Miso Powder (Fermented Soybeans and Salt), Dextrose, Wasabi, Natural Flavors and Ascorbic Acid.

It’s good on many things, meat, fish, veggies as well as salad.  It tastes light but flavorful, good balance.  It won’t overpower your food.  The little sesame seeds are fun to chew if you get one between your teeth. Ingredients:Vinegar (Red Wine, Cider & Distilled), Corn Syrup, Water, Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt, Caramel), Honey, Sesame Seeds, Spices, Horseradish, Mustard, Salt, Garlic Corn Syrup Solids, Xanthan Gum, Miso Powder (Fermented Soybeans and Salt), Dextrose, Wasabi, Natural Flavors and Ascorbic Acid.

Special thanks go to Cindy from Plurk for submitting this review!

If you have a packaged food review you’d like to submit, please contact me!

PFR 106: Oscar Mayer Bun-Length Turkey Franks

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
Apr 282010
 

PFR for Oscar Mayer Bun-Length Turkey Franks

Rating

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Cons

  1. Still contains nitrites
  2. Still high in saturated fats
  3. Astronomical sodium

Pros

  1. Quite a bit lower in fat than regular hot dogs
  2. Just turkey, no mystery meats
  3. Pretty tasty for turkey dogs, really

Details

  • Serving size: one link (57 g)
    (Likely true serving size: 2–3 links, depending on your hunger level)
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 120
  • Fat (saturated): 10 g (3 g)
  • Sodium: 640 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 3 g (0 g)
  • Sugars: 1 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Whole ingredients? Well, rather a lot of sodium compounds, actually
  • Hidden sugars? Dextrose
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

As hot dogs go, yes. These aren’t health foods, though!

Final Words

Repeat after me: “hot dogs are NOT HEALTHY FOR YOU.” Yes, even turkey dogs are little blood pressure bombs waiting to go off in your poor, unsuspecting belly. However, as far as sausage goes, you could do worse, and as long as you don’t make a habit of eating these often (and especially not with, say, potato chips and dip!), they’re not exactly cause to keep 9-1-1 on speed dial. If you have little ones that demand hot dogs, I’d do some investigating to see if there are local sources of homemade franks you can call on; they’ll probably use higher-quality meat and fewer forms of sodium and preservatives.

PFR 105: Jell-O Sugar Free Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Pudding

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
Apr 272010
 

PFR for Jell-O Sugar Free Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Pudding

Rating

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Cons

  1. Fake sugars
  2. Not very convincing flavor
  3. Seems a bit high in sodium to me

Pros

  1. Low-calorie
  2. Convenient

Details

  • Serving size: one pudding cup (106 g)
    (Likely true serving size: one pudding cup)
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 60
  • Fat (saturated): 1.5 g (1 g)
  • Sodium: 180 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 13 g (< 1 g)
  • Sugars: 0 g (sugar alcohol: 7 g)
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Whole ingredients? Not really
  • Hidden sugars? Sort of
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

On the whole? No.

Final Words

Americans’ unending quest to undo obesity by overeating low-fat, fake-sugar foods isn’t working, and this product may well be one of the reasons why. Chocolate that doesn’t really taste like chocolate (though it’s closer than some), vanilla that tastes nothing like vanilla, and swapping sugar for sugar alcohols don’t exactly enamor me to the pudding. (I give it five stars only because it could easily be worse.) Frankly, if you really want pudding, just get the real thing and watch your total saturated fat intake for the day. Have a little less of the good stuff and a lot more exercise and you’ll be much happier in the end!

PFR 104: Dannon Light and Fit Vanilla Fat-free Yogurt

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
Apr 262010
 

PFR for Dannon Light and Fit Vanilla Fat-free Yogurt

Rating

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Cons

  1. I know from vanilla, and this isn’t it
  2. Multiple artificial sugars

Pros

  1. Fat-free
  2. Low-calorie
  3. Good flavor (whatever you want to call it)

Details

  • Serving size: one container (170 g)
    (Likely true serving size: one container)
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 80
  • Fat (saturated): 0 g (0 g)
  • Sodium: 75 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 15 g (0 g)
  • Sugars: 11 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Whole ingredients? Some
  • Hidden sugars? Not exactly (everyone should know fructose is a sugar by now)
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

Generally, as long as you don’t mind aspartame and sucralose.

Final Words

The label says “vanilla,” but the palate says “nuh-uh.” Despite that particular failing, the yogurt has a nice, creamy texture and good flavor (just don’t expect me to agree that it’s vanilla). I’m not pleased by the inclusion of two artificial sweeteners, however, and I think that you could do better in the long run by getting real yogurt and just moderating how much you have.

PFR 103: Wegmans Italian Classics Organic Whole Wheat Farfalle Pasta

 Editorial, Food, PFR  No Responses »
Apr 242010
 

PFR for Wegmans Italian Classics Organic Whole Wheat Farfalle Pasta

Rating

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Cons

  1. Chewier texture than standard pasta
  2. High carb load
  3. Whole wheat taste requires adjustment

Pros

  1. Whole grain
  2. Organic
  3. High fiber

Details

  • Serving size: 56 g (one cup)
    (Likely true serving size: depends on the presentation)
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 200
  • Fat (saturated): 1.5 g (0 g)
  • Sodium: 0 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 40 g (5 g)
  • Sugars: 1 g
  • Protein: 7 g
  • Whole ingredients? Yes
  • Hidden sugars? No
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

Yes!

Final Words

Pasta. If you’re one of the millions of Americans trained to be carbphobic, the word ‘pasta’ probably sends running for the latest Atkins diet plan. But fear not! While excessive carbs resulting from over-processed grains are not the best thing in the world for you, this whole wheat pasta is a great alternative. Whole wheat semolina is definitely different from regular—not just because it’s brown, too. The pasta takes longer to cook and feels thicker, chewier, almost gummy. It is also a major sauce sponge. Speaking as someone who normally likes a little pasta with his sauce, you’re gonna have to plan for at least 25% more sauce over the sit-time of this pasta (if you use this pasta for something like a light salad, well, you’re on your own :D ). Nevertheless, it’s a great and healthy way to get whole grains in your diet and worthy of keeping in your cupboard at all times!

PFR 102: Mott’s Healthy Harvest No Sugar Added Granny Smith Applesauce

 Editorial, Food, PFR  1 Response »
Apr 232010
 

PFR for Mott’s Healthy Harvest No Sugar Added Granny Smith Applesauce

Rating

★★★★★★★★★☆

Cons

  1. Pricey

Pros

  1. Low-calorie
  2. Real ingredients
  3. Very tasty
  4. No added sugar—none!

Details

  • Serving size: one package (111 g)
    (Likely true serving size: one package)
    Note: values below are based on manufacturer’s stated serving size.
  • kCal: 50
  • Fat (saturated): 0 g (0 g)
  • Sodium: 0 mg
  • Carbs (fiber): 13 g (1 g)
  • Sugars: 11 g
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Whole ingredients? Yes
  • Hidden sugars? No
  • HFCS? No

Worth It?

Absent a real apple, absolutely.

Final Words

One of the things that mystifies me about the American diet is how we take foods that are naturally sweet and add sugar or other sweeteners to them. As if sweet was somehow just not good enough and we had to have supersweet. It’s particularly annoying when we do it to fruit, but in this case Mott’s has done us all a huge favor and let the apples in their applesauce speak for themselves, which they do admirably. Granny Smith apples are my favorites—they’re slightly sweet and really tangy, just like I prefer—and their flavor shines through in this product. My only quibble might be that the serving size is a bit on the small side, but if you eat the applesauce as part of a meal, you shouldn’t really notice it.

So go get some apples, and save some applesauce for dessert :)

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