Food Review: Marie Callender's Tender Ginger Beef and Broccoli Bowl

 

While it is not as good (in my opinion anyway) as an order of Beef with Broccoli from a restaurant (especially a good Vietnamese restaurant), you get a good amount of food in the bowl, it is filling, and it is not just all rice. Most of the meat is tender, although I have, from time to time, had one with a piece or two of the beef which is quite tough. But, I have probably had around 10 of these, and that is a rarity. You get a decent amount of protein per serving but it does, like pretty much all frozen dinners, have quite a bit of sodium.  It is definitely one that I would recommend.

Food Review: Frito Lay Fun-Times Mix

 

This is a good variety of frito-lay vending machine snacks, for much cheaper than you will pay to buy them from a vending machine (if you were to do so every day). You get a couple of varieties of  Doritos, Cheetos, sun chips, sour cream and onion chips, pretzels, and white cheddar popcorn. And, it is available on subscribe and save on Amazon, so you can automatically reorder at whatever interval works for you. This is a good way to snack without overdoing it (assuming you do not eat multiple bags at a time).

Food Review: Oats Overnight - Variety Pack (3 Pack with BlenderBottle)

 

I decided to try these because I recently started getting pre-made meals for lunch and dinner, and wanted an option for breakfast which was a bit less expensive than those. I do not have a ton of time to cook and am often running out the door in the morning, so I wanted something that was quick, healthy and did not require a ton of prep.

In terms of the latter, the prep is as easy as can be. The night before, you pour 8oz of some kind of milk (I use 1%) into the blender bottle (you do not really have to use theirs if you have a lot of them, there is nothing special about it) then pour the contents of the packet on top of the milk, shake it up and put it in the refrigerator to sit overnight. All that takes a grand total of about 45 seconds. In the morning you just drink it as you would any protein shake. No blender is needed, and the cleanup amounts to washing the bottle out after you drink it, which takes another minute.

I tried all three flavors in the starter pack and liked them all. I liked the apple cinnamon flavor the best and the strawberries and cream flavor the least, but I was not choking them down like I have done when drinking some meal replacements and protein powders in the past. The consistency is a bit funky (at least for some). It is like drinking cold, runny, instant oatmeal. Although it tastes much better than cold, runny, instant oatmeal would. You can make them runnier or thicker by adding more or less milk, but I find just using the 8oz is fine for me.

The one drawback for some is that they are a bit pricey. I get the subscription through the Oats Overnight website, so the price per packet is a bit lower (about $3.50). That is much cheaper than getting coffee and a donut, or a breakfast meal at a fast food place (and much healthier), and comparable to or less expensive than many meal replacement shakes (especially the RTDs or the packets). And for me, since my lunches and dinners range from about $7-$9 per meal, it is less than that. So how cost-effective they will be for you will really depend on what you currently do. If you usually make breakfast, these will very likely be more expensive than what you are making. If you are on the go and grab something to eat every day, then this may present you a healthier option at a comparable cost.

All in all, if you are looking for a healthy breakfast option, that is easy to make and gives you a great mix of nutrients, and these are friendly to your budget, and you think you can handle the texture, I definitely recommend them. I cannot say that every flavor they have available is great tasting, but I have no complaints about the ones I tried.

Product/Food Review: Maggi Seasoning Cubes

 

Maggi seasoning is good for a variety of foods, including soups and Asian dishes. I bought these because the liquid Maggi seasoning is becoming harder to find in stores in my area. It provides the same flavoring as the liquid, but the drawback to the cubes is that it is harder to control the amount so it is easier to over-season or under-season whatever you are putting it in. After a few times of using them, you will get used to how many cubes you will need to use. If you order these on Amazon, I would hold out for when it is offered with Prime shipping, otherwise, you may have to wait quite a while to get them delivered.

Food Review: Wonderful Pistachios, No Shells, Roasted & Salted Nuts

 

This is a box of nine packets of shelled, "roasted and salted" pistachio nuts. Each pack contains just under one ounce (.75 oz) or 21 grams of nuts, which amounts to about 120 calories. The roasted and salted flavor is good, but not overpowering. They are not too salty, but just enough not to be bland. These are a good low-carb snack that is low in saturated fat and has more protein than a lot of different varieties of nuts. 

Product Review: CELSIUS Kiwi Guava Lime On-the-Go Powder Stick Packs

 

This is a package of 14 On the Go flavored water packets (similar to crystal light On the Go packets). While it does have caffeine in it, it does not have any sugar and includes Ginger Root, Green Tea Extract, Biotin, and Guarana Seed Extract. So, it does have some thermogenic effects. I use it as a pre-workout drink early in the day. The Kiwi Guava Lime flavor is good, but it definitely took me a couple of times trying it to get used to it. These are a bit more expensive (about $10 for a pack of 14) compared with similar On the Go packs you find in a store (about $3 to $5 for a pack of 10), but not much more. 

Food Review: Frito-Lay's Cheetos Baked Crunchy Cheese

 

This is a bit "healthier" version of the original Cheetos (as they are baked instead of fried, so they have a bit less fat), yet still have the same taste and consistency as the original (as opposed to Cheetos puffs). If you get them on Amazon, you can get a 40-pack for about $20 (if you set it up as a subscribe and save item), which is a much better price than you would pay to get them out of a vending machine or at a convenience store or gas station. As long as you do not go wild and eat multiple bags at a time, it is a good way to have a portion-controlled snack for a reasonable price.

Food Review: M&M'S Almond Chocolate Candy Sharing Size 2.83-Ounce Pouch 18-Count Box

 

This is an 18-pack of small sharing-sized packets of Almond M&Ms. Each packet contains approximately four servings, so if you eat an entire package in a sitting, it ends up being about 420 total calories. I personally like these because, while they have a lot of sugar and are definitely not healthy, the fat in the almonds does help offset the blood sugar spike that eating other varieties of M&Ms causes, which, even if you are not diabetic, is beneficial. Of course, you have to like almonds to enjoy these, but if you do, it is a nice snack.

Food Review: Nut Harvest Sea Salted Whole Cashews

 

This is a 16-pack of whole, salted Cashews. There are about 2.5 servings per package, and if you eat the entire package you are consuming about 350 calories. They are salted enough to give them some kick, but not so much that it seems like you are dumping salt onto your tongue. So, if you are looking for a source of healthy fat, this is a good option. Just be aware, if you are strictly following a Keto or other low-carb nutrition plan, these do have more carbs and less fiber than nuts such as almonds or pistachios. 

Product Review: M&M'S Peanut Chocolate Candy, 38-Ounce Party Size Bag

 

This is a large bag of Peanut M&Ms. Larger than what you can find in most grocery stores, and around the size that you can get at the warehouse clubs (in the plastic containers). So, if you like Peanut M&Ms and like the convenience of getting things through Subscribe and Save, this is a good option.

Product Review: Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Hot Cocoa Pods

 

If you have a coffee maker that can brew k-cups but hate coffee, this is a good alternative. This is good-tasting hot chocolate and you get a good amount of k-cups for a decent price. And, you can set it up as a subscribe and save item to have it delivered at whatever frequency meets your needs. They are definitely easier to use than "regular" cocoa powder mix (not that making cocoa that way is hard, but this is more convenient) and allows you to easily make one cup at a time. So, if you are not a fan of coffee, this is definitely a good option.

Product Review: Halloween Special M&M's Peanut Chocolate American Candy In A Variety Of Fun Colors Bulk Pantry Size Party Mix Packaged In Resealable Wholesale Bag 2 Lbs.

 

This is a large bag of peanut M&Ms. Much larger than what you can get in a grocery store. However, the pieces were smashed up so much that when I first looked at it I thought I had been sent a bag of trail mix instead. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that yes, it was just peanut M&Ms, but many were broken to the point where there were parts of peanuts and pulverized candy shells in the bottom of the bag. They were broken so much that it is hard to believe that it just happened during shipping. So, I would not get this again.

Supplement Review: EAS Myoplex Original Protein Shake Mix Packets, Chocolate Cream

 

Myoplex hit it big in the late 90s/early 2000s when Body for Life was all the rage. It is not a straight protein supplement (although it does have 42g of protein), instead, it is meant to be a meal replacement which means it has a lot more carbs, vitamins, and minerals than straight protein powder has. It tastes okay when mixed with very cold water and better when mixed with milk. Since EAS has gone out of business it is no longer being produced so chances are if you can track down a box of it, it most likely expired (if these things had expiration dates). It is on the more expensive end of the meal replacement spectrum, but if you use it as a snack between meals it is economical (assuming you can still track a box of it down for a reasonable price).

Product Review: PBfit All-Natural Peanut Butter Powder, Powdered Peanut Spread From Real Roasted Pressed Peanuts

 

I get this to mix with chocolate protein powder to get a peanut butter-chocolate taste, without having to use regular peanut butter which can be a pain to clean out of a blender and which never totally mixes with the protein powder because some will get stuck to the sides. The one drawback to this versus regular peanut butter, however, is that it does not have as strong a taste, so you have to use a couple of tablespoons or more if you really want a flavor kick. That said, I do think it is a good deal.

Product Review: Crystal Light Green Tea Peach Mango Drink Mix On The Go 10-0.08 oz packets (6 Pack)

 

As most people who like crystal light are probably aware, the price in regular stores can fluctuate quite a bit, and the stock can be very limited, so there are times when your favorite flavors are not available. This allows you to get six boxes at a decent price. Note, this is the Peach Mango Green Tea which is different than the caffeinated Peach Mango version. The two taste similar, but not quite the same. The good thing about this one is that I can drink it any time of day without worrying about having too much caffeine keeping me up at night.

Product Review: It’s Skinny Variety Pack — Healthy, Low Calorie, Low-Carb Konjac Pasta — Fully Cooked and Ready to Eat

 

I tried this because I do like pasta and would like a version that is a bit healthier. The packets give you a good couple of servings and the pasta (I have not tried the rice) does take on whatever flavor sauce you use. Unfortunately, the texture, at least for me, is horrible. I liken it to biting into a sponge, and you have to chew much longer than regular pasta to be able to swallow it. So, even though the nutrient macros are better than regular pasta, it is not something that I would get again.

Product Review: Crystal Light On The Go Green Tea Raspberry, 10 Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

 

This is one of the best flavors of Crystal Light but is getting harder and harder to find in stores, especially the on-the-go packets. And, in a regular store, one box of ten packets often costs over $5.00. This is not as good a deal as it used to be, but, it is still a better price per box than you are likely to get in a regular grocery store if you can find it at all. I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: Eden Foods Seaweed Wakame

 

I got this to try and make a batch of Miso soup with, only to discover I was not all that fond of Miso or seaweed. It was very salty, and I think it was salty on its own as opposed to getting that from the Miso. So, if you like that, it is worth it, if not you may want to try something else.

Product Review: Bragg Liquid Aminos, All Purpose Seasoning

 

This tastes pretty much exactly like soy sauce but provides amino acids, which soy sauce does not. It does taste pretty salty, so if you are used to low-sodium soy sauce it may be a bit strong for your tastes. In general, I would say if you do not use soy sauce on a regular basis, this may not be the best option because it will probably expire before you use it. But, if you do eat a lot of Asian food and do use soy sauce on a consistent basis, this is a good replacement.

Product Review: Roland Foods White Miso Paste

 

I got this when I was doing Beachbody's ultimate cleanse, which allowed Miso soup as one of the handful of things that could be eaten on a regular basis during the cleanse. Unfortunately, no matter how much I tried to make it taste palatable I just could not handle more than a couple sips of it. For those who do like Miso, this is a big block and will probably go a long way for you and the price is reasonable. But, Miso is probably one of those things you will either love or hate, and there is really no way to know unless you try it.