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.

Halo Top Strawberry Ice Cream

 

I recall seeing Halo Top posted all over social media – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube … but I couldn’t get my hands on it for the longest time because no retailer in my area sold it. I had heard wind that Whole Foods sold it – but my local Whole Foods is 20 minutes in a complete opposite direction of anywhere I normally frequent so it seemed like such a drag to go out of my way for a product I may not even find (since I’ve heard how it’s difficult to find because people scoop it up quickly).

If you’re not familiar, Halo Top is a low-calorie, high protein, low sugar ice cream – which is marketed as tasting just like regular ice cream, just without the guilt. One thing I do want to point out is: unlike other companies marketing schemes, Halo Top prints the calories for the entire pint on the front of their labels along with the flavor of the ice cream. No sneaky marketing tactic which makes you think an entire pint is 100 calories, etc.

Low and behold I was shocked to find my local grocery store had brought the ice cream in – so I opted to spend the $4.99 and give it a whirl. There weren’t many flavors available so I opted to go with the Halo Top Strawberry Ice Cream.  It was a toss up between strawberry, chocolate, chocolate mocha chip and vanilla bean. I love vanilla ice cream, but I opted to go with the strawberry for a different flavor (I’m not a big chocolate ice cream fan so that was a no-go).

Upon the first scoop I was completely blown away. The flavor, the creaminess and the amazingly delicious taste. I’ve tried other healthier alternatives to ice cream and this one blew all of them out of the water. The strawberry was a true strawberry flavor, not chemically altered.  The ice cream was amazingly creamy which was surprising considering other brands I’ve tried; they’ve all had an icy quality to them. No iciness to this beauty, just creamy, high quality ice cream flavoring.  Some say to let the ice cream sit out at room temperature to soften up a bit – but I found this to be perfection straight out of the freezer. I don’t quite know how they do it, and I won’t question it much – but I’ve been sold, hook line and sinker since.

A serving, ½ cup is 70 calories or 2 smart points. 1 cup is 5 smart points, 1 ½ cups is 7 smart points and the entire pint is 10 smartpoints.

Banana and Egg White Oatmeal

Banana and Egg White Oatmeal

Long ago (almost a year ago) I was in a breakfast slump and needed something different for breakfast. I was tired of eggs in all forms, cereal never does the trick and I had far exceeded my deli meat sandwiches for breakfast.

I heard about putting egg whites in oatmeal from a friend and was truthfully weirded out. I was paranoid that it'd be like eating lumpy scrambled eggs that you threw oatmeal into. I had put it off for months until I decided to just dive on in and give it a try.

After giving it a good old college try, I truthfully fell in love with it. So much so that I ate it faithfully for breakfast Monday thru Friday for almost a solid year.

The combination of the egg whites, banana and oatmeal give it a bit of a custard vibe. It's smooth, creamy, satisfying and above all filling. I've found it's perfect on its own - while it's also good with fresh fruit on top of it - or even with a little peanut butter (I use powdered & I’ve also used protein powder in it – both come out perfect) stirred into it. Deliciousness!

Serves 1. 5 Smart Points & 5 Points Plus.
Ingredients:

1/2c quick cook oatmeal
1/2c egg whites
1 banana, mashed
1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

1 Truvia/Equal packet (optional)

Add all ingredients into a microwave safe bowl.  Mix until combined.

Add bowl into microwave and microwave for 2 minutes. Remove bowl, stir. Place back into the microwave and cook for an additional minute. Stir. If oatmeal isn’t at your desired consistency add back into the microwave for an additional minute.

When done you can top with fresh fruit. If the oatmeal is a little too thick, add a few tablespoons of water to thin out and stir in.

Enjoy!

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.

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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Trader Joe's Grilled Chicken Strips

Every once in a while I like to have a convenience food on hand to make my meal prepping for lunches a little easier. Last time I went to the store I made sure to pick up a package of the Trader Joe's Grilled Chicken Strips. The chicken is fully cooked chicken breast, which is cut into strips and is plain ole chicken - no extravagant flavors present.

 

Since the chicken is already cooked, all that it requires is a couple minutes in the microwave and it's ready to serve up. What I like to do is open the package and weigh out my serving. I put the individual servings in the fridge and microwave what I need for a particular meal before I'm going to eat it. It just makes things easier to prep and divide servings.

 

I'm a picky eater when it comes to chicken and this is real white meat chicken breast, which pairs perfectly with whatever you decide to pair it with. I typically go with a salad or a grilled chicken salad wrap. Since it's plain it'll adapt to whatever flavors you add to it.

 

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

Weight Watchers Chicken Burgers

I feel like it's been ages since Weight Watchers launched frozen chicken products in local grocery stores. I remember when they first launched I was excited to give them a try. I've since purchased a few packages of the Weight Watchers Chicken Burgers (note: these are now sold in resealable plastic zipper top bags). One afternoon I pulled the box out of the freezer and cooked the chicken burgers up as part of a quick "meal prep" to have some cooked protein on hand.

 

The packaging used to be in big bulky boxes, with an inner package containing the frozen chicken burgers/chicken strips. But I've seen slimmer packaging (like plastic bag containers) in the local grocery stores these days, which definitely makes storing a lot easier and less spacious.

 

The burgers are formed and ready to be cooked. I chose to cook them on top of the stove, seasoning one side with some hamburger seasoning. They cooked up easily and were quite satisfying. The chicken remained moist without drying out and were flavorful.  Adding a little ketchup, mustard, onion, lettuce and tomato to a sandwich I definitely didn't miss the beef. These were one of the better frozen chicken burgers I have tried out on the market. The best part is these are readily available in my area to be purchased, unlike some other brands.

 

Each chicken burger is 140 calories or 3 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Curry Chicken Tenders

I remember trying these Trader Joe's Curry Chicken Tenders many, many moons ago and I just never went back and revisited them. I think it was due to the fact I tried cooking them in a grill pan on the stove and it just turned into a mess. So I gave it some time and this time decided to bake them in the oven to make life easier and make the chicken cook the way I wanted it to.

Now, I am a fan of curry ... but for the most part I tend to eat Jamaican curry. Curry spices vary region to region, and with that change the overall flavor and spice category widely varies. For this particular dish I find this to be more of a mild American flavored curry. Where it's got a little bit of smokey flavor to it, but it's certainly not spicy on the tongue. There's more of a turmeric and cumin flavor to it than the general spicy heat that can come with other varieties of curry seasoning.

The package states to grill up the tenders but I opted to bake mine in the oven and I found they came out perfectly. I baked them at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes and removed them from the oven when done. I allowed them to cool before packaging up into containers for meals during the week.

Overall, they're not bad. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was that on some of the tenders you could see visible pieces of fat/cartilage. To some that wouldn't be bothersome, but I'm a person who cleans their meat free of any trace of fat/cartilage/etc.

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

Dannon Oikos Coconut Creme Triple Zero Greek Yogurt

After giving the Banana Creme flavor a try I went on a long hunt for other flavors and was excited when I found the Dannon Oikos Coconut Creme Triple Zero Greek Yogurt. As I mentioned in past reviews what sold me was the fact this yogurt has an outstanding 15 grams of protein in it. I found the flavor, consistency and satisfaction I received from eating the yogurt was well worth the repurchase. I've also heard that nutritionists across the board are wowed by the nutrition facts on this yogurt and some are saying this is one of the best out there (in my area at least).

I enjoy some of the other coconut yogurts on the market so I was quite excited for this one. I found the consistency was the same as the banana .. thick, creamy and very satisfying. Although, I have to say, I am not the biggest fan of this flavor. It's very, very mild and comes off rather plain on my taste buds. Sure, there's a hint of coconut flavor in there, but it's not as flavorful as some of the other triple zero yogurts I've had.

I wouldn't repurchase this particular flavor, but there are other flavor options readily available that I do enjoy and that I will continue to purchase.

A serving is 120 calories or 3 points plus values.

Aria Woman's Protein in Vanilla

I've been on a smoothie kick lately so I decided to give another protein powder I had been waiting to try a shot. Since I ran out of my vegetable based protein powder - I decided to give the Aria Woman's Protein - Vanilla a try.

 

I do want to note, this particular protein powder does have whey in it - so if you're sensitive to whey this would not work for you.

 

The directions state to add 2 level scoops to 1 cup of water or skim milk. I added the powder to water and tried it ... and it tasted chalky, very bland and just not something I'd throw in a shaker and chug down. There wasn't an immediate vanilla flavor ... more of a plain mildly chalky beverage. I dumped the protein powder mixture over some ice, frozen strawberries, a banana and a few pieces of frozen mango along with a green yogurt and blended it up. The first time I made it, I eliminated the mango and it was just not the right flavor -- I find the mango added a bit of sweetness that it needed otherwise it was a bland drink.

 

I don't mind whey proteins, but I do find they make my tongue feel dry. The Aria powder (along with a Greek yogurt) was very filling and kept me satisfied up until lunch time - so I can't complain. All I can say is it needs to be jazzed up by some fresh/frozen fruits in order for it to be an intriguing protein smoothie.

 

A serving, 2 level scoops, is 90 calories or 2 points plus values.

EAS Fruit Smoothie - Fruits & Super Greens

Walking through Target one day I decided that I wanted to switch up my breakfast routine. For the longest time I've been in a bit of a breakfast rut - eating some of the same foods over and over again and I started to get bored. I didn't want to go to foods like cereal, etc., because I don't find those to be very satisfying in the morning - as I try to keep my breakfast protein packed (it helps me balance my appetite during the day/night). I spotted a bag of EAS Fruit Smoothie in Fruits & Super Greens.

What got me to pick up the bag was the "18g of protein" written on the front of the bag. Picking it up, I quickly checked out the nutrition facts. Pretty good stats, moderate amount of protein (not 18g - it's only that if made with 1 cup of skim milk, but 10g) and it contained greens which I've found I enjoy having made green juice a number of times.

The bag of smoothie mix is slightly pricey - $9.99 for 11 servings, but overall it's not terrible in price when divided out over that time period. The protein powder is made of vegetable based protein - so there is no whey in it, it's main ingredient is soy protein isolate.

I have been quite enjoying this protein powder. I've made a smoothie for myself for breakfast for almost 2-weeks and it's been satisfying and filing up until lunch time. I mix the protein powder with 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk and 1/2 cup water. It could be dropped into a blender bottle and consumed that way ... but I prefer to make a smoothie out of it. I add 5-6 ice cubes to a blender, toss in a banana, add in the mixed up smoothie mixture and usually a few blueberries or 2 strawberries (if I have any on hand). I also add in a container of Greek yogurt (I've used banana, strawberry banana, coconut, mango lemonade, etc.) and it helps thicken it up a bit more while adding a good boost of extra protein to the drink. I think you could easily add some extra greens (spinach, cucumber, romaine, kale, etc.) to it without it really changing the flavor of the protein powder itself which provides good flavor.

It's satisfying, delicious and one of the best smoothies I've made in the morning because it stays nice and thick without watering down because of the added ice cubes. I'll definitely be picking up another bag to have on hand.  The only downside, which is a minor one, is the packaging. With it being a zip-lock container your hand gets covered in some powder retrieving the scoop and filling the scoop. Again, not a big deal, but I figured I'd share.

A serving is 2 scoops of powder, which is 90 calories or 2 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Sunflower Seed Butter

One afternoon on a trip through my beloved grocery chain - the sample of the day involved PB&J sandwiches using Trader Joe's Sunflower Seed Butter. I've seen this nut butter on the shelves, but never quite batted an eyelash as it because I wasn't quite sure how it would taste.

 

As this is a nut butter, when you open the container the oil and butter are separated. A good stirring easily gets the two combined again for serving.

 

Straight out of the jar you can taste the distinct natural flavor of sunflower seeds. If you've ever had sunflower seeds then you know that nutty flavor they provide. The nut butter tastes very much of sunflower seeds. Admittedly it is different on the palette if you're not used to the flavor and/or may be expecting a peanut butter taste. It is a slightly bold flavor, but nothing too overwhelming. But if you're making it into a sunflower butter and jam/jelly sandwich ... the sunflower flavor is rather muted by the jam/jelly and not as pungent as it is on its own.

 

I find it to be rather satisfying and quite delicious to have as an addition to a meal or a snack. Plus it's good to step "outside the box" every once in a while and try something different ... because you never know if you're going to like it (or not)!

 

A serving is 2 tablespoons, which is 200 calories or 5 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Honey Roasted Peanuts

Lately I've been on a peanut kick ... so I figured while at Trader Joe's I'd check out their selection and see what was available. While browsing I decided to snagged a bag of Trader Joe's Honey Roasted Peanuts. My first thought was, my gosh that's a lot of peanuts! The bag contains 1 pound of peanuts and only costs $3.99 .. quite a steal when considering prices at other grocery store locations.

 

The peanuts themselves have that nice soft crunch you get from peanuts. They're flavored well, each peanut having its own fair share of coating. They're sweet, they're salty ... they're just plain delicious!  I know honey roasted peanuts are a dime a dozen, but these are some of the best that I've had - outside of your standard Planter's honey roasted. The only downside to them is they can be addicting and one serving isn't usually enough. But on a positive note ... it's protein!

 

A 1 oz serving (roughly 1/4 cup) is 170 calories or 5 points plus values.

Pure Protein Shake Cookies n Crème

While grocery shopping I picked up a bottle of the Pure Protein Shake Cookies n Crème. I had seen the Cookies n Crème flavor in stores for a while and had wanted to try it. I’ve tried both the chocolate and vanilla and I have to say I am pretty impressed with this line of protein drinks.

The Cookies n Crème flavor is not quite what I expected. When I think of cookies n crème I think of vanilla base with oreo cookie bits running through it. This particular protein drink is chocolate based with a hint of vanilla and cookies in the background.  It’s definitely far more chocolate than any other flavoring – but regardless of that, it is good. But if you’re looking for classic cookies n crème flavoring you will not find it with this product.  I enjoy these drinks because they’re loaded with protein (23g), are convenient and they are not chalky or have a weird aftertaste to them. They’re delicious, filling and come in a few flavors to offer some variety.

If you are a powder protein fan, they do sell powdered protein in stores. I’ve seen it sold in my local grocery store – Market Basket, Hannaford and Wal-Mart.  Calorie wise a 12 ounce bottle is 120 calories of 3 points plus values.

QUESTION:

What is your favorite protein drink/mix?

Trader Joe’s Uncured Pastrami

I have been trying more deli meats from Trader Joe’s because they are not preserved and do not contain any nitrates or nitrites. So, I picked up a package of the Trader Joe’s Uncured Pastrami to fry up for two different meals.

I enjoy pastrami sandwiches, but I do not purchase full-fat pastrami because it’s not worth the calories. With that I typically purchase Thin & Trim Pastrami which I enjoy but I have to admit, it’s not entirely reminiscent of old fashioned pastrami.  I find that this Trader Joe’s pastrami is straight up delicious. It reminds me of full-fat pastrami but a bit leaner and meatier. It has great flavor and can give your taste buds an occasional kick due to the black pepper rub – but it’s nothing overwhelming.

I sliced up some onion and dropped it into a non-stick pan and let them cook after lightly seasoning them with pepper and salt. I then measured out 4 ounces of pastrami and added each slice to the pan, letting it fry up on each side. When done I removed it from the flame and added it to pita bread, drizzled with mustard and topped with lettuce and tomato.  And I have to say … it was perfect. A filling and delicious sandwich which tasted a lot “guiltier” than it was.

A 2 ounce serving is 80 calories or 2 points plus values and a 4 ounce serving is 4 points plus values.

QUESTION:

What is your go to deli meat?

Weight Watchers Sweet Hazelnut Latte smoothie

A couple weeks ago Weight Watchers launched a new smoothie product to sell within Weight Watchers locations. When I spotted the Weight Watchers Sweet Hazelnut Latte, I wanted to give it a try especially after my leader mentioned mixing it with her coffee in the morning.

I quite enjoy the Weight Watchers smoothies. I’ve bought a number of flavors over the years and have found some that I really love.  They’re a great, quick source of protein – 7grams per pack. What I like about them the most is they’re portable. I can either make a blended drink at home or I can stuff a pouch in my purse, pour the contents into a bottle of water, shake and I’m ready to go.  I’ve had smoothies both ways, but I ideally enjoy them the most when they’re blended with a bit of ice and if the flavor is suitable – some fruit.

The Sweet Hazelnut Latte is smooth, creamy, and sweet with a satisfying taste of hazelnut. Quite enjoyable, especially if you enjoy hazelnut flavored drinks (coffees) or even desserts. I mixed my packet with water and some coffee, added in 5 ice cubes and blended it up.  It was perfect and since smoothies are not something I guzzle down, it took a little while to drink which fully satisfied me.

I feel this would be a very versatile addition to a coffee lover’s life. You could add some to your coffee in the morning instead of using milk or creamer.  Since it does change the color of the drink to a light muddy brown color, it’s passable. I don’t put much milk or creamer in my coffee – just enough to slightly change the shade and this will do the trick. I plan on experimenting with it to see how I enjoy it and how much I can stretch it (by adding coffee to it, etc.).  Overall this is definitely a 2 thumbs up purchase for me!

QUESTION:

Have you tried the new Sweet Hazelnut Latte smoothie?

Pure Protein Shake Frosty Chocolate

Recently, you may have seen me post about the Vanilla Cream Pure Protein Shake.

Well, while at the supermarket I was meandering through the aisles in the health food section and noticed they carried 4-pack screw top bottles of Pure Protein Shake so I picked up the Frosty Chocolate to try.  There was also a Cookies & Cream flavor, which I undoubtedly want to try next.  Although I have since spotted the brand at Walmart (as well a keg of pure protein powder).

There are days and instances where I just need to boost my protein intake.  I admit I don’t like to drink my points, but for a whole can which can give me 23 grams of protein for only 3 points plus values – I’ll take it.  Most protein powders/shakes/drinks are in the 5+ points value range particularly when they get into the higher levels of protein such as this (23g).  Occasionally on days where I’m not really hungry for good for breakfast, I’ll have a shake and it tides me over for a few hours until lunch time.

The Frosty Chocolate isn’t bad, but I think the vanilla is better.  This doesn’t have a solid aftertaste, but it does kind of remind me of a chalky chocolate – but it’s nothing disgusting.  I’ve drank two cans of these already and they just do the job.

QUESTION:

Have you tried any of the Pure Protein Shakes?

Pure Protein Vanilla Shake

Recently I’ve been in the market for protein shakes/drinks/supplements. I had surgery and nurse after nurse had been telling me to increase my protein intake because it would help my healing process smooth along a lot quicker.  Typically when I am uncomfortable, the last thing I want to do is think about what there is in the house to eat – let alone what I want to ask someone to make for me, or even muster up the courage to make it myself.  I’d tried a few other premade protein drinks in the past and haven’t been too keen on them (chalky, aftertaste, or just plain nasty) but when I spotted these Pure Protein Shakes at Trader Joe’s I decided to give the vanilla a shot before I bought anymore just to have on hand.

I admit, I don’t like to drink my points, I’d rather eat them.  But there are times where I just need protein because my body feels like its starving and I’m launched into what I refer to as “hungry horror mode.”  Having something that’s packed with protein certainly helps and this protein shake has 21 grams of protein in it – a lot more than the Boost version I had picked up at Target a whiles back.

After having it in the refrigerator for a few days, I took out the can, shook it up a bit and took a swig.  Surprisingly, it was good.  It’s a thinner beverage, but not too thin … not too thick, kind of middle of the road in thickness. It’s definitely vanilla cream – but it’s a smooth and creamy taste.  They remind me of a Weight Watchers protein powder drink, but just with double the amount of protein. There is a bit of an aftertaste, but nothing drastic or overwhelming and it goes away rather quickly.  I did find it was sustaining and I felt satisfied after drinking it and wasn’t hungry for a few hours after drinking it.

There is a chocolate variety available which is slightly higher in points.  The vanilla cream is only 2 points plus per can, which is amazing for a protein drink.  All that I’ve found have been 5-6 points plus values each, for premade drinks.  Next time I pop into Trader Joe’s I am definitely picking a few more of these up.  They’re a perfect hold over snack/beverage between meals.

QUESTION:

Have you tried any of the Pure Protein Shakes?

Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt – Strawberry

I purchased a box of Yasso Strawberry Frozen Greek Yogurt at the grocery store.  I had been on the search for frozen greek yogurt ice cream pops since I saw them advertised in the Weight Watchers weekly (it was there brand though). I flipped the box over, figured out the points plus values and set the box in my carriage.  I wasn’t sure how they’d turn out because I know I’m very finicky with my regular Greek yogurts.

Each pop has 70 calories, 6 grams of protein and only 2 points plus values!  Flavor wise, it’s a very smooth strawberry flavor.  It’s not very sweet, but it’s not very tart – it’s got a great balance right in the middle.  The bar itself is smooth and creamy and I undoubtedly felt satisfied after eating it.  It was a perfect treat to have when we had an unexpected heat wave come through.  They do come in a variety of flavors, but the strawberry is the only flavor I’ve tried. 

I do want to point out there are coupons available on the Yasso website if you sign up for their fan rewards program.

QUESTION:

Have you tried any of the Yasso frozen greek yogurt pops?

Special K – Protein Cereal

I was looking to boost up my protein intake and after looking a few things up online I stumbled upon an article about Special K’s brand of cereal that is very high in protein.  I looked up the product and put it on my shopping list.  I had a hard time finding it at the store at first and then spotted it on the very bottom shelf and it was the last box left.  I calculated the points plus values (3 for a ¾ cup serving) and into the cart it went.

The greatest part of this cereal is the fact that it offers 10 grams of protein in a single ¾ cup serving.  I try to have protein with every meal and I find this cereal completely satisfies me and keeps me full.  Typically cereals satisfy my hunger for a couple hours and then I’m immediately starving.  Adding some fruit to the cereal definitely bulks it up and makes it a very satisfying and filling breakfast.

The flavor of the cereal reminds me of a cross between Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes. They’re not sweet but there is a hint of sweetness to it (if that makes sense).  They’re crunchy but it’s softer than Frosted Flakes would be because this cereal is made from wheat.  I would suggest waiting to put your milk on it right before you begin to eat it because your cereal will sog out on you quickly (within 10 minutes at least).

I do quite enjoy this cereal and will definitely pick up another box once I finish this one.

QUESTION:

What is your favorite high protein/fiber cereal?