The Impulsive Buy

  • FAST FOOD FIVE – 1/10/2014

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    Here are five recent fast food news bites:

    For a limited time, Starbucks is offering a caramel flan latte. BOOM! Try to make that, McDonald’s! (via Starbucks Melody)

    Sacré bleu! KFC France is offering fried fish. (via Burger Business)

    Wendy’s is testing a gouda bacon cheeseburger on a brioche bun. However, I’d really like to see Wendy’s test a brie bacon cheeseburger on a brioche bun just so I can find out if they’re willing to call it a Brie Bri. (via Grub Grade)

    Wendy’s plans to release a ciabatta bacon cheeseburger. However, I’d really like to see Wendy’s release a brie bacon cheeseburger on a ciabatta bun just so I can find out if they’re willing to call it a Brie Cia. Hmm. Thought Brie Cia would work. It didn’t. (via Brand Eating)

    Is it getting too cold outside? Well then, just walk into a Dunkin’ Donuts and stay there. You don’t have to purchase anything. I mean, it’s got to be warmer in a Dunkin’ Donuts than outside of a Dunkin’ Donuts. But if you feel bad about loitering, I guess you could try one of their new sweet treats. (via PR Newswire)

  • REVIEW: Milk Chocolate Red Velvet M&M’s

    Milk Chocolate Red Velvet M&M's

    A little piece of me dies inside every time I hear someone say that their favorite flavor of cake is red velvet.

    Instantly, I can’t help but think that this person has fallen victim to the trendy trap. There’s a very good chance that they’re also into Mason jars crafts, beers with at least four adjectives, and occasional juice cleanses. Mainstream chocolate and vanilla are for the plebeians. Other favorite flavors include maple-bacon, pumpkin spice, and Biscoff.

    While red velvet can be a perfectly decent cake, it has done nothing to earn its hype. Flavor wise, it’s the homelier sister of a deep chocolate cake. Weaker, less fudgy and appealing, but trying to overcompensate with a crap ton of red food coloring. You think a red Chrysler convertible is actually better than a black Porsche? Take the dye out of a red velvet cupcake and offer it to someone who claims to be obsessed. I’m betting they start eyeing the flashy Funfetti instead.

    That being said, I was pretty confused as to what to expect from seasonal Milk Chocolate Red Velvet M&M’s. I was hoping for possibly a cream cheese taste, since that’s the typical frosting pair, and the flavor that usually comes across the most. Plus, given beautiful love affair I had with last year’s White Chocolate Carrot Cake M&M’s, I was hoping to rekindle some kind of sweet creamy magic. But no, these are just straight chocolate.

    Milk Chocolate Red Velvet M&M's Closeup

    They come in a standard Valentine’s Day palate of red, white, and maroon. Your coworkers will probably think they’re a nice festive gift. Your needy girlfriend who casually leaves the Tiffany’s catalogue in the bathroom will probably not.

    They’re a little bit larger than plain M&M’s and more in line with the denser, puffier model that’s been common in recent seasonal varieties.

    At first bite, they’re almost indiscernible from regular Milk Chocolate M&M’s. However, it then develops into a weird, chemically aftertaste that doesn’t make me think red velvet at all. If anything, in a blind taste test, I would assume these were the plain stale M&M’s I left sitting in the bowl on my desk for three months and occasionally take a stress-induced handful of. While it’s a noticeable enough taste to make me wish I were eating the original, it’s not offensive enough to make me stop eating them. They may have their faults, but they’re probably not going to get thrown out.

    Disappointingly, the inside of these are not red. Since that’s real redeeming quality of red velvet cake, I think M&M’s dropped the ball on this one. Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day!” like a blood red smile.

    While these are a novelty to try once, some Cupid magic would be needed to make me buy these again. But since I do still have two bags lying around, you’ll probably find me face deep in them on Valentine’s Day, searching desperately for a man to give me a Tiffany’s box.

    (Nutrition Facts – 1.5 oz. (about 1/4 cup) – 210 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 30 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 27 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

    Item: Milk Chocolate Red Velvet M&M’s
    Purchased Price: $2.88
    Size: 9.90 oz. bag
    Purchased at: Walmart
    Rating: 4 out of 10
    Pros: Thicker than plain M&Ms. Festively colored. Easily satisfied coworkers. Comforting nighttime binge eating. Cheaper than jewelry.
    Cons: Chemically aftertaste. Annoying, high maintenance cake eaters. Annoying, high maintenance girlfriends. Binge eating alone on Valentine’s Day. Not getting a Tiffany box. WILL ANYONE EVER LOVE ME? Not red inside.

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: Meet New Impulsive Buy Reviewer Natalie

    A lot of people say they hit a depressive slump after the holidays, when the temperatures are cold and the nights are long. I hit a bigger slump after the Easter clearance at CVS is gone and I can no longer find a seasonal Reese’s shape for six months.

    I’m Natalie, a college student in the middle of nowhere New Hampshire. The closest Target store is two hours away and my parents are probably sick of me calling and asking for a package of [insert seasonal/exclusive/new product here]. I troll grocery store aisles in my spare time and drove to the Ben & Jerry’s factory instead of attending my first orientation event. I placed a bid in that first auction for the Triple Double Oreo and started a campaign to bring back Green Apple Skittles after their first appearance in 2001 (We finally did it, America!) My taste buds are really into things with double-digit sugar contents and high fat dairy. Preferably both.

    In a class last year, I was tempted to suggest the rebirth of Oreo O’s cereal as way to stimulate our nation’s economy. At that point, I realized I probably needed another outlet for my food obsession if I wanted to graduate, and now you all are stuck reading my babble. Thank you for being the savior of my GPA.

    I am now on a mission to serve you in finding and tasting any new product that hits the shelves. I will search high and low through my rural New Hampshire wilderness, and then likely call someone in real civilization to mail it to me. But that’s okay, cause it’s my job now, so I have an excuse.

  • SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 1/10/2014

    Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

    Fiber One Meal Bar

    Maybe it’s my inner Adrian Monk, but it bothers me that the Fiber One Strawberry Greek Yogurt Meal Bar box is bigger than the other Fiber One Meal Bar varieties. They’re all the same weight, but for some reason the Strawberry Greek Yogurt one is bigger. (Spotted by RiRi at Pick N’ Save.)

    Nature Valley Breakfast Biscuits

    Look at what you started, belVita! Are you happy with yourself? You’ve got us using the British version of “biscuits.” (Spotted by RiRi at Walmart.)

    NutriGrain Fruit & Oat Harvest Bars

    Real fruit, whole grains, and four grams of protein do not impress me, Nutri-Grain Fruit & Oat Harvest Bar, since other bars have them. How about a bar that has 20 grams of protein to give me energy, 20 grams of fiber to make me regular, and be roughly the size of my forearm so I can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (Spotted by Amanda at Target.)

    Quaker Real Medleys Cereal

    Quaker Real Medleys are available in hot cereal, snack bar, and now dry cereal form. I’m guessing it won’t be long before we see Quaker Real Medleys Breakfast Biscuits. (Spotted by Amanda at Walmart.)

    Post Great Grains Digestive Blend Cereal

    I’m curious to know what would happen if I started my day with a bowl of Post Great Grains Digestive Blend Cereal, had an Activia yogurt for a mid-morning snack, ate a Fiber One Meal Bar for lunch, and consumed another Activia yogurt for a mid-afternoon snack. Would my dinner consist of me sitting on the toilet regretting it all? (Spotted by Dubba at Walmart.)

    Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

  • QUICK REVIEW: Nabisco belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits (Banana Bread and Cinnamon)

    Nabisco belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits (Banana Bread and Cinnamon)

    Purchased Price: $2.98 each
    Size: 5 breakfast biscuits
    Purchased at: Walmart
    Rating: 7 out of 10 (Banana Bread)
    Rating: 6 out of 10 (Cinnamon)
    Pros: They smell wonderful and look good enough. Banana Bread flavor tastes pleasant and real. Cinnamon has a mild flavor with a hint of raisin. Soft like fresh cookie and not as dry as some other oatmeal treats. Has B vitamins and five grams of fiber. No HFCS or partially hydrogenated oils.
    Cons: Regular crunchy belVita is better. Makes crumbs when grubbing on the go. A bit dry. Oh, geez, don’t dunk them in milk unless you like instant mush. Made on equipment that processes nuts. Dreaming that they came out with a pumpkin bread or apple variety.

    Nabisco belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits (Banana Bread and Cinnamon) Comparison

    Nutrition Facts: Banana Bread – 190 calories, 60 calories from fat, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, 3 grams of protein, and a few vitamins and minerals. Cinnamon – 190 calories, 60 calories from fat, 7 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, 3 grams of protein, and a few vitamins and minerals.

    Nabisco belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits Banana Bread