The everything cauliflower craze has gotten out of control, amirite?  Sure cauliflower pizza crust is healthy and everything and if you put enough cheese on your food, the very strong flavor of cauliflower can be adequately masked. Cauliflower "rice" is something that I really wanted to like and if enough seasonings are added to it, can be quite palatable. Always on the lookout for lower carb, potentially healthier treats, especially crunchy/salty ones, I stumbled upon these goodies during a recent Aldi excursion. I have to hand it to Aldi. They are trying to offer more items for the health-conscious among us. They still don't have their own brand of low calorie fruit juice, but that's another blog for another day. These crackers come in two flavors - Sea Salt and Cheddar Flavor. This review is only for the Cheddar flavor because as I said earlier, cheese can do wonders to mask the cauliflower odor, um, I mean flavor.

The price for the 4 oz. box was $2.99. Not cheap, but as most people realize, decent food does cost more. Sure, you could get twice as many Cheez-Its for the cost, but these babies are gluten free, non-GMO and made with real cauliflower.

Here is the nutrition information and list of ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised to see the cauliflower flour listed as the first ingredient. So, this begs the question. What the heck is cauliflower flour??  Here's what I found: "the first ingredient is cauliflower, the product also contains a mix of your standard gluten-free flours: brown and white rice flours, tapioca flour, quinoa flour, and sorghum flour, as well as cornstarch, yeast, and baking powder." So there you have it. As you can see, the crackers also contain other flours and starches along with flavorings, palm oil, baking powder, salt and sugar. Not a bad ingredient list.

The serving size, 44 crackers, is extremely generous. The fat content is very reasonable and much lower than a serving of Cheez-Its. Comparatively, the sodium count of 325 is higher than Cheez-Its and the carb count is virtually identical.

Nutritionally speaking, these crackers would most likely be considered junk food. However, the fact that they are gluten free is a bonus.

Did you notice that there is no actual cheese in these "cheddar flavored" crackers? The cheesy flavor comes from the vegetable blend powder. They really weren't very cheesy, but the flavor was pretty good. It was slightly tangy, a little onion-y and salty. They were lighter in texture than a Cheez-It and very crispy.

Are these worth it? If you enjoy snacking and are looking for a gluten-free "cheesy" alternative, then these may be perfect for you. If you're expecting a nutritional powerhouse,  you may be disappointed. They really are no better for you, if you go by the numbers, than the regular old Cheez-It or other cheese cracker you might prefer. If you're watching your fat intake, these are a great choice, but watch the sodium.

9 out of 10 for taste. More cheesy flavor is needed.
5 out of 10 for nutrition. The sodium level is way too high and there are no vitamins or minerals to speak of.
5 out of 10 for value. There are only four servings in the box for almost $3.00 per box.

I'm a big fan of seaweed. Really. It's my favorite part of a California roll and I've always loved those crunchy fried seaweed "sheets."  Yes, they smell like the bottom of the ocean, but that's their appeal, right?!  I was excited to see these snacks in my local Whole Foods, but like a lot of the offerings at Whole Foods, these were pretty pricey. It's been awhile between the day I bought these and today, so I don't remember the cost, but I think they were around $4.00 for the pretty small bag. 

The ingredient list is small, which I like. Nothing crazy and no strange additives. I also like the nutrition facts. I would have expected these to have more sodium than they do. I have to add, though, that there really is only one serving per bag. The serving size is tiny. I think they should make bigger bags, lol. For a chip product, these are really healthy. Of course, this is a snack food and should be eaten in moderation, but I am impressed with the numbers here.

Cute, huh? I really think they're trying to appeal to kids with the packaging. I'm a kid at heart!

I guess you might have been wondering what they look like. I was curious myself when I bought them. They're kind of shaped like Bugles, with the seaweed nestled inside the curled chip. They are crunchy, slightly salty and light in texture. 

Theycome in other flavors as well. www.seasnax.com/Chomperz_c_17.html   Here is their website where you can check out the other flavors. Maybe while I'm there, I'll order a case. Or two. 

I highly recommend these. I'm just hoping the price drops a bit, because at $4.00 a bag, that's a little too rich for my blood. 

I have tried very hard to focus this blog on healthy food choices, but sometimes you just have to have some chicken waffle bites. I saw this bag of "bites" in Publix and just had to try them. I have never had real chicken and waffles, so I really didn't know what to expect with these. I was pleasantly surprised. Of course, I checked out the ingredients and nutrition information before buying them, so I knew they weren't terrible, but not my usual fare. I was also looking for something different for breakfast that wasn't full of carbs. 

As you can see, the serving size is 2 pieces, which isn't really much. The pieces are about 2" square. I was quite surprised that the fat content was not higher and even more surprised that the carbs were "only" 11 grams per serving. Low in sugar, too at a mere 2 grams per serving. Of course, if you smother them with maple syrup, that would greatly increase that, but they are good just by themselves. And of course, there is sugar-free syrup, but I digress. These are definitely not healthy food by any means, and you really would have to discipline yourself and keep to the serving size to avoid piling on the calories. The protein level is good, but the sodium grams at 350 is very high. That is a concern, but if you were substituting a couple of these for a fast-food biscuit or egg sandwich, this is a good bet nutritionally.

Nothing too crazy here. I recognize the ingredients. I also wanted to add that these are advertised as minimally processed with no artificial ingredients. They are fully cooked, so it's easy to pop a couple in the microwave, but I think baking them in the oven would produce better results. In a hurry? I nuked these bad boys. They were pretty good. 

For a quick breakfast, these are pretty good. I really did enjoy them. I ate them on the run in a small tortilla and they kept me full for a long time. Of course, they are lacking any fiber, are high in sodium and have virtually no vitamins or minerals, but once in awhile, they're a fun treat. The waffle coating is not too sweet and it pairs perfectly with the tender chicken. 

I was very skeptical when I saw this in my local health food store. How could a product made with cashews and pea protein be any good?  In one word, this product is amazing. It's also vegan, organic, keto, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten and soy free as well.  I couldn't get a decent picture of the label because the print is so tiny you can barely read it, so I took this information from the bhu foods website:

​Ingredients: Organic Cashews, Organic Chocolate, Organic Prebiotic Fiber (From Tapioca), Organic Red Palm Oil (Certified Sustainable), Organic Pea Protein, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Cocoa Powder, Pure Water, Organic Baobab, Orange Pulp, Sea Salt, Organic Vanilla, Monk Fruit, Xantham Gum, Baking Soda, Organic Stevia. Allergen: Nuts.
Nutritional Facts: Serving Size 1.65 OZ (47g) per Cookie, Serving per Container 6, Calories 200, Calories from Fat 150, Total Fat 16g (*25%), Saturated Fat 7g (*35%), Cholesterol 0mg (*0%), Sodium 210mg (*9%), Total Carbohydrate 17g (*6%), Dietary Fiber 8g (*32%), Net carbs 8g, Sugars 0g, Protein 10g, Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 4%, Iron 10% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Allergen: Nuts.

I recognize all of the ingredients except "organic baobab."  Here is a very informative website.  Baobab certainly does appear, by all accounts, to be a "superfood."  ​https://nuts.com/healthy-eating/benefits-of-baobab   I am puzzled by the serving size referring to a "cookie" as a serving size. This is cookie dough, you're not supposed to actually bake it, am I right?!  Yes, I ate it out of the container.

It might be obvious to some that this product is aimed at the keto and low-carb crowd; however, if you have a sweet tooth and enjoy your chocolate, this is definitely a healthier option than a candy bar or a tube of "regular" cookie dough. The only negative thing I have to say about this product is its price. The 10 ounce tub is a whopping $14.99. I have managed to show some restraint and have made a tub last for at least two weeks just because I can't afford to shell out what could be up to $60.00 per month (one tub per week) for a cookie dough addiction. It's a fine "sometimes" treat for me. 

Like natural peanut butter, the oil tends to separate, so if you can, it's helpful to stir it around somewhat or you will end up eating some dry chunks and some very oily chunks. I prefer some consistency, so I mixed it a bit. Don't refrigerate it.

I very highly recommend this product and hope that I can find it on sale somewhere sometime soon!   

All right, all you low-carbers/keto followers. Quest now has cookies. There are some other protein cookies on the market, but they aren't very low carb or low sugar. Quest has chocolate chip, double chocolate, peanut butter and oatmeal raisin.  I have tried all of them, but I prefer the good old chocolate chip. The peanut butter cookie isn't very peanut butter-y and the oatmeal raisin just has a strange aftertaste. 

250 calories, 10grams of saturated fat (which seems high to me) and a crapload of sodium at 220mg. 4grams of net carbs and 15grams of protein are very good for low carb diets if you follow the standard method of subtracting the sugar alcohols and fiber from the total carbs to get the net carbs. I know most low carbers/keto followers don't really count fat grams, but 10mg of saturated fat is high.  

Butter, palm oil and cocoa butter - that's why the saturated fat is so high. The other ingredients seem ok. Xanthan gum is a binder and is especially important when you're baking with ingredients other than wheat flour. I use it to help bind low carb treats that I make with almond flour. If you do a google search, you'll find all kinds of articles meant to scare  you away from it. In the scheme of food additives, it really isn't hazardous or unhealthy and there is such a tiny amount in a product like this that unless you know you are sensitive to it, it probably shouldn't cause any problems.  

Here is the cookie on a standard dinner napkin. It's about 3-4" around. For 250 calories, I might prefer something a little more substantial. It's not very filling, but it would make a pretty decent snack. It tastes very good, salty and sweet and chewy with lots of chocolate chips. It has a very satisfying texture. 
I got a box of 4 for $7.99 at Target, so about $2.00 per cookie. I recommend these if you can limit yourself or if you are on a low-carb or keto diet and want a treat that won't drive your daily carb numbers over the limit. 

On the hunt for a new healthy snack, I saw these while perusing Target the other day.  Among the usual suspects, Atkins, Quest, etc., I spied this product which is obviously marketed to women with their teal, baby blue and peach colored packages. I love snickerdoodles. I used to make a low-carb snickerdoodle that was frankly, out of this world. However, my time for baking these days is not what is used to be. This package was $6.99 and the other flavors are peanut butter cookie and chocolate brownie. 

Obviously for women only. Oh, I am most definitely a "busy babe!"  In case you are not familiar with "clean protein", this link might answer some questions. Clean protein: ​https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12047/14-great-sources-of-clean-protein.html  

The nutrition facts are pretty good, not great. I am disappointed at the amount of sugars in the product. It seems to me that in order to stay "clean" and produce a good low sugar product, stevia or monk fruit could have been used to sweeten these instead of two syrups. Also, chicory root fiber has been known to cause gas and stomach upset in some people. Everything else except the vague "natural flavor" is most certainly healthy. I have to add one caveat/warning and that is if you are sensitive to chicory root fiber and psyllium husk (which is the main ingredient in Metamucil), you might find yourself on the potty more often than usual. 

As far as carbohydrates go, I would not recommend eating the entire serving of this if you are following a low-carb or keto diet plan because the net carbs for three pieces is 12 grams and that could be a lot if you're following keto. One piece for a small snack might be enough. 

Individually wrapped. Nice!  This can be a great psychological help if you don't want to eat the entire bag or suggested serving at once. 

This is what it looks like. It's pretty small, about 3" x 1.5".  You can clearly see the oats and the pumpkin seeds. It's chewy and has a good texture, but to be honest, it was not very "snickerdoodle-y".  Snickerdoodles have a sublime butter and cinnamon flavor with a slightly salty taste. The cinnamon flavor in this was overwhelmed by the strong taste of the pea protein and almonds. If you have never had pea protein, it's definitely different. It's not my favorite clean protein source. If you are sick of the usual protein bars and want something completely different, this is for you. If you like the idea of small, individually wrapped servings, another win for this product. As far as clean protein bars/snacks go, nutritionally this is a win. Compared to an Rx bar, the calories are lower, the carbohydrates are lower and even the sugars are lower. I compared it to an Rx bar since Rx bars also claim to be a clean protein with their use of egg whites. They also have minimal ingredients and do not use any artificial sweeteners, even stevia or monk fruit. They are also dairy, soy and gluten free. 

If you end up trying these, please let me know your thoughts!!  

Welcome back, dear readers!  Today I am reviewing a product that has been on the market for awhile, but one that I haven't tried. These days it seems that many products which once took time to cook are now available in pre-cooked, "heat and eat" versions. Years ago when I made pasta a few times a week, I often wished for pre-cooked pasta. My family sure did love spaghetti. I actually gave myself a second degree burn draining hot pasta several years ago. I can't imagine not buying pre-cooked pasta if I was making pasta as often as I used to. So, how did this measure up in terms of taste and nutrition?

Pretty much nutritionally identical exept for the addition of the olive oil.

This is what it looks like after it's microwaved, obviously before adding sauce or other toppings. The slimy coating is the olive oil. Okay, I love pasta and I love pasta with olive oil on it; however, this just didn't taste good to me. The texture was definitely al dente and maybe even a little bit too chewy for me. I was hesitant to cook it longer than the recommended time. I do think that perhaps if this were cooked in a skillet for a few minutes with a sauce it would have helped the texture and strange flavor.  I guess if you're going to load this up with tomato or alfredo sauce, the taste might not bother you, but I am a pasta minimalist. Just a little olive oil, salt and pepper, please. 
As far as cost goes, this was about twice as expensive as uncooked pasta. I served pasta a lot because it is so inexpensive. This 8.5 oz bag was $1.79. I'd have to give this a "not recommended" rating.

I have to apologize to my readers for the delay in reviews.  Things in my work life are pretty stressful right now, so my time has been pretty limited and my priorities have been focused there and not here.  

I am not sure if this is a new product or not, but it's new to me, sounded interesting and I thought I would give it a try. As some of you may have noticed, I don't eat meat, but I'm not a vegan. I eat eggs a few times a week and I really enjoy a good breakfast burrito. Unfortunately, many of them contain meat. That's why this one appealed to me. The combination sounded really tasty. 

The nutrition list is not that great. Lots of sodium, fat and pretty carb-heavy. However, the protein grams are reasonable and the Vitamin A is very good.

This is a very good, whole-food list of ingredients. I'm not sure why they needed to add palm oil. I would have been happier if the fat added had been butter or even olive oil, but I guess I can overlook the palm oil, despite the facts that palm oil is notoriously unhealthy and harvesting it is bad for the environment.  I digress. I like the fact that there are no strange ingredients and that most everything is organic.

The inside of the cooked product. It was very good. The combination of the sweet potatoes, spinach and eggs was very interesting and tasty.  I expected an overpowering salsa flavor, but it wasn't. The flavors were balanced and it was a very satisfying burrito. I found this produt at Publix. I recommend it. 

I'm always on the hunt for decent tasting protein bars. I usually choose those with little to no sugar and mostly natural ingredients. Those are very hard to find! I saw this one in my local healthfood store and thought I would give it a go. 

This ingrdient list is very impressive. No added sugar, no frankenfoods. I didn't know what  hydrolyzed collagen was, so I had to do some research. www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/hydrolyzed-collagen-uses-and-benefits/- here is a very informative article on the subject.  There are a few popular protein bars that contain dates as either the first or one of the primary ingredients. I was anxious to see how they compared. 

290 calories is quite a bit and the 35 grams of carbs was pretty shocking. 25 grams of sugars mostly from the dates and raisins. I was hoping that for 290 calories, this would be quite filling and a satisfying meal replacement. 

It doesn't look too appetizing. 

Here's the inside. The texture was more cakey than some of the other date-heavy bars (Rx bar, I'm looking at you) and less sweet. The flavor was very cinnamon-y and very good. My taste tester liked it quite a bit. It was about $2.60 for one, which was comparable to other high quality protein bars. I want to note that Paleo Ranch also makes a "skinny" paleo bar which is quite lower in calories and carbohydrates. I'd buy this again. I just wish they had more flavors. 

Yes, dear readers, this is a non-health food review. While picking up some saltines to replenish the household supply, I spotted these and was intrigued. I have tried the Cello Parmesan Whisps crackers and thought these might be similarly yummy and low carb.  Well, are they? They were much less expensive than the Cello Parmesan Whisps and certainly more easily obtained. I can almost never find those Parmesan Whisps. 

40% less fat? Well, count me in. That should have been a clue that these were not remotely like the Parmesan Whisps since the Whisps are made of nothing except cheese. They are popular with the low-carb/high-fat (keto) crowd for their lack of carbs and relatively high fat content. 

120 calories is not bad for a generous serving size and 4 grams of fat is also pretty good. The carb grams are quite high as well as the sodium. No fiber, either.  The ingredient list is free of frankenfoods, but the potato starch and rice flour increase the carbs and basically make this a "Pringles" type of cracker/chip with cheese flavoring. I am disappointed, but not surprised. Real cheese crackers are pretty easy to make yourself if you want a real cheese-only cracker. Just bake a small mound or small slice of cheese in the oven until brown. You can also cook them on the stove top in a skillet. 

As you can see, they are light and puffy, kind of like a puffy Cheez-Its with holes. I chose the smoked gouda flavor because I am a sucker for gouda. The taste was salty and kind of had an artificial flavor and the cheese powder stuck to my hands. The texture; however, was light and crispy.  I suppose if you are looking for a lower-fat cheese cracker, these would be worth it. If you buy these thinking they are more cheese than starch, you will be disappointed. Read the label. I probably won't buy these again.