Chobani Greek Yogurt Flip - Pumpkin Harvest Crisp

With the change of the seasons upon us this only means one thing ... pumpkin everything! One of those items happens to be one of my favorite snacks: pumpkin yogurts. I'm a hands down pumpkin fanatic, so when I spotted the Chobani Greek Yogurt Flip - Pumpkin Harvest Crisp at my local Target, I made sure to pick one up ... and I am so glad I did.

The yogurt itself is a smooth pumpkin flavored Greek yogurt that isn't tart or overpowering. The Greek yogurt flavor doesn't overpower the pumpkin flavoring either. I'd have to go out on a limb and say this is one of the best pumpkin flavored Greek yogurts I have tried. One of the best parts is the toppings that come alongside the yogurt. It's a nice combination of pie crust, pumpkin seeds and pecans. Once added into the yogurt it really transforms it into a wonderful dessert/snack. The pie crust really seals the deal, while the pumpkin seeds and pecans give nice crunch and a nuttiness to the yogurt.

Overall I think this is one of the best Chobani Flips I have tried to date. I wouldn't be mad if they made this part of their permanent collection ... because lets face it, I'd eat pumpkin yogurt all year long.

A serving, 1 container, is 210 calories or 6 points plus values.

Coffee Mate - Chocolate Chip Cookie Creamer

I have seen the Coffee Mate Chocolate Chip Cookie Creamer at my local grocery store for months. I had refused to purchase it because I had a container of creamer I was working on finishing. Then while on a whim grocery store run I decided to pick up a bottle to try, solely because my local Dunkin Donuts are running out of their Chips Ahoy coffee syrup ... and I was looking for a suitable replacement.

Unfortunately, I didn't find a direct replacement but it is an okay substitute to have in your morning/afternoon/evening coffee if you're in the mood for something sweet. The creamer itself resembles chocolate milk. It's got a chocolate flavor to it, which for me when mixed in my coffee, comes across more like chocolate creamer than chocolate chip cookie. One thing I noticed is that it has a rich creamer flavor to it (more so than in the other creamers I tend to purchase). The creaminess to it is a slight drawback since I'm not the biggest creamer fan (granted, I only use a tablespoon at a time).

Truthfully, Dunkin Donuts set my taste buds on a high standing pedestal and in comparison to that, this doesn't even come close to meeting the mark. It's a decent creamer, but it's certainly not what I had in mind when I purchased it.

A serving, 1 tbsp, is 35 calories or 1 points plus value.

Quest Protein Powder - Peanut Butter Flavor

I've heard rave reviews about Quest protein powder and since I was in the market for a new protein powder I decided to give Quest a shot. I submitted an order online and received a container of Quest Protein Powder - Peanut Butter Flavor. Out of all the flavored protein powders Quest provides, I think I have heard the most about the peanut butter so it definitely peaked my interest so I decided it was time to give it a try.

I ordered my powder from Vitacost and received it within 2-days. Finishing up my existing protein powder I waited a few days before I cracked into this baby ... and I have to say, I'm VERY impressed with this product!  A serving is a pretty substantial scoop of protein powder.  The powder itself is finely milled and reminds me a lot of powdered peanut butter (PB2). 

I added a scoop of protein to my nutribullet, 4 ice cubes, a banana, 1/2 cup cashew milk and 2/3 cup water. I let it blend and it came together perfectly. The peanut butter flavored protein is smooth, creamy, airy (not really frothy but it's got a lightness to it when blended), undoubtedly peanut buttery (it reminds me a lot of the flavor of PB2), and has no aftertaste or chalky taste. It's undoubtedly one of the best protein powders I have tried on the market. A smoothie keeps me satisfied because there's a whopping 23 grams of protein in a serving. Granted, there's not much fiber in the mix (1 gram), which would keep you satisfied longer, but if that's a concern you can always add a scoop of fiber supplement or bulk the smoothie up with other additives to keep you going.

Overall, I'm quite a fan of this and would strongly recommend it, especially if you're in the market for a good tasting protein powder that isn't chalky or unsatisfying. I'm looking forward to experimenting with this ... of course, it's perfect in a smoothie, but I think it'd be a great way to skyrocket the protein in a bowl of oatmeal or even adding the powder into pancake batter to bulk up the protein intake. The possibilities are endless.

A serving, 1 scoop, is 110 calories or 2 points plus values.

Lean Cuisine Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese

I'm not usually one to have a frozen dinner for lunch, particularly mac & cheese (because I have a picky palate).  But after hearing how great the Lean Cuisine Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese was I decided to pick some up after finally finding them at a local Target.

According to the box the meal is made with organic pasta, no GMO ingredients and no preservatives. Granted, the sodium level is a little high - but I feel if it suits your lifestyle and you're getting in water a little extra sodium at one meal isn't going to hurt you.

All that aside, I have to say, this is one of the best frozen mac & cheeses I have tried to date. I enjoy the reduced guilt mac & cheese from Trader Joe's - but I find this one is a lot creamier in consistency. The pasta in this isn't your normal run of the mill elbow macaroni, this is a cavatappi pasta (corkscrew). The shape of the pasta certainly helps the cheesey goodness stick to the noodle. The creaminess of the dish certainly make it delicious - it'd be great with a little broccoli added to it to bulk it up, or even alongside some grilled protein. Admittedly the shape of the container it is does make it seem like you're getting gypped for the calorie intake but it's satisfying so it's well worth it.

I think the thing I like the most, outside of it being tasty, is that it has 14 grams of protein in it! That's pretty good considering it's a frozen meal. I did pair this alongside a turkey burger - but I've also had it for a 'lighter lunch" with a greek yogurt on the side. Either way, it's been satisfying and I'd undoubtedly repurchase again.

A serving, 1 container, is 260 calories or 7 points plus values.

Harvestland Florentine Chicken Burgers

At my local wholesale club I picked up a package of the Harvestland Florentine Chicken Burgers. I've tried Harvestland products in the past and have been satisfied with them so far, so I figured I'd give these pre-cooked chicken burgers a shot.

The burgers are advertised as gluten free, antibiotic free, no animal by-products and the chickens are served an all vegetarian diet.

Since the chicken burgers are pre-cooked it makes reheating a breeze. Popping them onto a frying pan I brought them up to temperature and served as I would any normal hamburger. Topped with mustard, ketchup and some fresh lettuce and tomato I was good to go. The burgers are substantial that they're satisfying and are firm when you bite into them. I sometimes find with pre-cooked burgers the consistency can be off ... but these are along the lines of frozen hamburg patties where they stay firm in texture.

Flavor wise I wouldn't say they're overly strong. They're mild, taste like a chicken burger but there isn't any real or even strong spinach or cheese flavor that I found. In my eyes it's a way to get a little protein and (a small amount of) vegetable into your diet without really noticing it. They really aren't bad and I found I enjoy them as a convenience meal - for the days where I need something quick, but don't want to spend much time in the kitchen.

Each burger is 150 calories or 4 points plus values.

Dunkin Donuts Reese's Peanut Butter Square Donut

One day browsing through Facebook I stumbled upon a post from Reese's stating they had merged with Dunkin Donuts and created a Dunkin Donuts Reese's Peanut Butter Square Donut. Immediately, my mind was set on a mission. Truthfully ... I don't like Dunkin Donuts donuts (I prefer a few local smaller chain donut shops and a local grocery stores donuts - they're just tastier). But for Reese's I was inclined to give it a go.

I figured out the points for it and one afternoon I popped into the Dunkin Donuts near my work and picked one up. Do note these are pricier than the regular donuts available at DD's - these are $1.50/ea (which does help in only purchasing one). I brought my donut and iced coffee back to work to enjoy while I got back into the swing of things at my desk.

The first bite, I was like "okay..." but that's because it was just dough and the chocolate frosting on top - very reminiscent of your classic chocolate frosted. Now, the second bite is where all the magic happened. The second bite contained some of the pipped peanut butter filling. All I can say is: heaven. It's a heavenly experience. It's as if a chocolate frosted donut had a baby which was an airy peanut butter cream. Fantastic! It merges two perfect worlds (donuts and peanut butter cups) into one and it's done spectacularly.

As a Reese fan I can say this is reminiscent of Reese's but just in a completely different version of the classic - it's of course, in donut form. The peanut butter cream is light and airy, which also isn't adversely sweet. The combination is fabulous - almost so fabulous I need to forget how good it was since I live in an area where there is a Dunkin's on every corner!

Each donut is 370 calories or 10 points plus values.