Bite of the Best

Skinny Cow introduced Divine Filled Chocolates candy in two flavors, Caramel and Peanut Butter Crème. Each single serve package contains not one, but three satisfying pieces of filled chocolates.

Each 3-piece, 1-ounce serving contains 130 calories, 4 grams saturated fat (of 6-7 grams total), 80 milligrams sodium and 15 grams sugar. 

- Alyssa Tucker, Bite of the Best Intern: Peanut Butter Crème was my favorite of the two because the peanut butter balanced the sweetness of the chocolate. Since each pouch comes with 3 pieces it made me feel like I was getting a good sized sweet treat, so I wasn’t left craving more.

Lean Cuisine introduced a new Salad Additions concept to the frozen food aisle. Just heat the white meat chicken and vegetables, then combine with fresh lettuce and add their toppings and dressing.

Salad Additions are available in four varieties: Southwest-Style Chicken Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing, Asian-Style Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette, Cranberry & Chicken Salad with Raspberry Cabernet Vinaigrette, Bistro Chicken Salad with Sweet & Tangy Vinaigrette with Bacon.

Each package, 7.2-ounces, contains 240-280 calories, 1-1.5 grams saturated fat (of 8-9 grams total), 430-590 milligrams sodium, 5-20 grams sugar and 15 -18 grams protein.

- bonnie: Interesting new concept… heat the frozen ingredients, warm the dressing in warm water and combine all with fresh lettuce. Does it work? It’s not bad — but if you’re going to all that trouble to make a salad, why not just buy a fresh salad!

Thrive has introduced four flavors of their Premium Ice Cream: Milk Chocolate, Strawberry, Chocolate Fudge and Homemade Vanilla. Thrive was originally formulated for Alzheimers patients unable to receive the proper nutrition through lack of eating, but is now available for everyone. Made with four different strains of probiotics that help us digest food easier, Thrive also contains as much protein as an egg, as much calcium as a cup of milk and as much potassium as a banana.

Each 6-fluid ounce container contains 250 calories, 5-6 grams saturated fat (of 8-9 grams total), 80-115 milligrams sodium, 22-30 grams sugar and 9 grams protein.

Alexia Foods as introduced Artisan Sweet Potato Rolls, made with American-grown, farm-fresh sweet potatoes.

Each about 1.5-ounce roll contains 120 calories, 2.5 grams total fat, 180 milligrams sodium and 4 grams protein.

Häagen-Dazs has introduced a new line of Gelato – an Italian-style ice cream that’s lower in fat and calories than traditional Häagen-Dazs offerings.

The flavors include Vanilla Bean, Cappuccino, Black Cherry Amaretto, Limoncello, Dark Chocolate Chip, Sea Salt Caramel and Stracciatella.

Each 1/2 cup serving size contains 230-270 calories, 5-7 grams saturated fat (of 9-13 grams total), 40-150 milligrams sodium and 23-29 grams sugar.

- bonnie: OMG! These are oh, so delicious with my favorites being the Black Cherry Amaretto, Dark Chocolate Chip and Stracciatella. You can’t go wrong — as an occasional treat — with any of them … and you’ll be saving lots of fat calories over Häagen-Dazs’ regular decadent ice creams.

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Chana Saag is the latest flavor of Saffron Road’s frozen entrées made without genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and Certified Gluten Free and Certified Halal. Chana Saag is made with chickpeas with ginger and Indian spices blended with Saag, a leafy green spinach sautéed with Indian herbs served over cumin rice.

Each 11-ounce serving contains 420 calories, 1.5 grams saturated fat (of 7 grams total), 590 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar and 12 grams protein. 

- bonnie: This latest frozen entree from Saffron Road is so tasty that it makes me think about becoming a vegetarian. Or one, at least part time!  I’ve sampled and actually liked most all of their entrees. Be careful though as some (like much processed food) are high in sodium.

Some  favorites include: Moroccan lamb stew (reminiscent of the couscous I’ve had made by Paula Wolfert),  the spicy red chili and ginger flavor of the Manchurian Dumplings, and the Thai Basil Chili Tofu, so good with mushrooms, baby corn and red peppers in a savory chili, garlic and basil sauce.. that  it could get me to enjoy more tofu!

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Velveeta has created a new line of Cheesy Casseroles in three varieties, Chicken Pot Pie, Shepherd’s Pie and Chili Cornbread. Each package contains dehydrated vegetables, pasta and a Velveeta cheese sauce packet.

Each  2-2.5-ounce serving contains, 170-240 calories, 2.5-4.5 grams saturated fat (of 9-10 grams total), 750-930 milligrams sodium and 6-7 grams protein.

Vitalicious introduces a healthier style of frozen pizza, VitaPizza in two flavors. Each has a thin and crispy crust, and is packed with nutrients in only 190 calories.

Each contains 190 calories, 1.5 grams saturated fat (of 2.5-3 grams total), 490 milligrams sodium, 16 grams protein and a hefty 19 grams fiber or three-fourths of what’s recommended daily. Each pizza is also an excellence source zinc, calcium, iron and vitamins A,  B12, B6, C, D, E, folic acid and biotin.

- bonnie: I preferred the Cheese & Tomatoes to the Meatless Pepperoni Supreme, as I didn’t like the artificial taste of the faux pepperoni. If you try this 6-inch individual pizza, I suggest cooking it in a conventional oven (instead of the microwave) for a crisp crust.

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Contessa World Cuisine has added Shrimp Alfredo and Shrimp Fried Rice to their line of frozen skillet meals for two that are ready in ten minutes.  Each is made without MSG (monosodium glutamate), trans fats, artificial colors, artificial flavors or preservatives.

Each 12-ounce serving — or half the package — of the Shrimp Fried Rice with the packaged sauce added contains 350 calories, 1 grams saturated fat (of 3 grams total), 1280 milligrams sodium, 11 grams sugar and 20 grams protein;  without sauce contains 290 calories, 1 grams saturated fat (of 2.5 grams total), 360 milligrams sodium, 3 grams sugar and 18 grams protein.

The Shrimp Alfredo with the sauce contains 470 calories, 13 grams saturated fat (of 24 grams total), 800 milligrams sodium, 5 grams sugar and 19 grams protein; without sauce contains 240 calories, 0 grams saturated fat (of 1 grams total), 260 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar and 16 grams protein.

- bonnie:  I suggest only adding about half the sauce to each these frozen entrees, significantly reducing sodium in both,  the fat in the Alfredo and still providing lots of flavor.

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Kaurina’s had introduced Kulfi, a gluten-free frozen dessert made from cooked milk, sugar and natural flavors. Available in three varieties, Kulfi is considered to be the original ice cream of India, yet unlike most ice cream it is not whipped.

A 3-ounce serving contains 80-140 calories, 5 grams saturated fat (of 8 grams total) and 11-12 grams sugar.

Robinhood Meetinghouse has added three new flavors, Triple Ginger, Sweet Potato and Double Chocolate, to their already existing line of biscuits made with only fresh, simple ingredients. The biscuits contains no artificial colors or flavors.

Each 2.5-ounce (1 biscuit) serving contains 220-250 calories, 6-8 grams saturated fat (of 9-12 grams total), 340-530 milligrams sodium and 4-5 grams protein.

- bonnie: I’m partial to their decadent Pecan Sticky Buns: buttery pastry topped with caramel and pecans.

Cedarlane Natural Foods introduced All-Natural of Soup and Wrap combo frozen lunch entrees in three flavors. Each entree contains 230 or less calories, low-sugar, high in protein and fiber.

Each 9-ounce serving size contains 220-230 calories, 2 – 2.5 grams saturated fat (of 8 – 9 grams total), 4 grams sugar, 10 grams protein and 5 grams fiber.

-Christin Chan, Bite of the Best Intern: Amazingly delicious and conveniently easy to make. The flavors of the Lentil Soup and Samosa Wrap, my favorite,  are light with just a dash of salt. Very filling and satisfying. 

Applegate introduced a line of organic and  gluten-free beef corn dogs, made with corn meal, corn, rice flour and uncured beef.

Each corn dog contains 180 calories, 2.5 grams saturated fat (of 8 grams total), 410 milligrams sodium and 7 grams protein.

-Christin Chan, Intern, Bite of the Best:The corn dogs had a combination of sweet and savory flavors from the corn breading and the beef. Very satisfying for a light-afternoon snack. 

Artic Zone ice-cream contains less than 150-calories without any sugar alcohols and 14 grams of whey protein per pint. It comes in eight different flavors made with organic ingredients. It is all-natural, fat-free, gluten-free, high fiber, low glycemic, non-GMO, and kosher.

Each 4-0unce serving size contains 37 calories, 0 grams of saturated fat, 80 milligrams sodium, and 5 grams sugar.

-Christin Chan, Bite of the Best Intern: Artic Zone ice-cream’s use of monk fruit concentrate naturally reduces sugar content, creating lighter flavors and textures. I can eat a whole pint of this in one sitting without feeling guilty. 

Saffron Road has introduced  new line of Frozen Phyllo Hors D’oeuvres in four flavors.

Each 2.75-ounce serving size contains 160-270 calories, up to 7 grams saturated fat (of 8-15 grams total), 160-240 milligrams sodium and 4-6 grams protein.

Garden Lites makes side dishes, offering nine flavors of gluten-free, vegetarian, soy and nut-free, and certified kosher vegetable souffles.

Each 7-ounce serving contains less than 200 calories, 1-2 grams saturated fat (of 2-4 grams total), 135-650 milligrams sodium and 8-12 grams protein.

Breakfast burritos made from nitrate-free meats and without the use of hydrogenated oils are now available from Good Food Made Simple. Available in three varieties: Egg, Cheese & Canadian Bacon, Egg, Cheese & Turkey Sausage, Egg, Cheese & Potato

Each 5-ounce burrito contains 300-310 calories, 5 grams saturated fat (of 13-14 grams total), 460-650 milligrams sodium and 14-17 grams protein.

- bonnie: I like the clean labels of Good Food Made Simple products such as these burritos.   Meaning, these contain no chemical.  Sadly, though, there was too much dough for the filling, and the filling’s flavor was merely okay.

This new line of  frozen yogurt blends Greek yogurt and Ben & Jerry’s traditional chunks and swirls.  It is available in four flavors in pints, with the Raspberry Fudge Chunk and Banana Peanut Butter flavors available in mini-cups.

Each half-cup serving size contains 180-210 calories and 2.5-5 grams saturated fat (of 5-8 grams total).

Tandoor Chef’s Original Naan Pizza is now available in four gourmet varieties including Cilantro Pesto, Margherita, Roasted Eggplant and Spinach & Paneer Cheese.

Each 4-ounce serving contains 220 calories, 1 gram saturated fat (of 3 grams total), 437 milligrams sodium and 10 grams protein. Tandoor Chef’s Naan Pizzas meet the growing demand for ethnic inspired pizza flavorings.  Hand-Stretched, the all-natural, vegetarian Naan Pizzas are fired in a clay Tandoor Oven at 1,000 degrees F.

Robinhood Meetinghouse unveiled four varieties of ready-to-bake biscuits that are made with all natural ingredients and baked in 25 minutes: Sweet Potato, Double Chocolate, Triple Ginger and Blueberry Biscuits.

These biscuits are made with real butter and contain no artificial flavors or colors, corn syrup or genetically modified organisms. Each 3-ounce serving contains 280 calories, 10 grams saturated fat (of 15 grams total), 330 milligrams sodium and 3 grams protein.

Applegate Organic and Natural Meats offer gluten and casein free pre-cooked grilled chicken breast strips in two flavors.

Each 3-ounce serving of the Grilled Strips contains 100 calories, 0 grams saturated fat (of 1 grams total), 290 milligrams sodium and 24 grams protein, while the Southwestern-Style Grilled Strips contain 90 calories, 0 grams saturated fat (of 2 grams total), 340 milligrams sodium and 15 grams protein.

- bonnie: Both are easy to add to a soup, salad, pizza or any dish where you might want pre-cooked chicken strips.  I prefer the seasoned Southwestern-Style’s flavor.

Pillsbury has introduced new Artisan Pizza Crust that provides made 16 grams whole grains — or one of the three recommended daily servings — per 2-ounce serving, or one-sixth of the crust.

Each serving also contains 190 calories, 1 gram saturated fat (of 5 grams total) and 370 milligrams of sodium.

Pillsbury, along side Cinnabon, introduced Grands! Carmel Rolls and Flaky Caramel Rolls. The Grands! contains 5 rolls in a 17.5 ounce tube;  Flaky contains 8 rolls in each 13 ounce tube.

Each iced Flaky roll, about 1.5 ounces, contains 170 calories, 3 grams saturated fat (of 8 grams total) and 320 milligrams of sodium.

Each Grands! Caramel Roll, about 3.5 ounces, contains 310 calories, 2.5 grams saturated fat (of 9 grams total) and 650 milligrams of sodium.

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino and Java Chip Frappuccino are the newest Starbucks’ ice cream flavors available only through August.

Each 1/2-cup serving of the Mocha Cookie Crumble flavor contains 230 calories, 7 grams saturated fat (of 12 grams total), 21 grams sugar and 4 grams protein. A 1/2-cup serving of the Java Chip flavor contains 250 calories, 10 grams saturated fat (of 15 grams total), 25 grams sugar and 3 grams protein.

- Alyssa Tucker, Bite of the Best Intern:The Java Chip Frappuccino tasted just like a frozen version of the drink and really captures the original coffee flavor. I loved the sweetness of the dark chocolaty chunks and I highly recommend digging into this frozen treat.

BOLD pizzas are gluten, dairy, casein, whey, egg, tree nut and peanut free.  They are also made without genetically modified organisms, preservatives, nitrites, nitrates and trans fats.

Each 5.5-ounce serving of Vegan Cheese and 6-ounce serving of Veggie Lovers has 380-390 calories, 2.5 grams saturated fat (of 18 grams total), 580 milligrams sodium and 4-5 grams protein.

A 6-ounce serving of Meat Lovers and 6.7-ounce serving of Deluxe contains 450-460 calories, 4.5 grams saturated fat (of 24 grams total), 790 milligrams and 7-8 grams protein.