Lower-In-Fat Snacks Scored High With Panel
Football season is snack season. But what to nibble while watching the tube that won’t lead to significant gains around your 50-yard line?
A pair of lightened-up munchies - Planters Reduced Fat Honey Roasted Peanuts and Smartfood Low-Fat Toffee Crunch Popcorn from Frito-Lay - scored big with The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel.
The peanuts, pressed before roasting to extract oil (although they’re still not exactly low-fat), were a bit tough but tasty nonetheless. The nutritionally superior popcorn, with only 1 gram of fat in a 3/4-cup serving, got equally good grades from panel members.
While there are also a whole host of baked and reduced-fat chips on the market, you might want to skip the dip - even if it’s the fat-free sour cream stuff from Land O’ Lakes.
The ranch version sampled by panel members was gluey and flavorless. Their call was clear: we’ll pass.
Planters Reduced Fat Honey Roasted Peanuts
Price: $2.99 for 8.75 ounces.
Nutrition: 130 calories (46 percent fat calories); 150 milligrams sodium in cup.
Taste: ****
Value: ***
Comments: “Unique taste, a little sweet and salty, with a honey taste also. One of those snacks you can eat until you bust.” - Paul Norris.
“Lightly coated and salted. Not overly sweet - really good.” - Jarretta Manning.
Smartfood Low-Fat Toffee Crunch Popcorn
Price: $1.99 for 7 ounces.
Nutrition: 130 calories (7 percent fat calories); 250 milligrams sodium in 3/4 cup.
Taste: ****
Value: ***
Comments: “Buttery and sweet - you’d never guess low-fat.” - Stacy Casto.
“Sweet, smooth and buttery - crunchy outside and chewy inside - addictive!” - Jim McGinty.
Land O’ Lakes No-Fat Dip, Ranch
Price: 99 cents for 8 ounces.
Nutrition: 30 calories (no fat); 180 milligrams sodium in 2 tablespoons.
Taste: **
Value: **
Comments: “Thick and white, has no flavor, but then I get an odd aftertaste.” - Jan Robison.
“Tastes like sugar, cream cheese and sour cream mixed - bleah.” - Meagan Coffey.
, DataTimes MEMO: Products sampled by The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel are purchased at a retail store and prepared in a test kitchen according to package directions. Panelists are not aware of a product’s brand name or price until after they have tasted it. Products are rated for taste and for value, based on quality compared to price.
This sidebar appeared with the story: TASTERS NEEDED We’re looking for a few good guinea pigs. Applications are being accepted for vacancies on The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel, starting in January. The panel meets one evening each month, usually on the second Wednesday, to taste new food products and compare different brands of supermarket items. In the past year, panel members have sampled everything from rotisserie chicken to canned pork and beans, rice cakes to chocolate cream pies. If you have a sense of duty and a discerning palate (not to mention a strong stomach), you might be just what we’re looking for. Send a letter telling a little about yourself and why you would make a good panel member to: Reader Food Panel, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Or fax it to 459-5098.
This sidebar appeared with the story: TASTERS NEEDED We’re looking for a few good guinea pigs. Applications are being accepted for vacancies on The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel, starting in January. The panel meets one evening each month, usually on the second Wednesday, to taste new food products and compare different brands of supermarket items. In the past year, panel members have sampled everything from rotisserie chicken to canned pork and beans, rice cakes to chocolate cream pies. If you have a sense of duty and a discerning palate (not to mention a strong stomach), you might be just what we’re looking for. Send a letter telling a little about yourself and why you would make a good panel member to: Reader Food Panel, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Or fax it to 459-5098.