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Compiled by Steve, Written by Tammy, Edited by Melinda (a team effort!)
Queen Melinda invited me and Steve over to her house recently to do some product reviews.
Melinda: "Wait a minute! Queen - - How did I get that nick name? Have you been talking to Tim?"
Since I love protein AND free food, I was more than happy to attend. And of course, we wanted to share our findings with all of you as well. So buckle up…we tasted a lot of stuff, both good and bad.
The kind people at Kay’s Naturals asked us to do a comparison taste test of their Cookie Bites with the PowerBar Energy Bites. We had both flavors of Kay’s Cookie Bites (Cinnamon and Honey Almond), and 2 flavors of the Energy Bites (Chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter). While we were asked to do a "comparison taste test", none of us saw a comparison. The products are completely different in taste and texture. (We were NOT paid for this review, but we did receive the products free from Kay’s – there’s your disclaimer.)
Kay’s Cookie Bites (Cinnamon and Honey Almond) – it’s no secret that everyone in the WLS world loves these little bites of joy, especially the Cinnamon. Melinda and I have even been eating these as cereal with milk, as they taste a lot like frosted shredded wheat. With 10g of protein in a snack-sized bag and only 100 calories, it is definitely a healthy, low carb, low sugar way to get your snack on! And, if you use Rf's promo code "recover" when ordering online, you can receive 20% off your order, everyday!
Melinda: "My favorite is the cinnamon flavor. Immediately, cinnamon exudes from these little bites and fills your mouth with goodness."
PowerBar Energy Bites (Chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter) – these bites are round, chewy balls, with the texture of a Tootsie Roll center. None of us were fond of these, although we preferred the Chocolate over the Chocolate Peanut Butter. The PB version had really no PB taste at all, and had a funky aftertaste. The Chocolate had the same aftertaste, and when chewed, you ended with a sawdust texture in your mouth. The PB had 20g protein and 34g carbs (yikes!), while the Chocolate had less calories and only 11g protein (and both had 16g of sugar!). This makes sense, as the PB had that “protein taste” that WLS patients dread in many products. There was no comparison here – Kay’s Naturals won this contest hands down!
Melinda: "The peanut butter tasted only of protein with a slight cocoa powder flavor from the dusting on the outside. The chocolate on chocolate did have more of a chocolatey flavor of the two, but didn't enthrall me."
PowerBar Energy Gel Blasts - It should be noted that we also tried a sample of PowerBar’s Energy Gel Blasts that Melinda received in the mail as a free sample. Not much protein here – it’s a simple energy snack. But this would be an absolute NO-NO for WLS patients, as this is a ball of a gummy substance filled with sugary fruit gel. We feared to eat this completely, as it would probably clog up our pouches and sleeves beyond repair. With 130 calories and a whopping 24g of sugar – fuggetaboutit!
Melinda: "This reminded me of a huge gummy bear with a soft fruity center! But... I was very afraid to swallow it as it could get stuck in my pouch. Plus, I didn't really want a dumping episode that night."
The Kitchen Table Bakers Cheese Crisps - We then proceeded to taste test some new cheese crisps that Melinda ordered off the internet. I also saw them at my local Fresh Market. We tried 3 flavors – Aged Parmesan (mini crisps), Rosemary Parmesan, and “Everything” Parmesan, both of which were cracker-sized crisps. These are simply baked cheese with flavorings. Melinda preferred the plain parmesan, while Steve really liked the "Everything" parmesan. I enjoyed the Rosemary and more highly flavored “Everything” version. What a treat these are! These can replace crackers in your daily diet, adding a great crunchy texture to your salads. Or have a few with some pimento cheese. The uses can be endless, and they give a great replacement to high-carb, crunchy snacks. They are a bit pricey for the amount you get, so look for a good sale. We highly recommend these – 3 crisps are 80 calories, 6g fat, 2g carbs, 1g fiber, and 7g protein – and they come in several other flavors. Check them out at http://www.kitchentablebakers.com.
Melinda: "It's amazing how each of us liked a different flavor. The flavors seemed to suit our personalities. I liked the simple because, well I'm just a simple person with simple tastes. Steve enjoyed the one with lots of flavor, and he is the more eclectic of us all. Tammy liked the Rosemary, as she is truly a gourmet foodie. Steve said they were a bit salty for him, but I crave salty foods sometimes and this would be perfect for that occasion."
And now a comparison of a couple of RTDs (Ready-to-Drinks):
Syntha-6 RTD Chocolate – while we’ve been a fan of the Syntha-6 powders for awhile now, we had yet to taste their RTDs, and it was worth the wait. I must tell you – this was a joy to drink. It tastes just like chocolate milk, with no protein smell or aftertaste. It may be thicker and creamier than some of you prefer, but it can easily be thinned out with a bit of water. It just tastes SO good, and it will be my preferred RTD from now on. (I had been using Labrada, and no offense to the Labrada folks, because I love you – but this drink is by far the best I’ve tasted.) Three BIG “thumbs up” from our committee! And with a whopping 40g of protein, you get ½ of your daily protein needs in the most enjoyable way! (280 calories, 6g fat, 16g carbs, 1g fiber, 4g sugar)
Melinda: "This drink was so smooth and creamy! As soon as I removed the lid, I smelled chocolate milk, not protein or vitamins. The consistency was just perfect, not too thick or thin. Just right. I wish my parents had raised me on Syntha 6 Chocolate instead of regular dairy chocolate milk! I'd have ended up a body builder instead of a size 24/26! I liked the drink, but I'm a die hard Labrada fan through and through!"
Met-Rx Protein Plus RTD51 Vanilla – remember my recent protein bar review, when I stated that one of them was just YUCK? This was our “yuck” product of the evening. Don’t even bother. Both Steve & I spit it out immediately. It comes in a can, and you could taste the metal from the can. Horrible, just horrible! What are these people thinking? Get a focus group, for God’s sake!
Melinda: "I wish we had a video of this taste test. I didn't want to taste it because of the strong vitamin smell exuding from the can. Tammy was the bravest one of all, as she went first. She immediately spit it out! Steve's face turned from expectation to disgust in one second flat. I made the mistake of actually swallowing the little bit I took in."
Whey Up Wild Berry Protein Drink – we sipped on this one, too. Do you know that feeling on your tongue when you’re drinking heavy protein? You know, like your tongue has grown fuzz? Isopure and Protein Blitz both do this to me, and so does this. Melinda and Steve agreed. The flavor of this drink is actually quite good – a lot like Cherry Koolaid – so if you’re a fan of fruity protein drinks, give this one a whirl. We just didn’t like the protein feel in our mouths. Only 90 calories and 20g of protein per bottle. Melinda even mentioned that it might be more tolerable if you break it down with some water or make a slushy out of it.
And now for another GREAT find:
Trader Joe’s Low Effective Carb Chocolate Bar – YUM and double YUM! I’ve tasted a lot of sugar free chocolate since my surgery, and this one beats them all. Tastes more like a Hershey’s milk chocolate bar than anything I’ve had. Use caution – it is made with maltitol, which can cause a mild laxative effect in many people (and that’s an understatement for WLS patients), and there are FOUR servings per bar – so keep that in mind when you read the stats – 120 calories, 9g fat, 5g carbs, 3g fiber, 2g sugar, 9g maltitol and no protein. But protein isn’t what this is for – this is for pure enjoyment and indulgence. If you’re PMSing, ladies, just one piece of this will keep you happy for hours. Find a Trader Joe’s and buy this chocolate! I’m gonna see if I can melt it for other types of enjoyment (smile).
Needless to say, we didn’t need dinner after all the taste-testing we did! Steve and I also took home some sample protein powders to try, so keep an eye out for even more product reviews soon. We love doing this for you, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions. Just let Queen Melinda know what your thoughts are. See you soon!
Melinda: "There ya go! Calling me Queen again! Overall, it was great to spend time with friends with like interests. And, we had fun trying new products - even though a few were not so hot."