Foodie Review: Enlighten Fudge Bar

FCC Disclousre: The reviewer of this product was given free product for the purposes of this review, however was not monetarily compensated. The opinions expressed in this review are those solely of the individual reviewer and may not express the opinions of Bariatric Foodie.

 

Enlighten Ice Cream. The good for you ice cream. We'll just see about that won't we???

 

Admittedly this review is hella late (as is my custom at times). My apologies. But since there are a few more weeks of warm weather yet, I'm hoping this review will help you satisfy your end-of-summer ice cream cravings.

 

At first glance, I admit Enlightened has potential. Per their website, the bars come in FIVE different flavors: Fudge, Coffee, Orange Cream, Toasted Almond and Peanut Butter. Here are the stats on the fudge bar, which is what is being reviewed here. This is per the Enlightened website.

• 70 calories
• 2g fat
• 14 total grams carbohydrates
• 5g fiber (bringing the net carbs down to 9g)
• 3g sugar
• 6g erythritol (a sugar alcohol BUT one that tends to have very little impact on the human digestive system)
• 8g protein

So let me pause and say this. From the numbers alone this appears to be a pretty decent bar. Which is exactly what makes me suspicious! That's why I asked my Foodie-pal Cindy to review check these bars out for you. Her mission: to find out if an ice cream bar could be both good and good FOR you.

 

I asked Cindy to review the product based on the following criteria: packaging, aesthetics (smell, look of the product), taste, nutritional value and to give an overall verdict. Here's what she had to say. 

 

Q: What did you think of the packaging? Was it informative? What could you tell simply by looking at the package?

 



 

Cindy: The small "e" with a halo above it makes it look like an Angelic item…..blue sky and clouds. Very nice. There was lots of information to catch your eye on the front of box. Information WILL catch a Bari patient’s eye. Just from looking at the package I learned it has 8 grams of protein and only 70 calories. It has only 4 bars in one box. And it looked tasty.

 

Q: What did you think about the product's aesthetics? How did it look, smell?

 

Cindy: If anything I'd say the product had a frozen smell, not mediciny or foody, just icy. When I first bit into the bar it was a bit hard, so it does freeze well. Then after a few bites - as it thawed a  - the bar became softer softer.

 

Q: How did the Enlightened bar taste?

 

Cindy: I ate a few bars over the course of a week before answering this question to be sure of my opinion. These bars are yummy, thick, creamy and fulfilling. Not as creamy as a Dove bar but thick and creamy almost like that. Some fudge bars taste like ice milk, this has a creamy ice cream taste to it. I do have to say I have to bite the first couple bites as I mentioned earlier, but after a couple creamy licks, the flavoring of the fudge was also spot on.

 

Q: What did you think of the nutrition?

 

Cindy: This would be considered a high protein product, since there are 8 grams of protein and only 70 calories. This product does have 14 grams of carbohydrates though. The dietary fibers are 5 grams so subtract that from the carbs and you get 9 grams. It does say on the label that it has only 3 net carbs. Product contains Erythritol.

 

Q: What do you think of the overall value of this product? Is it something you'd buy?

 

The price on the bars is reasonable (Nik Note: At the time of this writing, the bars were on sale at my local grocery store for about $3.50/box of 4). I did very much enjoy this product. And glad to see they have a variety of flavors. My next couple to buy are: the Toasted Almond and the Ice Cream sandwich. I would like to see them have more than 4 items in one box.

 

Q: So what's your final verdict? Should Foodies purchase or pass?

 

Cindy: Purchase!

 

There are a few other notes I learned from reading their website's FAQs:

• ENLIGHTENED Ice Cream is certified kosher by the Orthodox Union (OU).
• It contains all-natural ingredients (yes, erythritol is a nutural ingredient)
• Besides erythritol, the bars use monkfruit as a sweetener
• The milk used in the bars is hormone-free

Enlightened was kind enough to give me another coupon to try out the bars and I'd love a review of one of the remaining flavors. Wanna be my reviewer?

 

Leave a comment about which flavor (besides fudge) you'd like to try (along with your email address) and you'll be entered to win! You have until Sunday at noon to put your name in the hat. I'll announce the winner Monday morning.

 

Good luck, everyone and thanks Cindy!

 



BF Review (and Recipe): Quest Cookies & Cream Protein Bar and Shannon's Quest Canoli

While we were all embroiled in The Bariatric Foodie Pledge, Quest went and released a new bar – Cookies and Cream! I did a quick and dirty review of it on social media, but I also asked my pal Shannon (of TacoCasserole picture fame) to give the bars a try. And I gave her a challenge. The Quest blog challenges Quest lovers to come up with creative ways to use the bars, so that’s the challenge I put to Shannon. So she played with her food to make a Quest cannoli! The recipe follows the review.

Enjoy and thanks to Shannon for the review!

Shannon’s Quest Bar Review

*The products used for this review were given by Quest Nutrition, however, neither the reviewer nor Bariatric Foodie was paid to perform this product review.

Product: Quest Cookies & Cream protein Bar

Stats: 180 calories, 7g fat, 22g carbs, 17g fiber, 1g sugar, 2g erythritol, 21g protein.

Cost: Varies, on Quest website it is $2.39 for a single bar, $24.99 (or $2.08/bar) for a box of 12.

*If you purchase Quest Bars using the ad on the right menu bar, Bariatric Foodie receives a small commission. 

Packaging:

The wrapper itself was very pleasing to me, the picture was crisp and I think the large cookie photographed on the package really makes it known what flavor you are getting.  Another thing about the packaging I like is that I can quickly see the amount of sugar and protein in the product. Just from a general standpoint, this makes things so much easier for me when I am looking to purchase a product, having that info right on the front, and somewhat highlighted makes my life easier.

Nutrition:

This product provides 21g of protein in one serving, and is 180 calories. I like that it packs such a punch because, if I am going to eat a protein bar as my meal (I very rarely do), I want to be able to get as much out of it as possible. Quest bars are regularly reviewed on Bariatric foodie, and I believe this bar is about on par with the others in their product line. As an aside, erythritol, the type of sugar alcohol used in this bar has very little effect on our bodies, unlike some others.

Aesthetics:

Upon opening the packaging I smelled the protein bar, and as with most of them I got a very, almost overly sweet smell, not really distinguished as to cookies and cream but definitely sweet.

The bar I had left over after playing with my food and making a cannoli had some very large chunks of cookie in it, which I very much enjoyed while eating the protein bar in the traditional way. It broke up the texture of the bar nicely. The bar itself was quite soft and easy to eat.

It did remind me a bit of cookies and cream, though not exactly and I don’t think my taste buds will ever be fully confused when it comes to a protein bar, the protein flavor is always there.  More than a cookies and cream flavor it reminded me of cookie dough. Never having tried their actual cookie dough flavor, I will say I think this would be an awesome addition chunked up into some protein ice cream. I also thoroughly enjoyed this as a cannoli, it really had a crunch and flavor that paired well with the cannoli filling.

I have generally been very impressed with Quest bars, and this one did not disappoint. As an emergency meal, or a snack, or even cooked into a yummy dessert they are, in my opinion, a decent choice.  In my area Quest bars are not so readily available, and the ones I have purchased locally have usually been very hard, nothing like this one. Because of this I limit myself to purchasing online only, and don’t often get the opportunity to do so, as my budget doesn’t always allow for it. That being said, if I were able to purchase Quest bars in the future this would be one on my list to buy.

Shannon’s Quest Cannoli

Ingredients:

• 1 Quest Cookies & Cream protein bar
• 4 oz. ricotta cheese (part-skim or regular, your choice)
• 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1.5 tbsp. no-calorie sweetener
• Macadamia or pistachio nuts, whipped cream, and Strawberry as garnish if desired

For this recipe you will also need: A cannoli-form or a ¼-inch metal dowel, a large, sturdy glass (sprayed with nonstick cooking spray) and some parchment paper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400° F
2. Unwrap Quest bar and place between two pieces of sprayed wax paper. Put in microwave for about 8 seconds, test pliability with finger and put back in if you cannot easily smoosh the bar, this will make it easier to roll flat with a rolling pin.
3. Using your sprayed glass as a rolling pin, roll the bar down into a slight circular shape in between the wax paper and allow to cool slightly before peeling off one layer of wax paper.
4. Using a cannoli form, roll quest bar on the form and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
5. Place in preheated oven for 5-7 minutes until golden.
6. In a small bowl place ricotta, cocoa powder, and Splenda mix thoroughly until combined.  Transfer to a piping bag or small sandwich bag to fill the cannoli.  Refrigerate until ready to use
7. Remove cannoli from oven allow to cool well.
8. Remove cannoli form and fill with ricotta mixture.
9. Once filled, you can garnish as you like with nuts, or fruit and whipped cream or light cool whip.

Foodie Review: Kalorie Box

Foodie Review: KalorieBox

THE BEST Snack Box EVER!

By Traci McGowan


I want to make this very clear: KalorieBox is THE BEST snack box EVER! 

Not too long ago Nik did a review of Kalorie Box, a relatively new company that packages up low calorie snacks and ships them to your house or office. This is a great resource for our Foodie Nation. KalorieBox not only offers us a variety of snacks to nibble on, the box on the doorstep alone will send your friends and neighbors who know you've had weight loss surgery right over the proverbial hedge of curiosity.

I get really stupidly happy when my KalorieBox arrives, kind of like I do around Christmas. Except I know where this box of goodies came from.

You can subscribe to receive a shipment from KalorieBox by signing up online through their web site (click this link, which also helps support the Foodie Nation!). Subscribers have three plans to choose from: monthly, 3-month, or 6-month (3 and 6-month plans are prepaid). The 6-month plan is the most economic at about $17.00 per month (shipping is free).

Part of the fun of KalorieBox is not knowing what will be in the box. For January they sent out samples of Zevia (a soda made with Stevia), Cheese Thins (these were pretty good, my assistant LOVED them), Pirates Booty (yeah, you're laughing now), an almond milk, a FiberOne cookie bar, dried mangos, a letter, fun red squiggly box packing things (these appear randomly throughout your home long after the box has been emptied, like Easter basket grass or tinsel).

The second part of the fun of KalorieBox is what I like to call "try it before you buy it". Subscribers get variety without having to to pay for a six pack of Zevia, or the box of crackers. Those two items alone would probably be close to ten bucks (depending on the store). Starbucks carries the dried mangos...you get the picture.

Nik also asked me to mention this. Many of you avoid starchy things, and with good reason. But even then, I would say Kalorie Box is a good option if you're looking to get your family eating better. In her review of her box, Nik noted that her kids, like me, were excited to get the box and see what was in it. In one of her video reviews, even though Nik's "petite diva" didn't care for one of the products included, she tried it, which was the important part. The only way to find healthier options for your family is to try new things and Kalorie Box offers a fun and convenient way to do that!

But to me, the best part about KalorieBox as a company is what they give back to the community. For each box they ship they donate a meal to a child in America who goes hungry each night. And of course, the irony does not escape me: that I, who was once obsessed with food, can help feed a hungry person...with my obsession with food!

This is a no brainer: KalorieBox is a winner all the way around.

Traci had gastric bypass (RNY) May 17th of 2011. As of February 2013, she's lost 48% of her excess body weight (about 140lbs - or Charlize Theron); 34.25 inches total (almost three feet), 8 pant sizes (16 if you don't go by two's). Traci is in recovery from multiple addictions. On any given weekend she can be found at Barnes & Noble and Starbucks. 

Traci signed up to run the Detroit Free Press marathon in October. You can follow her training and other interesting life stories on her web site Sneaker Porn Diaries, on Twitter @spdiaries, follow Traci's FB Page or the Sneaker Porn Diaries FB Page.

Foodie Review: Whey Low

(Check out last month's article: Trader Joe's Vanilla Soy Protein)

Foodie Review: Whey Low vs. Splenda

(Every time I read that, the end of the dance scene from Greas pops into my head: How low can you go? How low can you go? How loooooow can you goooooo? Eht-ehm...moving on...)

After my RNY my palate became a little touchy, especially where artificial sweetners are concerned. Equal overpowered everything. Sweet 'n Low lingered in the air like bad air freshener (or the things air freshener is supposed to cover). Stevia made me ill (literally). 

By default I've been on #TeamSplenda! for a really long time. I'm very committed. SO when I was asked to review a new sweetener called "Whey Low" I was super skeptical. Would it taste good? Plus, it has "whey" in the title - gag!

Whey Low's website says the product is 100% natural, and they guarantee it tastes JUST LIKE SUGAR (wink). There are a variety of products: Granular & Granular STikcs, Type D Granular and Sticks (for people with Types 1 and 2 diabetes), Gold (brown sugar replacement), Powder (think Splenda), for Ice Cream (I know, right???) and Maple (whew!_. Unless identified as a "stick" all their products come in 2 lb. bags.

Granular sticks come 40 to a pouch. I thought that would be better than buying a 2 lb. bag, just in case I didn't like it or vice versa. The sticks run slightly cheaper than the bags, but both are hella expensive! The sticks are $9.99 and the bags are $11.99. However, shipping costs dwarf any real savings between the two (I require instant gratification so I paid for express shipping).

Whey Low says one stick (8.0g) has the same sweetness as two teaspoons of sugar. If your sweetness register is anything like mine, that fact could be a tad irrelevant (i.e. I tend to shovel Splenda into my travel mug). Each stick contains 8 calories, 8 carbs, 8 sugars (Nik note: this, technically, is a food math anamoly since 1g carbs = 4 calories and sugars are carbs. RED FLAG!) "Wait," I thought to myself "I thought this was a sugar alternative?" It is. It contains alternative sugars. White sugar = sucrose. Whey Low contains fructose (from corn), lactose (from milk) and some sucrose. (Nik note: so it DOES contain sugar?)

The way Whey Low tells it, the product is crystalline sugar (sugars that are in crystal form) which come from sugar can or sugar beets and known to not have allergens or cause sugary funkiness in people's systems (that would be my personal interpretation of all the medical mumbo-jumo...your mileage may vary!). This is why the label says "all natural."

All this is to say that technically Whey Low is not a sugar alternative so much as another kind of sugar. So I'm not exactly sure what to call it. A (purportedly) safer blend of sugar, maybe? I dunno. I'm no scientist. Nik just told me to taste the stuff.

Comparatively, Splenda has 0 calories, less than 1g carbs and no sugars. Splenda contains maltodextrin (a food addictive produced from starch) which can be found in sodas and candy. It's used in a variety of processed foods. Sucralose (not sucrose), Splenda's other ingredient, is a non-calorie artificial sweetener. nothing about Splenda is all natural and they do not advertise as such (well...perhaps the whole "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar" deal but I digress). 

You can learn more about how Splenda is produced by clicking here. WARNING: this is not for the faint of heart. Read at your own risk! 

After I received my shipment I promptly sprayed half a packet onto my counter (because I'm awesome). After fixing that little mess I opened another stick and poured it over my cottage cheese and blueberries. Wow! (I actually said that out loud) Whey Low really DOES taste like sugar! I was pretty excited. Over the last month, I've dumped Whey Low into everything from coffee to homemade fruit bowls.

My observations:

• Whey Low dissolves well in hot beverages. Not so much in cold. The granules settle at the bottom of the glass (much like white sugar).
• It has the consistency of sugar, and truly does taste like it!
• No aftertaste! For me this is huge.
• I didn't dump on Whey Low. And I do dump.
• The sticks travel well and can easily be tossed into a lunch box, purse, pocket, desk drawer, suit case, etc.
• It is hella pricey!
• Their logo is really adorable

Since the writing of this article, Nik has some thoughts to share on this product. Since she's the principal in this whole deal, I just copied her email to me:

"While it's great that Whey Low is a natural blend that they claim doesn't affect people in the same way as white sugar, it's use of corn sugar concerns me. There's a lot of controversy about the role of corn products in the burgeoning obesity problem in the U.S. and of the corn industry's portrayal of sugar. So while a product like Whey Low may not cause dumping, does it help you lose weight? I think the jury is out on that one."

Yeesh! She took over my whole dang article!

I'm going to go rogue and give MY opinion based on MY experience. Which is...

Verdict: (This) Foodie says...AWEsome! Great tasting sugar alternative!

Traci gets the Bariatric Foodie badge of merit, not only for being the first contributor to submit her article this month but writing through the stomach flu! Thanks Traci!

Have a question for Traci or a product review request? Send it to bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com with the subject line "Foodie Review."