NEWS: Nabisco To Expand Newtons Fruit Thins Lineup With Lemon and Apple Cinnamon Flavors

We didn’t review the Nabisco Newtons Fruit Thins (shown above) when they were introduced this time last year, but over the past year many people have left their thoughts about them in the comments section of the news post we wrote about the product. People appear to love Newtons Fruit Thins, so much so that they’re willing to leave a comment on a blog they’ve never visited before.

Well, I hope those people come and leave a comment for this news post about the new Newtons Fruit Thins varieties — Lemon Crisp and Apple Cinnamon Oat. Like the other flavors of these crispy cookies, they are made with real fruit and provide eight grams of whole grain per serving.

Despite the rave reviews, I have yet to try any of the Newtons Fruit Thins varieties.

Bad, semipopular product review blog editor-in-chief!

Three Newtons Lemon Crisp Fruit Thins have 140 calories, 45 calories from fat, 5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 100 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein. The nutrition facts for a serving of Apple Cinnamon Oat Fruit Thins are mostly similar, except it has 95 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, and 8 grams of sugar.

REVIEW: Jell-O Pudding Snacks (S’more and Strawberry Sundae)

Jell-O Strawbrerry Sundae Pudding Snacks

I don’t have a child of my own, but right now I wish I had one so that I can have him or her try these S’more and Strawberry Sundae Jell-O Pudding Snacks to see if he or she likes them.

Sure, I could hold off on this review until I had a child of my own, but that would take too long. I’d have to get a woman pregnant, convince her to marry me, wait nine months while the child develops in the womb of the woman I shotgun married, and then wait a few years after that to let my child develop verbal communication so that he or she can express his or her thoughts about the two pudding flavors in complete sentences. I think by the time all that’s done, these two flavors might no longer exist.

So without a child handy, I’m left to my own taste buds, and my tastebuds like the S’more Jell-O Pudding Snacks, but when it comes to the Strawberry Sundae flavor, not so much.

Let’s start with my least favorite of the two. A Strawberry Sundae Jell-O Pudding Snack combines pink strawberry ice cream flavored pudding with a layer of red strawberry sauce topping. Since the pudding contains a double-barreled dose of strawberry, I thought the flavor of the pudding would taste like I’m competing in a county fair strawberry eating contest, but its surprisingly not that strong.

The strawberry sauce topping looks like what I imagine evil red ectoplasm is like. It doesn’t have the same consistency as the pudding, instead it’s a bit more fluid. The pudding gets most of its flavor from the ectoplasmic strawberry sauce, but it’s not enough to give the snack a robust strawberry flavor. Overall, the Strawberry Sundae Jell-O Pudding Snack is decent and it doesn’t have an artificial strawberry flavor, but I think it could’ve been better.

Jell-O S'more Pudding Snack

As for the S’more Jell-O Pudding Snack, it merges a chocolate graham flavored pudding with a whipped marshmallow flavored topping that’s similar in texture as the toppings found on the Temptations by Jell-O line. I didn’t notice the graham cracker flavor in the pudding; instead it tastes just like regular chocolate pudding. Strangely, I thought the airy marshmallow topping had a little graham flavor. Even though, it doesn’t really taste like s’mores, it’s a creamy, tasty pyro-less replacement, if you happen to be camping in the middle of a rainstorm, which is making it impossible to build a fire.

I enjoy Jell-O Pudding Snacks when I’m too lazy to combine milk and Jell-O instant pudding mix in a bowl, so, if I’m ever lazy, I could see myself picking up S’more Jell-O Pudding Snacks again. As for the Strawberry Sundae variety, I probably wouldn’t purchase more, unless it would help convince Jell-O to bring back their frozen Pudding Pops.

Seriously, Jell-O, bring back your Pudding Pops.

(Disclosure: We received these Jell-O Pudding Snacks for free from the PR firm that represents Jell-O. Yup, for free. Well, not really “for free,” since we did have to write this review. We have to disclose we received this product for free because if we don’t the Federal Trade Commission will get angry with us. Although I think I’ve gone a little over board with this disclosure. Technically, the first sentence was enough, but I figure I should make it lengthy and bold the damn thing so that it’s not hard to miss.)

(Nutrition Facts – 1 snack – S’more – 110 calories, 20 calories from fat, 2.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein, 6% vitamin A, 10% calcium, 2% iron, and 10% vitamin D. Strawberry Sundae – 110 calories, 15 calories from fat, 1.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 18 grams of sugar, 1 gram of protein, 6% vitamin A, 10% calcium, and 10% vitamin D.)

Item: Jell-O Pudding Snacks (S’mores and Strawberry Sundae)
Price: FREE (retails for $3.59)
Size: 6 pack
Purchased at: Received from nice PR folks
Rating: 7 out of 10 (S’mores)
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Strawberry Sundae)
Pros: S’more flavor was really good. Made with real milk. No artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Jell-O Pudding Pops. The miracle of childbirth.
Cons: Strawberry Sundae wasn’t exciting. Not really a good source of calcium and vitamin D (Pfff…10%? I laugh at that 10%). Graham chocolate pudding didn’t have any graham flavor. Not having a child handy to ask them what they think of the pudding.

PRIZE DRAWING: Because I’m Not Going To Chew Them

Extra Dessert Delights

Several weeks ago I reviewed the Limited Edition Extra Dessert Delights Rainbow Sherbet gum. In order to obtain the gum, I had to buy it in a three-pack. I opened one pack to review the gum, but the other two sit unloved on my kitchen counter. I want to find these two packs two homes where they will be loved and chewed, so I’m giving them away via a quick prize drawing.

To enter The Impulsive Buy’s Extra Dessert Delights Rainbow Sherbet gum drawing, leave a comment with THIS post. I don’t care what you say in your comment, but it would be awesome if it included the words “Hubba Bubba.”

Please don’t forget to fill out the email field because I’ll be emailing the two winners for his or her mailing address. The Impulsive Buy will stop accepting entries on Friday, March 9, 2012 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time. Only one comment allowed per person, and it’s open to anyone who is at least 18 years old.

Good luck!

Fine Print: Extra is not affiliated with this prize drawing. The Impulsive Buy promises your email address will not be used to send you emails for boat insurance. The Impulsive Buy also promises your mailing address will not be used to send you flyer about boat insurance. Bribes will not be accepted. The Impulsive Buy will not be responsible for lost mail, damaged mail, or gum stuck in your hair.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Starbucks Gift Card Winner!

Here’s the winner of last month’s prize drawing for a Starbucks gift card:

Nicki

Congratulations, Nicki!

Sounds like someone is going to get caffeinated. Aw yeah!

Thanks to everyone who participated and be on the lookout for a new prize drawing later this month.

REVIEW: Weight Watchers Smart Ones Smart Beginnings Turkey Sausage English Muffin Sandwich

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Smart Beginnings Turkey Sausage English Muffin Sandwich

Here are the microwave instructions for the Weight Watchers Smart Ones Smart Beginnings Turkey Sausage English Muffin Sandwich:

1. Remove sandwich from carton and plastic wrapper.

2. Wrap sandwich in paper towel and microwave on high for 1 minute and 15 seconds.

3. Let sandwich stand in microwave for 30 seconds.

4. Flip sandwich over and cook on high for an additional 30 seconds.

5. Let stand 1 minute. Enjoy!

Maybe it’s just me, but if someone is trying to get ready for work or school in the morning, these instructions are bothersome. Who has time to stand by the microwave and flip their sandwich when there’s either a mustache to trim, mascara to put on, or morning quicky to squeeze in? I just want something I can stick in the microwave and walk away from so that I have time to stick something into something else — a trimmer up my nose to mow down long nose hairs.

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Smart Beginnings Turkey Sausage English Muffin Sandwich Closeup

Besides the microwave instructions, which is the only way to prepare the breakfast sandwich, I did not enjoy how much effort I had to put into tearing away a piece of the sandwich, thanks to the English muffins. Now I know how lions feel when the sinew gets in the way of ripping a gazelle’s flesh off its bones.

Normal English muffins can get tough and microwaving frozen bread can make it tough, so putting an English muffin in the microwave sounds like it could be the equivalent of wrapping leather around beef jerky.

Okay, it wasn’t that bad, but if I was old and had dentures, I’d double-check my Super Poligrip adhesive or curse this newfangled food technology and then cut the sandwich up with a fork and knife.

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Smart Beginnings Turkey Sausage English Muffin Sandwich Undressed

If you look at the parts of the Weight Watchers Smart Ones Smart Beginnings Turkey Sausage English Muffin Sandwich — English muffin with a perfectly round egg white patty that’s yellow, a perfectly round turkey sausage patty, and a slice of American cheese that’s not perfectly square — it sounds like Weight Watchers Smart Ones is trying to make a much healthier McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin with Egg.

Is it healthier? As you can see in the table below, which I created using HTML I learned in 1993, forgot in 1994, and just relearned seconds ago, the Smart Ones breakfast sandwich has significantly less fat, sodium, and calories than a Sausage McMuffin with Egg. So mission accomplished, if that was Smart Ones’ goal.

Smart Ones Sandwich Sausage McMuffin with Egg
230 calories 450 calories
3 grams of saturated fat 10 grams of saturated fat
8 grams of fat 27 grams of fat
490 milligrams of sodium 920 milligrams of sodium

However, the Smart Ones breakfast sandwich is significantly less tasty than a McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin with Egg, but you probably already knew that. The egg patty has a slightly buttery flavor and the turkey sausage is mildly spicy, but, when combined with the English muffin and American cheese, it’s a mediocre breakfast sandwich. The sausage gets lost in the flavors of the egg and English muffin, which is sad since the turkey sausage should be the most flavorful ingredient of the sandwich. But it’s understandable since the sausage patty is thin and is dwarfed by the egg patty.

Overall, if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, the Weight Watchers Smart Ones Smart Beginnings Turkey Sausage English Muffin Sandwich isn’t going to change your disposition. Its needy instructions will give you less time to pluck your eyebrows in the morning and its flavor will make you scoff at the “Smart Beginnings” part of the product’s name.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 sandwich – 230 calories, 70 calories from fat, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 2 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 2 grams of monounsaturated fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 490 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, 14 grams of protein, 4% vitamin A, 10% calcium, and 10% iron. 6 PointsPlus.)

Item: Weight Watchers Smart Ones Smart Beginnings Turkey Sausage English Muffin Sandwich
Price: $2.28 (on sale)
Size: 2 pack
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 5 out of 10
Pros: Comes in a 2-pack. Less fat, sodium, and calories than a Sausage McMuffin with Egg. Showing off my HTML skills by building a simple 2-column table.
Cons: Mediocre flavor. Thin and small sausage patty. Damn long name. Tough English muffin. Needy instructions. Can only be prepared in the microwave. Flavor of the sausage gets lost within the English muffin and egg.