17 May 2012, Comments (2)

AlternaVites Kids Strawberry Bubble Gum Quick-Melting Multivitamin & Mineral Crystals

Author: Healthnuttxo

Do you take a daily multi-vitamin?

I must say, even though I generally have a good diet, I do take a multi-vitamin (in the gummy form of course. What can I say? It brings out my inner childhood :) )

Something new I was offered to try for free, the AlternaVites Kids Strawberry Bubble Gum Quick-Melting Multivitamin & Mineral Crystals. Some facts about this product I was provided with, is that they have 0 grams of sugar, no aspartame, and have no artificial colors or flavors! Sounds like my kind of vitamin. And in flavors like Strawberry Bubble Gum and Raspberry Cotton Candy? Let me try!

I opened up on of the packets. The consistency was a fine, white powder. It came in a tube, kind of like those you would get for Crystal Light on the Go, but skinnier.

It recommends to not pour the entire tube at once on your tongue (good thing I read the directions, I had plans to do that!) and I can see why. I did about half the tube, and although it dissolved very quickly, the whole tube would have been too much.

As for the taste? The taste was pretty good. Mildly sweet and a bit tart, it had a creamy strawberry flavor to it, with a bubble gum aftertaste. It did kind have that “toothpastey” flavor, as it was “sweet” without really being “sweet”. It was good, but not amazing flavorwise.

However, I like these! I would love to try the other flavor to see what it’s like. They are convenient, and only 5 calories, and provide a lot of vitamins and minerals per tube. Super easy, and super fun way to get kids to take a multivitamin/supplement !

Overall, 3.5 stars. Worth a try!

14 May 2012, Comments (4)

Clif Builder’s S’mores Protein Bar

Author: Healthnuttxo

Another Builder’s Bar review! This time, the S’mores flavor. Who could really ever resist a S’more? Chocolate? Marshmallow? Graham crackers? All warm and gooey…

Ok I’ll stop now, before day dreaming turns into my actually going out to buy ingredients to make S’mores….

Insert Clif Builder’s S’mores Protein Bar, made with natural ingredients, organic ingredients, and still some muscle-loving protein. I liked the chocolate chip one I had a few days ago, and bought a whole bunch more.

Upon first bite, I REALLY liked it. It was sweeter than the Chocolate Chip flavor, and more flavorful. The top part was soft and chewy and dense, and the bottom part of the bar was “crunchier”, and together it was a really complimenting texture.

The flavor I would say was a predominant sweet chocolate, with a good bit of marshmallow flavor. I did get the sense that the bar contained a “toasted” flavor, kind of like a graham cracker would provide. As with the other bar, or any protein bar really, I needed some water to drink with this. (Hey, some milk if you feel like adding even more protein!) It had that salty/sweet combination going on, and water fit the bill quite nicely.

Overall, yum! Love the high protein, and that it’s low glycemic according to the wrapper. I also like how it doesn’t taste chalky like some protein bars can. It is a bit high in sugar/sodium and low in fiber, so overall, 4 stars

Will buy again! :-)

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!

2 May 2012, Comments (7)

NuvoSport ProGel

Author: Healthnuttxo

Pro Gel.

What’s that?

Protein gelatin, perhaps? =D

I know, I never saw/heard/thought of it before, but low and behold, it exists!

I got a free sample to try from the company, and with the combination of 1. Being hungry 2. Not wanting to eat junk food and 3. on a high protein diet, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to try this snack.

Side note: it came with a super cute small spoon. (win!!!!)

I opened  up my Pro-Gel, which was packed with protein, low in calories, and even had some fiber. Here’s how it looked.

I scooped some out, and noticed it’s thickness. Now, I’ve had my fair share of Jell-O in the past, so I’m familiar with the consistency. This was pretty much the same just…thicker and a bit stickier.

The flavor? It was ok. It reminded me of a strawberry Kiwi flavored gelatin. And a sugar-free one at that. Being a diabetic, I’m used to sugar free products, and I can really tell when a product has been sweetened by sugar or not. This tasted like it was sweetened with sugar, as it was “sweet” but not really sugar sweet.

However, the tartness overpowered any potential sweetness it could have. And while I appreciate it that this doesn’t taste like it’s fortified with any protein, I don’t think I’d be able to eat it again. It wasn’t really that good, and too tart. Perhaps if it was a cherry flavor I would have liked it more. But whatever flavor it supposedly tasted like other than “tart”, I was not a fan of.

Overall, 2 stars. It wasn’t horrible, I just wouldn’t buy it in the future. Love the high protein for such a small cup, but I’ll stick to my eggs, protein bars, milk and lots and lots of peanut butter for my protein for now!

close up of nutrition

27 Apr 2012, Comments (5)

Clif Builder’s Bar Chocolate Chip

Author: Healthnuttxo

I’m not a meat eater. Good for my cholesterol levels, bad for my protein levels- especially since I’m a total gym bunny. So I often try to find high protein foods to supplement the protein I lack when I don’t eat that cheeseburger or steak (which, mind you, hasn’t been done since 7th grade! Wow….such a long time!)

I also am quite fond of protein bars. Weird? Nah. I just think you have to find the right ones! Some can be a bit chalky, or others pounded with sugar and fat, but if you find a good bar with a good amount of protein I think it’’s perfect as a  light meal or alongside some fruit for a light meal.

So, what took me so long to finally try these Clif Builder’s Bars? No clue. What’s WRONG with me!? Maybe I was blinded to the protein bar section in CVS or Whole Foods that contained the Clif Builder’s Bars. But, the other day I picked up one of every flavor from Whole Foods, hoping they would be a success.

Not going to lie, already had 2 of them (two thumbs up!!) before I thought to review one. Well DUH on my part, seeing as  I have a health food blog that reviews new products I eat and all…. =P

The bar was actually quite good. It was a soft chew, with a crunchier inside very similar to the “crispie” part in the Luna bars. It did have that infamous “soy” flavor, but not overpoweringly so. The softer  part on top was chewy, dense, and almost had a vanilla flavor. The crunchier “Luna-like” part on the bottom was chocolately in flavor, but not really super flavorful. All together, I got almost a light caramel/chocolate malt flavor. It was weird…but it was good. I liked it.

I can’t say this SCREAMED chocolate chip flavor, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. It was more of a chocolate malt flavor, or chocolate in general. It had that kind of flavor that made me crave some water, but was sweet as well. I would most likely buy this one, especially since it had no sugar alcohols and no artificial ingredients, which often accompany protein bars.

Overall, 4 stars. I had this for lunch with a giant fruit cup and was quite satisfied. Its high in saturated fat and sugar, but also high in protein and with a low glycemic index. Perfect for a diabetic like me! =)

WHAT’S your favorite protein bar brand/name? Let me know! =)

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?

18 Apr 2012, Comments (2)

Enjoy Life Foods Plentils Crunchy Lentil Chips Margherita Pizza

Author: Healthnuttxo

Something new- Plentils by Enjoy Life Foods! But what exactly is a plentil? They are crunchy lentil chips! Wait but where did the “P” come from.

Um….

Not sure. Moving on.

I got a few free bags of the chips from Enjoy Life Foods to try for free. First one up for review, Margherita Pizza. Why? Because it was 11pm, I wanted pizza, but did NOT feel like leaving the house. I was hoping these chips would suffice a pizza craving, as well as be delicious on their own!

First of all, these chips are soooo crunchy! I really liked that, as nothing’s worse than when a chip is more oily than crunch (you know what I’m talking about!) or the chip falls apart the second it hits your mouth (also not cool…). Nope! These were light and crisp, not oily at all, and almost had a toasty-crunchy feel to them.

They were very yummy and flavorful, and surprisingly, did remind me of pizza! The pentils had a saucy and cheesy flavor to them, with undertones of basil, garlic and onion. They also had a salty flavor that was really quite good.

Overall, I like these! Don’t forget these are gluten free as well! 4 stars


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!

5 Apr 2012, Comments (11)

Truwhip the Natural Whipped Topping

Author: Healthnuttxo

Um………confession time.

I am a Cool-Whip addict. But seriously.

I KNOW, it’s full of not-so-good for you ingredients, I think I’ve even seen the really evil ones like HFCS or trans fats, and I KNOW it practically has no nutritional value and I KNOW why don’t I just eat natural whipped cream?

Well, I can’t explain it. Something about cool-whip. Good enough for me to eat straight from the container. (Don’t judge me…)

SO, in hopes to find a healthier alternative, I saw Truwhip the Natural Whipped Topping at Whole Foods. YES I thought, FINALLY a healthier alternative. This one was made with natural ingredients, was gluten free, trans fat free, and gave me a bit more piece of mind. It was also around the same price, at 3 dollars a container.

Notice the dent I made…. :D

So how was it? It was fluffy and light, just like Cool-Whip. But it certainly had a different, odd, taste. Almost like a fake vanilla marshmallow? Odd. It was sweet, and melted in my mouth, and did not have that oily feel to it but a very natural one which was a plus. BUT, if definitely had some weird flavor to it I really couldn’t not think of how to describe!

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t horrible at all, it was different! It had a pleasant sweetness, and was almost vanilla/tapioca in flavor. It was good, but not amazing. One thing I noticed though was that it didn’t have that chemically aftertaste I get with Cool-Whip (sorry Cool-Whip…you’re amazing and all but that aftertaste has to GO!!). So that was definitely a plus.

Although the question is, buy Cool Whip, love the flavor, and dislike the aftertaste? Or buy Truwhip, better ingredients, not crazy about the flavor, but good aftertaste? Decisions, decisions.

Overall, I would give it 3.5 stars. Would I buy it again? Maybe. Only if Cool Whip wasn’t available…. ;’)

good thing I just got a manicure! :)

2 Apr 2012, Comments (2)

Annie Chun’s Mini Wontons Chicken and Garlic

Author: Healthnuttxo

Something new for me to try! Browsing the aisle at Whole Foods, I wanted to try something out of the ordinary (or at least so for me) to have as a snack or as part of a meal.

I decided to pick up these and give them a try. The ingredients and nutritional information seemed pretty good and up to Lisa standards, and……they looked so cute! And, since I’m lazy, I did the microwave method. What can I say? Hate to clean any extra pans if I don’t have to :P

Here’s what they looked like out of the microwave. How cute are they?! So tiny!

I didn’t know what to dip them in really so, I went for ketchup. I dip almost everything in ketchup. Don’t judge me. :)

The wontons came out chewy and soft from the microwave, but still had a decent texture. They weren’t greasy at all, or even oily, which was nice. They definitely had a bit of spice and some heat to them! And on one side, I could definitely taste the garlic, but the chicken flavor was pretty lost. I wouldn’t have been able to tell you it was chicken flavored if the package didn’t say so. The wrapper itself was also rather bland, light and flavorless.

Overall, these were alright. A bit too spicy for me, but the ketchup was a surprisingly good pairing since the sweetness of the ketchup balanced out the bit of kick in the wontons. I did like how these were low in calories and I could have 2 servings for a still relatively low amount of calories/fat. SO, overall, 3 stars.

If you could make any flavor wonton, what would you? In honor of national peanut butter & jelly day…I want PB&J wontons!!!!! That would be so yummy ;) Although, no worries, I would not dip that flavor in ketchup. Ew.

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