Dannon Light & Fit Greek Toasted Marshmallow

 

Stopping into my local grocery store this past week I glanced up at the Dannon Light & Fit selection and almost leaped out of my coat – I saw a new flavor! With a quick swift movement I snatched up two containers of the Dannon Light & Fit Greek Toasted Marshmallow before I could even question the purchase.

I had the yogurt today for my snack at work and I have to say … it is absolutely delicious! The yogurt, in a way, reminds me of the toasted coconut vanilla – which is one of my favorites, although it doesn’t have that bold coconut flavor (if that makes any sense). There’s an underlying creamy vanilla aftertaste which is what reminds me so much of the coconut yogurt. Flavor wise – it’s definitely marshmallow. I wouldn’t necessarily say toasted marshmallow, but it’s definitely got a marshmallow flavor to it.

It’s the same consistency in the full range of L&F yogurts, but it’s along the same thickness of the coconut (due to there not being any mix-ins on the bottom). Overall I really enjoyed this and will undoubtedly pick up a few more when they’re re-stocked.

A container is 80 calories or 2 smart points.

 

Aldi - Little Salad Bar - Three Layer Hummus

In recent months I’ve really given Aldi another shot as being one of my go-to grocery stores, especially after news that one of my local grocery store chains is closing.  Since I haven’t had a chance to get to Trader Joe’s, I’ve figured I’d frequent Aldi to kind of lessen all the grocery store blows.

On one of my last trips to Aldi, I spotted and picked up the Little Salad Bar - Three Layer Hummus. This reminded me of a three layer hummus I had tried at Trader Joe’s years ago (you can see that review from 2014 here. This particular hummus layers are: Classic, Jalapeno Cilantro and Supremely Spicy.  There is another version containing roasted red pepper hummus and (if my memory serves me correctly) roasted garlic and classic hummus flavors.

Together the flavors compliment one another well. The classic hummus helps reduce the heat that comes from the supremely spicy (even though it’s on the bottom of the container). The cilantro jalapeno hummus is my favorite out of the lineup – and I find the cilantro really helps bring everything together and tones down the generate heat that can be packed in a bite. The supremely spicy is exactly as you’d imagine – very spicy, sometimes fire if you get a pepper in a bite.  The label doesn’t necessarily break down each hummus flavors ingredients, but based on what is listed – I’d say this has ground up red jalapenos in it. Together this is one incredibly delicious hummus and I really hope it becomes a permanent item in the Aldi hummus selection. Whether it will or will not be permanent, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the jalapeno cilantro will become a single packaged hummus variety.

I brought the container to work to have as a snack during the week along with baby carrots. The second time I had it (and all subsequent times since then) I have used 2 tbsp as a spread on a deli meat sandwich which is a great alternative to mustard, etc.  I love this hummus so much I purchased another container when I went to Aldi last night.

A serving, 2 tablespoons, is 50 calories or 1 smart point. A 4 tablespoon serving will cost you 100 calories or 3 smart points.

Halo Top Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

 

There's one thing about my taste buds when it comes to ice cream. If I'm given a choice between vanilla and chocolate - I am without a doubt going to go with the vanilla. Don't get me wrong - I love chocolate (cake, candy) but I am not a big fan of chocolate ice cream, shakes, etc. Low and behold when I spotted the Halo Top Vanilla Bean Ice Cream on my grocery store shelf, I picked up a pint without hesitation.

I had read reviews on the ice cream and I recalled reading the ice cream itself was creamy. I knew the consistency of the flavors ranged depending on the flavor/consistency/etc. The strawberry was creamy, the birthday cake wasn't ... so I was quite pleased to find this ice cream is in fact on the creamier side. The ice cream isn't riddled with ice crystals as in the case of most low calorie ice creams.

You may think vanilla ice cream is so boring, but this one isn't. It's a bold, pure vanilla bean flavor. Very vanilla-y and not plain at all. There are little specks of vanilla bean running all throughout the container. It's a healthier alternative on ice cream but it doesn't taste like it's a better-for-you version of ice cream. Tastes like any full fat high quality vanilla bean ice cream.

Overall I quite loved this and it certainly ranks up there with my favorite Halo Top flavors.

A serving, 1/2 cup is 60 calories or 2 smart points. Whereas 1 cup is 4 smart points, 1 1/2 cups is 6 smart points and the whole pint is 8 smart points.

 

Bridgford Original Sweet Baby Ray's Beef Jerky

 

I remember as a kid my mother would make beef jerky for my brother in our dehydrator but I never gave it a try. I think the idea of eating dried meat just weirded me out. As I got into adulthood and began following Weight Watchers I'd heard from the grape vine that it was a great snack substitute that offered a substantial amount of protein.  A savory sort of snack that would take a little time to eat but would pack enough of a protein punch that it wouldn't leave you looking for something else.

I had tried various beef jerky brands but either it was too dry, smelled funny, reminded me of dog treats (I know....I know...) or I just didn't like the flavor. That is until my fiancé and I went on vacation to Tennessee last year and his friend told him he should try out the Brigford Original Sweet Baby Ray's Beef Jerky. I was skeptical at first and didn't have any of the first bag - but when he opted to pick up another bag during the week, I decided to give it a try.

Truthfully I was quite surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. The jerky is softer in texture, it's chewy, some pieces are slightly tougher than others but for the most part it's a palatable texture.  Flavor wise - it's your classic Sweet Baby Rays barbecue sauce flavor. Smokey, sweet. Together it's a home run. I was glad to find it sold at my local Wal-Mart so now I can pick up a bag to have on hand whenever I am in the mood for a different snack.

There are a few other flavors available - teriyaki, sweet n spicy, honey barbecue and honey chipotle.

A serving, 1 ounce, is 90 calories or 2 smartpoints.

Chips Ahoy! Thins - Original

When I saw the new Chips Ahoy! Original Thins posted on a sneak preview Instagram post I knew I had to find them when they were released. Low and behold I found them one random afternoon while grocery shopping with my mother picking up random odds and ends that I needed during the middle of the week. Surprising since my local grocery store isn't always on the up-and-up with new products.

There is also a cinnamon sugar variety available, but since I am not much of a sugar cookie fan I stuck it out with the original chocolate chip (which is one of my favorite cookies - aside from my beloved Oreo's). I fell in love with the Oreo Thins so I had high, high hopes for these. I brought them home and immediately stashed them in the cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind, until I felt like it was time to have a cookie for enjoyment purposes and not just because I was stressed.

I pulled the package out of the cabinet yesterday and decided to treat myself to 3 thins. The cookies are your average Chips Ahoy! size, just thinner. The thinness of the cookie does make them crispy, but they're not so crispy that they're hard. They're reminiscent of the natural crispiness that is a Chips Ahoy! cookie, with an airy quality to them.

Quite frankly, I think these are better than the original. They're crisp, they're sweet, they're satisfying .... and I'd rather have four cookies versus two cookies (even if they're the same net weight, four is still greater than two!). I can't vouch for their dunk-ability because I always eat my Chips Ahoy! straight from the package ... but I'm sure you'd be able to get a slight dunk on these before they crumbled into nothingness.

A serving is 4 cookies, which are 150 calories or if you follow Weight Watchers Smart Points they're 7 Smart Points for a serving.

Oreo Thins

Oreo's have forever been one of my all time favorite packaged cookies - more specifically the classic original chocolate cookie, vanilla cream Oreo's have been my number one stunner. So, needless to say when I saw Oreo's came out with a thinner version of their cookies I was on board. Deciding to give it a whirl, I picked up a package of the classic Oreo Thins.

The cookies themselves are truly your classic Oreo ... just thinner. The cookie itself is crispy, chocolatey and just perfect. It's paired along the classic vanilla cream providing a thinner, delicious Oreo exploration. Truthfully ... these are hands down one of my all time new favorite Oreo's. I think I really like these more than the classic Oreo's which have forever had a piece of my heart. Even my mother, who isn't the biggest Oreo fan, prefers the Thins over the original any day of the week.

The crispiness of the cookie, and the fact that you can have 4 (compared to the normal 2) even though these are smaller is a win-win. I've only heard great things about the other two varieties that are available: golden and mint ... so I'll probably dabble in those sooner than later to see what all the fuss is about.

A serving, 4 cookies, is 140 calories or 4 points plus values.

Hostess Banana Twinkies

I am a banana dessert lover ... if it has banana in it (flavoring or actual banana) I am compelled to try it. Case in point: Hostess Banana Twinkies. I have seen these from time to time and one day on a quick trip through Wal-Mart I decided to pick up a box to give a whirl.

Coinciding with the whole minion craze, the Twinkies are individually wrapped (which is better for portion control) and have little minions on each of the wrapper. Based on sight alone, these look exactly like your average Twinkie and no one would know they were banana if you didn't tell them (the package isn't labeled as such).

Taste wise, it's your classic sponge cake, whereas instead of the regular vanilla cream in your average Twinkie, the cream in these are banana flavored. It's artificial but it's not a grotesque banana flavor. It's smooth, mild and actually quite enjoyable. Truthfully, I'm not the biggest fan of Twinkies ... but I quite enjoyed these, as did everyone that also gave them a try (my boyfriend, my mother, my niece and nephew - who exceptionally loved them). Overall they were quite the win in my opinion.

A serving, 2 cakes, is 270 calories or 7 points plus values or you can have 1 cake for 4 points plus values.

Oreo's Brownie Batter

There was so much hype around the release of the new Oreo Brownie Batter cookies that when I spotted them at my local Wal-Mart I popped a package in my cart without even batting an eyelash. Truth be told, Oreo's are one of my all time favorite cookies (the original being my favorite of them all). Since I typically don't buy the original Oreo's I find myself sampling the limited edition flavors since for some reason I can handle those in portion sizes.

I had these bad boys tucked away in the closet (out of sight out of mind). I decided to open them up one day and I have to say ... I'm not really impressed. Opening the package and giving the cookies a whiff, they have that brownie batter scent (which truly, is just a chocolate smell). Taking a bite of the cookie they really weren't wowing. They taste simply like a chocolate Oreo cookie - chocolate cookie shell, chocolate cookie creme. There may be a hint of brownie batter in the background ... but calling a spade a spade these are merely a chocolate Oreo cookie. Now I've never had the chocolate Oreo's they sell in stores so I can't compare the two against each other in a flavor showdown - but I'd assume they're different flavor categories. That assumption merely going on the fact I have tried the peanut butter Oreo and the Reese peanut butter cup Oreo's.

Overall I'd say these are alright ... but they're certainly not something that I'd undoubtedly repurchase. Truth be told, I'd probably skip on them if they were out for consumption at anyone's house. They're a bit of a miss for me...

A serving is 2 cookies, 140 calories or 4 points plus values.

Fiber One Limited Edition Pumpkin Bar

Let me take a moment to introduce you to my newest little friend from the Fiber One brand .... Fiber One Limited Edition Pumpkin Bar. I buy Fiber One products once in a while, but I don't eat them often because the added fiber can reek havoc on my stomach. But when I saw these pumpkin bars ... I knew I had to try them, and I am so glad that I did.

Before I really get into it I will say this: if you're a pumpkin fan, go to your local Target/Wal-Mart (or if you really enjoy them your local Costco) and pick up a box before they are gone for good.  The bars are truly perfection. They're soft and moist (seemingly moister than your average Fiber One bar). They are a true pumpkin flavor without being crazily artificial, there's a subtle sweetness to it with what appear to be white chocolate chips scattered here and there. They add a nice contrast in texture and the drizzle over the top is perfection.

Seemingly one of my favorite pumpkin desserts to date ... which sadly are only available for a limited time. The pumpkin lover in me wishes these would be available year round, because, yes, they are THAT good.

A serving, 1 bar, is 90 calories or 2 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.

Yoplait Greek 100 Calories - Orange Creme

I'm a pretty avid Yoplait and Dannon Greek yogurt fan, pretty much if I see a new flavor, I'm going to give it a try. One of the flavors that's been out for a while, but I haven't been able to find anywhere has been the Yoplait Greek 100 Calories - Orange Creme.

I have seen this shown on numerous Instagram postings for months and I finally found the allusive yogurt at a local Wal-Mart. Sadly, not all retailers carry this flavor ... and sadly I only purchased one container while at the store. Note to self: buy more when you find this again.

Granted, with that statement you can pretty much sum up the fact that I completely LOVE this yogurt! It tastes just like an orange creme popsicle. It's got that cool orange flavor, while having a creamy vanilla base which in my mind tastes along the lines of the ice cream in a orange cream popsicle. It's definitely a dessert like yogurt, that I'd enjoy as an after lunch or dinner "dessert". It's refreshing, delicious and a complete win for me. I need to venture my way back to my local Wal-Mart to get a couple of these to stash away in the refrigerator when I want something dessert-like.

A serving, 1 container, is 100 calories or 2 points plus values.

Fruit Dips - Just Ripe Banana

I have seen the Fruit Dips - Just Ripe Banana over and over again at my local grocery store but had yet to pick them up until I was in the mood for something along the lines of ice cream. I'm a banana dessert junkie so I decided I just had to give these a shot. Particularly after my coworker turned me onto frozen banana slices topped with nutella (sorry for that tidbit).

The box describes the frozen dessert as a "premium frozen fruit bars dipped in rich chocolate coating." They're smaller in size, but big enough to be satisfying and satisfy that sweet tooth. The bar itself is made of mashed up frozen bananas which are frozen to a stick. It's then coated in a thin layer of chocolate which help bring fourth the banana flavor and natural sweetness of the fruit. It's the right amount of sweetness to be a suitable dessert and satisfying enough when you want something cold to cool you down. I found it to be quite enjoyable - more so than the chocolate covered frozen bananas they sell in the grocery store and at local fairs.

These are sold in a number of different flavors. Just to name a few: strawberry, coconut, and they're also sold with a Greek yogurt topping instead of the chocolate.

A serving, 1 pop, is 92 calories or 2 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Popcorn in a Pickle

Popcorn is one of those snacks that can truly be transformed into anything depending on your mood. Salty, savory, sweet, plain, etc. ... the world is essentially your oyster when you're in a popcorn mood. Needless to say when I spotted the Trader Joe's Popcorn in a Pickle I had to pick up a bag for curiosities sake.

I am a pickle and popcorn fan ... so to have the two merge into one world, it felt like an experience one should engage in. After all I have had pickle flavored potato chips in the past, so, why not venture into pickle flavored popcorn? Upon opening the bag I admit, I was surprised as how much like an open jar of pickles it smelled like. That vinegary, briny sourness just punches your nostrils and really does kind of leave you confused, worried and possibly even scared.

First bite ... holy moly! It taste like a pickle! Mind boggling is all I can say. My taste buds were completely confused because it's a different texture, but the flavor is all there. The more you eat, the tarter it tends to get. My face was puckering, my jaw was getting tense. I only had about 3/4 of a cup before I decided to tap out. Just due to the tartness of it, I don't think this is something that one could easily be binge on. It's more of a have a snack, enjoy it and put it away for later. This isn't like the Baconesque popcorn that I basically have to hide from myself and put myself on time out when I continue to go back for more.

Sharing this with my mother (who absolutely loved it) one of the first things I said to her was, "I'm pretty sure this is a stereotypical pregnant woman's dream come true."

A serving, 2 cups, is 150 calories or 4 points plus values.

Yoplait Greek 100 Calories Whips! Coconut Macaroon

This has to be one of the most exciting yogurt finds I have stumbled across in a while. When the Greek Whips line launched I was quick to try a few of the flavors available ... but let me introduce you to one of the newest (and my favorite): Yoplait Greek 100 Calories Whips! Coconut Macaroon.

The Yoplait Whips are a Greek yogurt which is whipped, which leaves the yogurt with a very light and airy consistency. The consistency is more along the lines of freshly made whipped cream. Flavor wise it's definitely a healthier rendition of a coconut macaroon. The coconut flavor is there on center stage, but it's not overwhelming nor is it artificial tasting. The smoothness and creaminess of the yogurt give it that macaroon vibe.

Even though these have a few grams of protein less (9g) than your average Greek yogurt (12g), I still think these are a perfect little snack to have on hand from time to time. It definitely switches things up and can give your yogurt game a little twist. Plus it's a new texture to confuse your palette with.

A serving is 100 calories or 2 points plus values.

Hillshire Snacking Grilled Chicken Bites - Honey Mustard

Browsing the aisles of my local grocery store I stumbled upon some packaged protein snacks that caught my attention. What really caught my attention was the variety of flavors available in the line. With that I opted to try the Hillshire Snacking Grilled Chicken Bites - Honey Mustard.

I found these little gems stocked in the area where the Lunchables and other "kid friendly" meals/snacks would be. These are packaged similar to the Lunchables protein packs where there's a little spot for the container of dipping sauce and the chicken is served in the tray alongside it. One of the bonuses with these is that they can be consumed either cold or warmed in the microwave for 15 seconds.

One might be thinking if you wanted protein why not cook a piece of chicken and take it with you? Sure, that was one of my thoughts but ideally sometimes one needs a grab and go type of snack and protein is one of those staple items that is guaranteed to curb my appetite. I brought this to work with me, stashed it in the refrigerator and one day where I was feeling snacky I took it out, popped it in the microwave (I removed the sauce first) and found it was satisfying.

The chicken isn't the best chicken I've ever had, but it's decent for what you're getting. It's smooth, white meat chicken - perhaps slightly processed feeling, but far better than deli ham/turkey cubes. The honey mustard sauce was a perfect addition to the chicken, providing flavor without being overwhelming. The sauce container is smaller, but it was truly was more than enough for the 3 ounces of chicken in the container. I was able to get a good dip of each piece of chicken without running out of sauce before I ran out of chicken. Overall, I found it to be pretty satisfactory for a grab-and-go type of deal.

The flavor varieties my store carried were as follows: honey mustard, teriyaki, mango habanero and spicy chipolte BBQ.

A serving, 1 package, is 120 calories or 3 points plus values.

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Yoplait Greek 100 Calories - Honey

Back in the day when I first started getting into Greek yogurt, I'd try to ease the way into the transition with honey flavored yogurt. Of course not all Greek yogurts are the same ... but thru the course of time, I've found my new all-time favorite honey Greek yogurt. Let me introduce you to Yoplait Greek 100 Calories Honey.

The yogurt itself is moderately thick in consistency, while having a pretty straight forward honey flavor. It's not overly sweet, not boldly artificial, but just right. The yogurt isn't tart (which is appreciated) and has a nice sweetness to it. I enjoyed it alongside some fresh fruit which paired perfectly.  This would be perfect straight out of the container, made into a parfait, or even served topped with some cereal (as a substitute to milk). Overall, I really enjoyed it and I'm glad to have found a honey flavored Greek yogurt that isn't an assault on my taste buds.

A serving is 100 calories or 2 points plus values.

Lemon Twist Oreo's

One evening at a local grocery store, I stumbled across Lemon Twist Oreo's. I was on the fence as to if I wanted to try them because I had tried the Lemon Golden Oreo's and completely loved them ... but I was more concerned about the chocolate cookies hell mixing with a lemon cream center.

Let me say this ... don't let contemplating mixing lemon and chocolate together stop you because this isn't a horrendous experience!

Fortunately any concern I had was short lived because these are quite good. I'd coin these as the chocolate daddy to the lemon Oreo. There is certainly a lemon flavor to these, but it's very light and rather refreshing. The chocolate cookie itself helps cut back at the lemony zip making it a unique and refreshing flavor category. The lemon pop isn't as in-your-face as it is with the Golden Lemon Oreo's, but these certainly stand on their own.

Overall, I'd say these are pretty fabulous and worth the shot.

A serving, 2 cookies, is 140 calories or 4 points plus values.

Fiber One Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

I feel like my area was the last one to get in the Fiber One Strawberry Cheesecake Bars. Typically I'm a fan of Fiber One products, but I eat their products very sparingly because the added fiber in their products can give me a world of a tummy ache. But low and behold after spotting them at Target I picked up a box (these also come in Salted Caramel).

The cheesecake bars themselves are the same size as all other Fiber One products. There's not much else to say about these other than the fact they do really taste like cheesecake. They have that crumbly crust, soft gooeyish enter with a nice jelly consistency strawberry jam running down the top of it. They're mildly sweet, but certainly not sweet enough to overwhelm the taste buds.  A few folks have said putting them in the refrigerator only intensifies the cheesecake experience.

Overall, these are quite good. They do give you that cheesecake vibe without the absorbent amount of calories/points your average cheesecake brings to the table. So, that alone is a win in my book.

A serving is 150 calories or 4 points plus values.

Trader Joe's This "Fig Walks Into a Bar" Cereal Bars

Every once in a while I'm in the mood for a cereal bar. Typically I don't purchase them because I don't find them to be satisfying enough of a snack, but on one trip I decided to pick up a box of the Trader Joe's This "Fig Walks Into a Bar" Cereal Bars. I had run out of my Nature Box fig bars and decided to try something different.

These fig bars are your traditional cereal bar, smaller in size, but they offer a soft, slightly crumbly crust surrounding the soft and gooey fig center. They're really along the lines of a Fig Newton if they were laid 2-3 back to back. In comparison to a fig newton they're definitely a lot softer. Some of the packages after opening it was found that the fig center had sweat a bit, making the cereal bar crust a little softer and appeared to be wetter. Nothing detrimental or nothing that took away from the product.

Taste wise they taste just like a fig flavored cereal bar. There's nothing surprising about them. They're a good product and a decent snack to have to switch things up and make them interesting from time to time.

A serving, 1 bar, is 120 calories or 3 points plus values.

Chips Ahoy! Limited Edition Chocolate Banana

While at the grocery store I spotted a new cookie and decided to give it a try. The fact that it had banana in it, is truly what sold me ... so I welcomed a package of Chips Ahoy! Limited Edition Chocolate Banana cookies into my grocery cart with open arms.

Unfortunately the cookies didn't merely live up to the expectation built up in my head. I was expecting a strong robust banana flavor which was only intensified by the chocolate chips. But ... they were really a huge fail for me. The cookies themselves are along the lines of rather artificial banana flavor mixed in with your average Chips Ahoy! cookie. These are a crunchy cookie, like the standard Chips Ahoy! not the chewy variety. I truly wasn't a fan .. I had one cookie out of the whole package before "forcing" them upon my guests to try/eat/sample/take home.

Sadly these were a fail ... I guess if I really want a potentially delicious chocolate chip banana cookie I may have to just get adventurous in the kitchen.

A serving, 2 cookies, is 160 calories or 4 points plus values.