Categories: 4 1/2 stars

8 May 2012, Comments (8)

Earth Balance Crunchy Coconut & Peanut Spread

Author: Healthnuttxo

Something new!!!!

Browsing for a new peanut butter to buy at Whole Foods ( at 2 jars a week, I’m getting a little bored of my usuals you could say…) I saw this gem on the bottom shelf. WHY it was hiding all the way down there is beyond me, but a good eye can spot it. Earth Balance Crunchy Coconut & Peanut Spread. At first I wasn’t going to buy it, afraid the coconut would be, well, weird with peanut butter. But then I thought why not, and it was an average price for peanut butter (don’t remember the exact $$, but a little more than a usual plain jar I believe).

I opened up the jar and did a tiny stir. Mmm.

It’s really quite good! A thick peanut butter with tons of crunchy chopped peanuts. It’s sweet yet salty, and you can definitely taste the coconut. The coconut wasn’t too overpowering, but definitely provided a good amount of flavor.

I would say the peanut butter part reminded me of what Skippy or Jif peanut butter tasted like, as it was sweeter and saltier than I am used to. However, only 2 grams of sugar and 95 mg of sodium per serving, so really not that bad at all!

I also really liked how crunchy the chopped peanuts were. They tasted very fresh, and added a really good texture to the peanut butter. While there is a lot going on, crunchy peanuts and coconut flavor, all in all, it’s a good combination. It did say “no stir” on the top, and I did have a tiny bit of oil separation but not too bad at all. This spread is also gluten free and vegan. Yay!

Overall, 4 1/2 stars. A must try!

22 Apr 2012, Comments (2)

The Ginger People Peanut Ginger Chews

Author: Healthnuttxo

Ginger. I think it’s a love it or leave it kind of thing. As in, too much ginger would totally turn me off – leave it. But just the right amount, like in a gingerbread cookie or a subtle flavor in an entree? love it.

I’ve tried some products by The Ginger People before, mostly the original Ginger Chews. Every now and then I get a craving for them, so when I saw this new peanut flavor (or at least “new” for me) I knew I had to try it. I mean really, when have I ever been one to turn down a peanut flavored thing?

The chews are small, about the size of the tip of a finger, and covered in a white powder that I assume is a sugary coating. They’re dense and chewy and just really good. These are different than the chews I have had in the past. They have a very mild ginger flavor, just enough to leave a nice flavor and a little bit of heat. They have a yummy peanut flavor, with subtle sweetness as well. There were also teeny bits of peanuts that I thought added a nice touch.

What I also noticed about these is they didn’t last as long. Normally, for the other flavors I have tried, the chews last a little while as you chew or let it dissolve in my mouth. These Peanut chews went a lot quicker, and could be eaten quickly like a Starburst candy.

However, I still really enjoyed them. In fact, I bought a second bag already. Yay! Overall, 4.5 stars. Try these! They really remind me Snickers candy bar…imagine if they were chocolate coated?? *wink wink*

What about you guys? love it or leave it when it comes to Ginger?

10 Apr 2012, Comments (4)

Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Coconut Blend

Author: Healthnuttxo

Almond Milk is a STAPLE in my fridge. The people I live with at home don’t understand it. They snub my almond milk (without even trying it) and continue to drink their skim or chocolate milk, without giving almond milk a chance. Which, hey, is fine with me because almond milk is more pricy than their cow’s milk, and they drink milk like it’s going out of style. So, more for me!

So, browsing the store for an Almond Milk on sale (although, let’s be real here, I only really get Silk or Almond Breeze unless there’s a crazy sale for a store brand or something), I spotted this gem. Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Coconut Blend. Uh… can we say yummy? Love almond milk, even though it can be a little plain sometimes, and love coconut milk, even though it can be a little overpowering sometimes. Now I can have both??? Sweet. 8-)

So I poured some onto my cereal (Cinnamon Pecan Special K….I love you) and added a no-calorie sweetener packet. Took a scoop, and was pleasantly surprised.

No.

VERY pleasantly surprised.

It was really good! The flavor of the almond and the coconut worked so well together! I tasted the almond at first, and then had the yummy coconut after taste. The blend was silky and smooth, and had the consistency of skim milk, but even creamier.  I did try a bit unsweetened with no additional sweetener packet, and the flavor was pretty much the same. The flavor is powerful and yummy enough to eat without the packet, but by default I added it as I normally buy unsweetened almond milk.

OVERALL, a definite buy! I will buy it again. Plus look at these awesome benefits.

So, overall, 4.5 stars. And at 45 calories a cup? And it’s light enough on my stomach I don’t get sick at the gym? NICE!

18 Mar 2012, Comments (1)

Popcorn, Indiana Black & White Kettle Corn

Author: Healthnuttxo

POPCORN! What an awesome snack. You can get it sweet, salty, spicy, and chocolate-y too! We all know about my love for the last flavor I tried by Popcorn, Indiana (yea, that bag was gone in a day…) so I KNEW this one would be equally as good.

I opened up the bag that I got for free from the company, and saw pieces of kettlecorn, some drizzled generously in a black and white coating, and also “clumps” of popcorn. Meaning, there were “clumps” of 4-5 pieces of popcorn all being held together by a delicious black and white drizzle. Was I complaining? Nope. Not even a little :)

I tried one of the clumps. Mmm….delicious. The popcorn was light and fluffy, but still crunchy. The white and black coating was smooth and very sweet, and provided both a chocolate and vanilla type of flavor. The crunchy and slightly saltiness of the popcorn made the popcorn taste almost like chocolate covered pretzels…but better.

The popcorn was definitely on the sweet side, so I think it would go great with a glass of milk (soy, almond, moo juice, whatever fits your preferences ;-) ). But it was really good! I love black and white cookies, so black and white popcorn is certainly a new favorite.

YES, this was addictive. YES, I had more than a serving (hahaha way more than a serving…) and YES, the bag is currently gone (boo!). Therefore, this popcorn gets 4.5 stars. Glad I got a chance to try it! I believe I have seen it at Whole Foods during the holiday season. Keep an eye out, and if you have seen it please leave a comment so we can find it at the stores and enjoy! :)

And…..I may or may not have been so excited to try this that I ripped the bag. OOOOOOPS! =)

14 Feb 2012, Comments (4)

Popcorn, Indiana Dark Fudge Chocolate Chip Kettlecorn

Author: Healthnuttxo

Ohhhhhhhhh man. Who knew they even MADE popcorn like this right? Dark Fudge Chocolate Chip KETTLEcorn? That’s like chocolate on top of amazing-ness….Am I right?

I got this bag for free from the company, but I highly recommend you go out and buy yourself one. Seriously.  There are no words for this popcorn besides that it’s one of the best things I have ever eaten (have I ever lied to you before???)

You want sweet? check. You want salty? check. You want CHOCOLATE? check! You get all three! (Ok…now onto the review, since I’m starting to sound like a TV Advertisement (“but that’s not all!!…” ;] )

The sweet and sugary tasting kettlecorn was crunchy and also had a bit of saltiness going on. Almost every piece of popcorn had some chocolate on top of it. The chocolate coating was rich, smooth and sweet, and just the perfect addition to the kettlecorn. It did have a dark chocolate flavor, but was also sweet enough that a milk-chocolate lover like myself could enjoy it.

This popcorn was like a twist on chocolate covered pretzels. So many delicious flavors, all in one! And seriously addictive. I would be lying if I told you I only had one serving (jokes!). Good thing the serving size was rather decent, I weighed a nice portion of it, and it was only a little bit over 28 grams (the serving size).

On the down side (womp womp), this snack is kind of high in sugar ( 12 grams per serving) and saturated fat ( 4.5 grams per serving). BUT, it’s so good! Eat in moderation (and…don’t eat the whole bag in one sitting!!) and you are good to go. This is a must try! 4.5 stars

If you could drizzle anything on popcorn, what would it be? Uhh peanut butter and jelly popcorn anyone?? (hints to you, Popcorn, Indiana!)

3 Feb 2012, Comments (2)

Newman’s Own Lite Honey Mustard Dressing

Author: Healthnuttxo

I never was much of a salad person until recently. I always would rather eat something more substantial for a meal, like a protein with a veggie and a carb, rather than a salad. However, if paired correctly, a salad actually can be meal-worthy and quite satisfying. Plus…you get to eat croutons and really, who doesn’t like buttery salty and delicious croutons!?!? =)

So, I bought my salad, piled it high of greens and flavored chicken (um…and the croutons) and skipped buying dressing as well since I had this gem, the Newman’s Own Lite Honey Mustard Dressing waiting for me at home.  Here’s a close-up

Now- Honey mustard is usually either awesome, or not good at all. Some are way too spicy, some too tangy, and some have a weird aftertaste. Yet, there’s always a brand every now and then that’s actually quite good. So, I gave this one a try.

Let me tell you, one bite of lettuce coated in this dressing and I was hooked. Can you say- yummy!?!?

It was tangy, yet sweet. I actually checked how much sugar was in a serving, and it had 5 grams per 2 tbsp. which is a bit high in my opinion, but also explains the sweetness. I could really taste the honey, which paired with the tiny bit of salty flavor. This dressing was just so good! It had a little bit of tang from the mustard, but really not too tangy or spicy. In fact, it had the perfect level of spice to it. Although- I did get a forkful that had a LOT of dressing and I got a mild sensation in my nose which I’m assuming is from the mustard. (hey senses- time to wake up!!)

The consistency was impressive too. I find with light dressings sometimes they are very watery in texture. This one had a medium consistency, where it was thick yet still pourable and didn’t slide off all my lettuce and end up on the bottom of the place (pet peeve….).

Overall, definitely one of the best honey mustards I have ever had. So delicious. One thing to note is that it’s hard to NOT eat 2 servings. I used the dressing kind of sparingly and still ended up using about 56 grams, which is almost 2 full servings. Gotta watch out for that sodium and sugar- it creeps up! This gets 4.5 stars from me

What’s your favorite dressing?


9 Jan 2012, Comments (8)

Peanut Butter & Co Mighty Maple Peanut Butter

Author: Healthnuttxo

Another nut butter to add to my addiction and to subtract money out of my wallet (*sigh*…that wallet never had a chance against any nut butters). Insert, Peanut Butter & Co Mighty Maple Peanut Butter. One of the tastiest I have tried from Peanut Butter & Co., this one is also gluten free and vegan

SIDENOTE: How cute is that monkey?! With a barbell!

This was a thick peanut butter- not much stirring required, hardly any actually. Look here, didn’t even move as I turned my fork to the side. (WHHHHAAAAAT you don’t eat nut butter out of the jar with a fork, too?)

The peanut butter has a mild sweetness, but I can definitely taste both the maple and the peanut butter. It has a roasted peanut taste, and then a hint of maple flavor. Not too salty or too sweet, but just right. I ate this directly from the jar, like most of my nut butters, and I can’t get enough of it. This isn’t my first jar, and it will not be my last.

One thing different from other peanut butters is I can “taste” and detect the granules- like a very mild grittiness to the peanut butter. Not like sand, or like anything that would ruin the peanut butter, but it is not 100% smooth.

Overall, delicious and addictive. A made a significant dent in my jar the first night. I’m too ashamed to show you the picture and I also don’t want to think about possibly eating 3-4 servings in one sitting, so I’m going to pretend it never happened. (*What peanut butter??*) I get remarks all the time about how fast I can finish a jar of peanut butter, and quite frankly, it doesn’t bother me a bit. Heart healthy fats, protein, and hey, I can think of worse things to inhale on a 2-3 day basis (sad, yet true. Shelf life of a jar of peanut butter in my house is 3 days tops).

One thing, is these are a bit pricy, I’ve seen them as much as 6+ dollars for a jar. So, from me, this one gets 4.5 stars =)

What’s your favorite flavor/variety from Peanut Butter & Co. if you have tried it? Mine is this one here.

26 Dec 2011, Comments (2)

Popcorn, Indiana Drizzled Cinnamon Sugar Kettlecorn

Author: Healthnuttxo

So, as IF we need any more sweet treats to eat during the holidays, I’m reviewing another sugary snack. But really,  HOW do you say no to a product like this?? Did I already eat cookies upon cookies upon cakes this holiday? YES. Did I already have cabinets stocked full of munchies? YES. Did I need another snack? NO!!. Should I have saved my money since it’s the holiday season and I need to spend it elsewhere? YES!

But did I buy it anyway? You bet. ; )

Popcorn, Indiana Drizzled Cinnamon Sugar Kettlecorn sounds absolutely amazing. And that’s because it is. Starting with the serving size. 1 cup. But is it really 1 cup? As you recall, from this review, the actual amount of popcorn I got was depressing.

This one? I GOT A WHOLE CUP! And I weighed it too. 28 grams.

I tried a few pieces. Mmm. Crunchy popcorn, with a white chocolate tasting drizzle on top and on most of the pieces. There was certainly a predominant cinnamon flavor, and the popcorn was mildly  sweet by itself, but very sweet for the pieces with the drizzle.

Eating it, it reminded me of a cinnamon bun. With the cinnamon flavor and the drizzle coming together like icing on a cinnabun. In other words, I could seriously eat this all day long. DANGEROUS! Especially during this season with all those buttery and sugary treats coming my way! Ahh!

Overall, this crunchy, sweet, cinnamony goodness gets 4.5 stars. Such a delicious treat, but it is rather high in sugar so I can’t eat too much since I am a Diabetic : ) (Although there was so not 6  servings in this! I think I only ate it like 3 times and I measured for the most part! Boo!)

What’s your favorite combination? Cinnamon and sugar definitely is one of mine!

*sigh* should have taken another picture. Threw out the bag. MY BAD!

17 Dec 2011, Comments (6)

Crumbs Raspberry Hamentashen

Author: Healthnuttxo

Hamentashen.

Yes, I had no idea what it was when I bought it. So if you know, props to you. I was told by a friend that it was a Jewish cookie, and to this moment that’s all I still really know about it. (So please, if you know anything, let me know!)

Regardless, amongst all the heavily frosted cupcakes and cookies available at Crumbs, I picked the Hamentashen. I didn’t want an overload of sugar, but I wanted something sweet and delicious. I picked up one of these for a little over 2 dollars each, and got the Raspberry flavor.

When I picked the Hamentashen, the lady behind the counter was confused. She asked why I purchased such a “grown up” cookie amongst all the cookies and cupcakes. Uhoh. Would this taste good??

The cookie basically had a “cookie/dry” part and a fruity/jam-like center. When I first tasted it, it reminded me of pie. And…I LOVE PIE.

The cookie part was crunchy on the outer edges, but as you get closer to the middle it was super soft, like the inner pie crust. It was buttery tasting and mildly sweet, and kind of reminded me of a butter/shortbread cookie.

The fruit on the inside, not scarce at all, was smooth and sweet, and also very fresh. I was afraid raspberry would be overly tart, but it wasn’t. It had a mild bit of tartness, and that’s it. AND, there was a lot of fruit filling!  To prove it, here’s a little pic

Overall, yes, it’s not a SUPER sugary cookie, but it was rather big (about size of my hand) and really good! I’ve already bought a couple more after eating my first one, and they do not disappoint! And, only 110 calories! Which is awesome given the 500-600+ calorie cupcakes/treats there!

4.5 stars

What’s your FAVORITE holiday cookie or cookie in general ( besides chocolate chip!)? I really love oatmeal raisin :)

23 Nov 2011, Comments (2)

Newman’s Own Organics Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Author: Healthnuttxo

AS IF we need any more treats to eat with the upcoming holidays, I’m going to put these on your list of goodies to buy and eat too. Newman’s Own Organics sent me a free bag of their Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. I couldn’t really say no. It’s simple logic. I love Newman’s Own Organics. I love Chocolate Chip Cookies. I love oatmeal (does that work?) SO- voila! I must love Newman’s Own Organics Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies….no?

At first, I looked at the nutritional facts. SWEET, I thought. 1 serving was five cookies. I like when servings are more than 1 or 2, or half…. (I know some cereals where 1/4 of a cup is a serving. WHAT? WHO eats 1/4 cup!?!?)

But…..of course, the cookies were tiny.

However, even though the size lacked, the flavor was delicious. It was a crunchy/crumbly cookie with rather large chocolate chips that literally melted in my mouth. The cookies were sweet and had that crunchy-yet-soft texture thing going on, especially when you bit into a chocolate chip.

You could taste just a bit of a salty aftertaste, as well as a hint of vanilla.

In fact, these cookies reminded me of Chips Ahoy!, but thicker, and well…better. They had a bit more of a homemade flavor than a Chips Ahoy! cookie would, which is why I liked them better.

These cookies are dangerous. So tiny as in, oh I can soooooo have another one, and it’s literally impossible to eat only one. But a good dangerous. In the sense that, yea I would buy these in the future if given the opportunity. 4 stars

And…..nutrition facts

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