Bite of the Best

Kid-friendly, animal shaped cereals are now available from Snackimals in Vanilla Blast and Cinnamon Crunch. The cereal is packaged in GreenChoice 100% recycled cartons, is organic, non-GMO and made without artificial preservatives, artificial ingredients, hydrogenated oil or high fructose corn syrup.

Each 1-ounce serving contains 110 calories, no saturated fat (of 0.5 grams total), 80 milligrams sodium, 7 grams sugar and 2 grams protein.

- Alyssa Tucker, Bite of the Best Intern: The Cinnamon Crunch is my flavor of the two flavors because it packs so much flavor into each crunchy bite. Even though these cereals contain modest amounts of sugar,  they still have a sweet enjoyable flavor.

MorningStar Farms has recently added a Mediterranean Chickpea Veggie Burger to its already existing line.

Each 2-ounce burger contains 110 calories, 0.5 grams saturated fat (of 4.5 grams total), 240 milligrams sodium and 10 grams protein.

- bonnie:  Although I found these tasty, I prefer the texture and flavor of their Grillers to these chickpea ones. Both the Grillers and these Mediterranean Chickpeas “burgers” contain 70 percent less fat than regular ground beef ones.

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The Crock-Pot Hook Up Connectable Entertaining System is the newest addition to the Crock-Pot line of products. Slow cooker units can connect by plugging into each other and are sold individually or as a kit, making it customizable based on your needs.

Units include a round 2-quart cooker, an oval 3.5-quart cooker, and an oval with two 1-quart  cookers, with each having an individual low, high and warm manual settings. All have removable stoneware with dishwasher-safe lids.

- bonnie: This is one of those “slap my head, why didn’t someone think of these before” product. Love how these snap together and each has a retractable cord. I used them recently to keep soup and chili hot at the engagement party I had for Eric and Casey. I highly recommend.

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Gustiamo is introducing a new fusilli pasta shape — the first shaped introduction since 1926. This thick, corkscrew shaped pasta was inspired by the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s spiral staircase leading to the top of the tower.

Each 1-ounce serving contains 100 calories and 4 grams of protein.

Blue Monkey is introducing a new product called Coconut Chips. These chips contain seven grams of fiber per serving. The Coconut Chips contain coconut, coconut nectar and salt, and are baked without preservatives. They are also vegan and GMO-free.

Each 1.4 ounces bag contains 256 Calories, 22 grams of saturated fat of 22 grams of total fat and 6 grams of fiber.

Angie Hwang, an intern at Bite of the Best: These appetizing chips are healthy snacks providing a high fiber content! Although saturated fats tend to be linked to cardiovascular disease, the saturated fats unique to coconut oil have not been.

Setton Farms introduces Pistachio Chewy Bites made with real pistachios and cranberries. They are made without additives, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or preservatives.

Each 1.5-ounce serving contains 210 calories, 1.5 grams saturated fat (of 12 grams total), 11 grams sugar and 6 grams protein.

- Alyssa Tucker, Bite of the Best Intern: These healthy snacks are the perfect combination between crunchy and chewy. With the crunch of the nuts and the chewy texture of the cranberries these are a great grab-n-go snack packed with vitamin A, calcium and iron along with 6 grams of protein per square.  I wasn’t left feeling hungry.

Holland House has introduced, Saké Cooking Wine, a Japanese wine made from fermented rice in a fashion similarly used to produce beer. The result is a light amber  liquid with a slightly sweet taste.

Commonly used in Japanese cooking, usually in sauces and marinades, each 2-tablespoon serving contains 20 calories, no fat, 190mg sodium and no sugar.

Pepperidge Farm introduced it’s first gluten-free line that includes Simple Tortilla and Nacho Cheese Chips. These chips are baked in a gluten-free facility to prevent  the chance of cross-contamination.

Each 1-ounce serving, or 24 chips, contains 140 calories, 0.5 gram saturated fat (of 4.5 grams total), 200 milligrams sodium and 2 grams protein.

- Alyssa Tucker, Bite of the Best Intern: These are a flavorful, crunchy, low calorie chip option. I enjoyed the Nacho Cheese more than the Simple Tortilla, because of its great cheesy flavor without a grainy texture. The Simple Tortilla chips are a good option for dipping.

Avalon is featuring its latest invention: Burger Stomper.

The Burger Stomper creates uniform-sized tight patties that do not crack around the edges or fall apart when cooked. This allows for evenly cooked, juicy burgers.  The kit includes attachments to make both 6 and 2 ounce burgers (the latter for sliders.

Burger Stomper provides a quick and easy way to prepare large amounts of burger patties for outdoor grilling.

Simply Snackin introduces dried meat snacks that combine lean sirloin or whole chicken breasts with dried fruits, (apples, cranberries, blueberries and pineapples) or black beans and vegetables (jalapeños or shallots).

Available in Dried Chicken Breast, Beef Sirloin with Apples and Cherries, Beef Sirloin with Cranberries & Raspberries, Teriyaki Beef Sirloin with Pineapples,  Chicken Breast with Italian Style Seasoning and Romano Cheese, TeriyakiChicken Breast with Mangos & Papayas. Each 1-ounce serving contains 60 calories, no saturated fat (of 0-0.5 grams total), 270-310 milligrams sodium and 8-11 grams protein.

Hood has introduced a new line of Greek Frozen Yogurt available in four flavors, Blueberry, Double Chocolate Chip, Honey Vanilla and Raspberry Granola.

Made with live and active cultures, each 1/2 cup serving contains 110-130 calories, 1-2.5 gram saturated fat (of 2-3 grams total), 70-85 milligrams sodium and 13-16 grams sugar.

Frito Lay has added Artisan Grilled Red Pepper and Tomato Salsa Tortilla Chips to it’s already existing line of Tositios. This new flavor is made with a nine-grain blend of real ingredients like ancho chile, smoked paprika, garlic, onion, roasted red bell pepper and more.

Each 1-ounce serving contains 150 calories, 1 gram saturated fat (of 8 grams total), 120 milligrams sodium and 2 grams protein.

Wonderful Pistachios announced two flavors: Sweet Chili and Salt & Pepper.

A serving size of Sweet Chili and Salt & Pepper each contain 160 Calories, 14 g of fat and 290 mg of sodium. Both products have a serving size of 1/2 cup including shells.

Angie Hwang, an intern at Bite of the Best: These delicious snacks provide a heart-healthy option that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Turkey Hill Dairy has added two new flavors —Salted Caramel and Vanilla Bean & Chocolate — to their line of All Natural Ice Cream.  
Each 1/2-cup serving contains 160 calories, 6 grams saturated fat (of 10 grams total), 18 grams sugar and 3 grams protein.

Al fresco has added the All Natural Chicken Sausage Breakfast Patty, Country Style to it’s already existing line of breakfast sausages.

Each 1.75-ounce patty contains contains 80 calories, 1.5  grams saturated fat (of 4.5  grams total), 270 milligrams sodium and 9 grams protein.

- bonnie: I like most other al fresco sausages — even featured one — but not these. I found them unpleasantly gristly. They are though lower in calories and fat than traditional breakfast sausages.

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Jcoco is a new line of American chocolate bars created by Jean Thompson, the “j” in jcoco. Each bar is made with 100% natural ingredients. Each purchase of jcoco triggers a donation to a local food bank.

Available in five flavors, Edamame Sea Salt, Veracruz Orange, Noble Dark, Black Fig Pistachio and Vanuatu Origin,.

Each 1-ounce bar contains 140-160 calories, 5-7 grams saturated fat (of 9-11 grams total), 0-125 milligrams sodium, 7-17 grams sugar and 1-3 grams protein.

Zola has expanded it’s line to include Natural Coconut Water with Pulp. Coconut water naturally contains five essential electrolytes, potassium, sodium phosphorus and magnesium and Zola has added real coconut pulp to the water. Each 8-fluid ounce serving contains 60 calories, zero fat, 90 milligrams sodium, 280 milligrams potassium and 13 grams sugar.

Crispy Green introduced Fruit Tangerine as their newest flavor of dried fruits. All Crispy Green products are made from 100% natural fruit, have a 36 month shelf life, are free from preservatives and are vegan-friendly, peanut-free, tree-nut free, gluten-free and Kosher-certified.

Each 0.36-ounce serving, contains 40 calories, zero fat,  zero sodium and 6 grams sugar.

- Alyssa Tucker, Bite of the Best Intern: I enjoyed the tangy flavor of the dried Fruit Tangerine. I could tell it was made from actual fruit as the flavor was more rich on the inside after biting into it. They’re a good option for a low calorie snack.

BluePrintJuice added Yellow 2 Ginger Limeade sweetened with raw agave nectar to its line of fresh juice cleanses.

Yellow 2 is 100% natural, raw (unpasteurized), cold-pressed juice from fruits and vegetables. Each bottle contains 170 calories, zero fat, 10 milligrams sodium and 38 grams sugar.

Philadelphia Extra Smooth Cream Cheese spread introduced Original and Mixed Berry flavors.

Each 2-tablespoon serving contains 60 calories, 2.5 grams saturated fat (of 4 grams total), 75 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar and 1 gram protein.

Red Mango has introduced Skinny Sorbettos, a  line of dairy-free, sugar-free, stevia-sweetened frozen treats, infusedwith GanedenBC³⁰® (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086) a probiotic that help support the immune and digestive systems when consumed as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

Available in all Red Mango shops.

Fiber One has recently introduced Protein Bars in two flavors: Caramel Nut and Coconut Almond.

The Caramel Nut variety contains 130 calories, 3 grams saturated fat (of 6 grams total), 7 grams protein, 7 grams sugar, 5 grams fiber and 180 milligrams sodium per 1.17-ounce bar. The Coconut Almond variety contains 140 calories, 4 grams saturated fat (of 6 grams total), 5 grams fiber, 7 grams sugar, 6 grams protein and 115 milligrams sodium.

- Alyssa Tucker, Bite of the Best Intern: The Caramel Nut Protein Bar is a great mix of sweet, salty and crunchy and it satisfied my hunger for a snack, while satiating me for a few hours.