Adults, kids don’t agree on this one

They have become the institutions of the American sack lunch: Handi-Snacks and Lunchables. And no matter what twist they come up with, kids seem to love ‘em.

As for the adults on our tasting panel, they were split on the items we tested. They were charmed by the Handi Snacks Oreo Cookie Sticks and Crème and alarmed by the Lunchables new Chicken Shake-Ups. The Oreo cookie sticks earned four stars from adults and four-and-a-half-stars from the kids. The Lunchables enjoyed a three-star ranking from the kid tasters, and barely eked out one and a half stars from the adults.

“Wow. Apparently I am getting old, or at least my taste buds are,” said Skip Hubbard after tasting the chicken. The package comes with five naked chicken nuggets and a Nacho cheese powder that kids can add and shake up themselves. The lunch can be served cold or warm. We left it cold since that’s probably how most kids would be eating it at school.

“Unbelievable. Words fail me and this should be a quick failure in the market place,” said Donald Clegg.

Andy Hoye added, “A dreadful combination of factory-processed mystery meat and some kind of orange powder coating… run for cover because kids will hate them and then throw ‘em at each other.”

He wasn’t quite right. The children on our panel weren’t wowed by the Shake-Ups, but most liked them. Several said they though it would be better warmed in the microwave.

“It tastes like a cold cheesy chicken nugget. There’s a lot of salt in it. It would be better if it was warm. They taste really good though. But they are probably filled with a lot of bad ingredients,” said Stephen Gese, 11

“I loved them a lot,” Bryton Martin, 10, who left cheesy fingerprints on his page.

The Chicken Shake-Ups also come in barbecue flavor.

The Oreo Cookie Handi-Snacks had broad appeal on our panel. Adults liked the clever cookie stick shapes and frosting for dipping. Kids just thought they tasted yummy.

“What an unusual way to eat a cookie. Dip the funny new shape in frosting! Very good but I guess I would rather they just added the filling at the factory,” said Larry Inman.

“That’s good stuff,” added Skip Hubbard. “My fear is that you would be plumb out of frosting with three-quarters of a box of cookie sticks left getting stale in the pantry.”

Kids definitely would like to see the Oreo sticks in their lunch boxes.

“I want my mom to buy these,” said Grace Kohler, 6

“I like the chocolate, but the cream is the best part,” added 7-year-old Drew Kazanis.

Handi-Snacks also come in Ritz Crackers ‘n’ Cheez, Premium Breadsticks ‘n’ Cheez and Mister Salty Pretzels ‘n’ Cheez.

Lunchables Chicken Shake-Ups, Nacho Cheese

Price: $3.29 for 4.7 ounces and 6.75 fluid ounces

Nutrition information per serving (5 nuggets, seasoning packet, Jello pudding and Koolaid drink): 210 calories, 6 grams fat (2 grams saturated, 26 percent fat calories), 13 grams protein, 28 grams carbohydrate, 30 milligrams cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 580 milligrams sodium.

Kids

Taste: • • •

Comments: “Very cold.” – Sydney Williams, 9

“Good.” – Katie Kazanis, 5

“I kinda like it, but it should be warm.” – Drew Kazanis, 7

“A little too cheesy, but I like ‘em.” – Pierce Hubbard, 5

Adults

Taste: • ½

Value: • •

Comments: “Yuck.” – Peggy Kazanis

“Icky funky nonfood.” – Tina Johnson

“Chicken nuggets cold! Clammy to the touch. Gross.” – Marcia Oranen

“Moist, tasty and different. A novelty snack item that OK but I would get tired of it quickly.” – Larry Inman

“I don’t trust these. I may have to go to the doctor after eating these.” – Chris Burggraat

Oreo Cookie Sticks and Crème

Price: $3.29 for 8 single-serving packages

Nutrition information per serving: 130 calories, 5 grams fat (1 gram saturated, 35 percent fat calories), 1 gram protein, 21 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 1 gram dietary fiber, 115 milligrams sodium.

Kids

Taste: • • • • 1/2

Comments: “Tastes like Oreos. Very sweet. – Sydney Williams, 9

“I love the white frosting.” – Katie Kazanis, 5

“I love to dip the sticks and it’s good exercise.” – Pierce Hubbard, 5

“Very sweet, (it) tastes like a chocolate snack stick. The topping is also very sweet. I think it’s frosting. There’s probably a lot of sugar and fat in it. It also tastes like an Oreo.” – Stephen Gese, 11

“Crunchy for people with braces.” – Daniele Tavenner, 14

Adults

Taste: • •• •

Value: • • •

Comments: “Construct-it-yourself Oreos a la Lincoln Logs. What will they think of next?” – Tina Johnson

“Oreos in stick form. Very good, adjustable cream dip. Sticks are extra crunchy.” – Marcia Oranen

“Oreo fondue! Pretty sweet.” – Andy Hoye

“Very kid friendly. Convenient packaging… All in all, I couldn’t help but wonder why an Oreo cookie wouldn’t suffice. Still, it had a nice Oreo taste when the stick and frosting were combined.” – Laura Hollman