Waffles ‘Pretty Good;’ Syrup A Touch Sweet

Frantic mornings getting kids out of bed and ready for school are back for many parents. And we hope that somehow in the morning rush you remember the all-important breakfast.

Studies show that kids who have a decent breakfast before school do better. To help you get something in their stomachs before they head out the door, The Spokesman-Review’s Reader Food Panel and special guests - kids - put three frozen waffles to the test.

Our kid tasters gave all three varieties an overall “pretty good” rating - the highest allowed. But, just as the adults did, they gave a few extra thumbs up to Van’s Mini Waffles from Huckleberry’s.

The all-natural waffles the size of mini-discs are sweet tasting while containing only 4 grams of sugar in one serving (eight mini waffles). They also pack fewer calories and more dietary fiber per gram than the other two brands we served.

Kellogg’s Homestyle Eggos, branded in most of our heads by those “let go my Eggo” commercials, came in last for taste, while Pillsbury’s Blueberry waffles took second place as judged by both kids and adults.

Because we didn’t want our tasters to have to choke down dry waffles, we gave them some of Mrs. Butterworth’s new Cinnamon Apple flavored syrup to go with them.

Though three of our kid tasters thought the syrup was OK, most preferred to swallow their waffles dry after one taste of the syrup, which they called “too sweet.”

Adults were a bit more generous, giving the syrup a slightly better than “fair” overall rating, while a third of them gave it the highest rating possible for taste. Interesting is that many adults commented that it’s “not too sweet.” Hmm, so maybe it’s wrong to assume kids have more of a sweet tooth than adults.

Van’s Mini Waffles

Price: $2.59 for 7.5 ounces (32 mini waffles)

Nutrition information per serving (8 mini waffles): 107 calories, 3.5 grams, (29 percent fat calories), 275 milligrams sodium.

Taste: ****

Value: ***

Comments: “Great for little hands, or for mobile eating.” - Rich Clemson

“Cute little gems with a slight vanilla taste. I could eat a truckload of these.” - Tina Johnson

“Yum. Grab-and-go food with flavor.” - Skip Hubbard

Pillsbury Blueberry Waffles

Price: $1.99 for 20 ounces (16 waffles)

Nutrition information per serving (2 waffles): 210 calories, 7 grams fat (30 percent fat calories), 540 milligrams sodium.

Taste: ***(almost four)<

Value: ***Comments: “This was so good. I like the blueberry taste. Waffle was not soggy.” - Ella Gordon Stowe

“Not a lot of blueberry flavor, but there are quite a few purple specks in the waffle.” - Jenny Whittaker

Kellogg’s Eggo Homestyle

Price: $3.29 for 30 ounces (24 waffles)

Nutrition information per serving (2 waffles): 190 calories, 7 grams fat (33 percent fat calories), 440 milligrams sodium.

Taste: ***

Value: ***

Comments: “Nice and fluffy.” - Hilde Schoonover

“If your taste buds aren’t awake yet, this might pass. Otherwise, forget it.” - Donald Clegg

Mrs. Butterworth’s Cinnamon Apple Syrup

Price: $3.29 for 18 fluid ounces

Nutrition information per 1/4 cup: 210 calories, no fat, 35 milligrams sodium and 35 grams sugar.

Taste: ***

Value: **

Comments: “Great apple cinnamon taste. Great on any waffle or pancake.” - Dorey Fairchild

“Nice apple and cinnamon flavors, and not too sweet. I’d buy it!” - Vicki Deschaine

“Flavor is … interesting. Much different from a regular maple syrup, which is not necessarily better.” - Mike Connelly.