Calorie Bargain: Rick’s Picks (pickles)
The Why: If Peter Piper could have picked this peck of pickled peppers, he would have. (He would also have enjoyed the pickled Mean (green) Beans, Spears of Influence, Phat Beets, Kool Gherks and Windy City Wasabeans!) Great pickles, great packaging, great names and low calories. We’d even venture to say they’ll be the most special pickles that you’ve ever tasted. They are a wonderful, flavorful addition to sandwiches, salads or even just a fork — and with only 10–30 calories per serving, you can eat these to your heart’s content.
The Health Bonus: Did you know that in addition to being low-calorie, pickles are low-fat or fat-free and count toward your much-needed fruit and veggie quota?
What We Liked Best: So many fun types to try. They even come with suggestions for how to add them to favorite foods, in case you crave something other than straight from the jar.
What We Liked Least: If you’re tempted by the idea of pickles, and then bite into one of these puppies thinking it’s only gonna make you pucker — watch out! Some of the flavors were barely bitable to those with a low spice threshold on our tasting committee. (In other words, they’re pretty hot.) The other slight problem is that they’re not available everywhere.
The Price: Most of the varieties are $10.99 each.
Offerings: They are available in 10 flavors: Windy City Wasabeans, GT 1000s, Phat Beets, Spears of Influence, Mean Beans, Smokra, Bee’n’Beez, Kool Gherks, Pepi Pep Peps and Slices of Life.
Web Site: www.rickspicksnyc.com.
Where to Buy: www.rickspicksnyc.com.
Ingredients: Each of the pickles has a little something different in the mix. Here’s an example for Spears of Influence: cucumbers, vinegar, water, garlic, dill, salt, pickling spice, lime juice, cumin, dried chilies, peppercorns. For specific ingredients for each type of pickle, see Rick’s Picks’ Web site.
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving: 1 ounce (28 grams)
Mean Beans
20 calories
0g fat
4g carbs
<1g protein
<1g fiber
200mg sodium
Spears of Influence
10 calories
0g fat
2g carbs
0g protein
0g fiber
45mg sodium
Calorie Bargain: Garden-in-a-Bag
The Why: Because there is a wonderful group of people work at Potting Shed Creations, based in Troy, Idaho. Their products — and the biggest key to their success — are based on one simple premise: "Develop exciting, high-quality products that offer a fresh approach to gardening." The Garden-in-a-Bag collection provides a great selection of herbs, fruits and veggies that can be grown indoors, right in the leak-proof bag. All you need to do is mix in the enclosed packet of seeds and add water. The seeds germinate in seven to 14 days, and you can start using the leaves in about eight weeks.
The Health Bonus: You can add flavor to your food with your very own herb garden. It’s certainly an encouraging way to get you to cook and eat more healthfully. Plus, if you have kids, it’s a great way to get them to eat better foods — they get to eat what they grow.
What We Liked Best: How simple and cute they are, plus, they make wonderful gifts.
What We Liked Least: They’re not available everywhere, but at least you can order them online.
The Price: $7.50 per plant, plus shipping.
Offerings: Chives, cilantro, oregano, basil, thyme, dill, mint, parsley, sage, tomatoes and strawberries. They also offer an herb Garden-in-a-Pail and Mixed Herb Hanging Baskets, which we think are fabulous, too.
Web Site: www.pottingshedcreations.com.
Where to Buy: Order online, or call (800) 505-7496.
Ingredients: Seeds, soil wafer, drainage peanuts and leak-proof bag.
Calorie Bargain: Wha Guru Chews (energy bars)
The Why: Smothered. It's almost a dirty word. It's reminiscent of a time in our lives when we used to be able to chow down on anything whether it was smothered in butter, syrup, gravy or fudge. So it's not every day that we "healthy eaters" get to bite into something "smothered" — but today is our lucky day.
They are sort of like an all-natural PowerBar: soft, chewy and full of lots of fresh nut-crunch and flavor. Not only that, but every ingredient on the label is readable, even without a Ph.D. in chemistry. It figures something so perfect would come from a company called Golden Temple of Oregon, founded by a "Yogi," no less.
The Health Bonus: Wha Guru Chews are all-natural, handmade, vegan — and portable.
What We Liked Best: The taste is off the charts, and they are only 160–190 calories: a great value.
What We Liked Least: They make your fingers a little sticky, so don't forget the Wet Ones.
The Price: About $1 each.
Web Site: www.whaguruchew.com.
Where to Buy: www.amazon.com, www.tealand.com.
Ingredients: The Cashew Almond flavor contains: Barley malt syrup, cashews, sunflower seeds, brown rice syrup, almonds, maple syrup, high oleic safflower oil, wheat germ, cashew butter, almond butter, natural maple flavor, sea salt, soy lecithin.
Offerings: They are available in five flavors: Sesame Almond, Almond Ginger, Cashew Almond, Peanut Cashew and Cashew Vanilla — all nice and smothered in a special caramel to hold them together.
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving: (Cashew Almond) one bar
160 calories
10g fat
9g carbs
4g protein
Calorie Bargain: McDonald’s Southwest Chicken Salad
The Why: It’s fast, good and low in calories. The salad, ordered with the grilled (not crispy) chicken has a nice mix of lettuce, a few black beans, pieces of corn and a few pieces of crispy tortilla. It makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner, even without any fries.
Note that this calorie count doesn't include dressing or croutons. So skip the Butter Garlic Croutons, which are 60 calories, and ask for Newman's Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette or Newman's Own Low Fat Family Recipe Italian Dressing, which have about half the calories of the creamy dressing the salad usually comes with.
The Health Bonus: The salad has 7 grams of fiber. Wow.
What We Liked Best: A lean, healthy and filling salad, from the drive-through, for about 5 bucks.
What We Liked Least: It’s one of the most expensive items on the menu. Also, it’s very high in sodium.
The Price: Approximately $5.15 (with tax).
Offerings: Available with grilled or crispy chicken. You gotta go for the grilled, or it’ll cost you an extra 7 grams of fat and 80 calories.
Web Site: www.mcdonalds.com.
Where to Buy: At a McDonald's near you. www.mcdonalds.com/usa/rest_locator.html.
Ingredients: Salad mix, grilled chicken breast filet, Southwest vegetable blend, cilantro lime glaze, shredded cheddar/Jack cheese, limes, chili lime tortilla strips, liquid margarine.
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving:
320 calories
9g fat
30g carbs
30g protein
7g fiber
970mg sodium
Calorie Bargain: Holey Donuts (Marble Frosted)
The Why: If you’ve ever sat in the parking lot waiting for that "Hot Krispy Kreme — Now" sign to light up, this Calorie Bargain is for you. Somewhere over the rainbow you could eat doughnuts all day long, and not get a bellyache. Or a belly. Holey Donuts is here to tell you that "somewhere" is right here, right now.
The Health Bonus: Their proprietary recipe and cooking method give you all the doughnutty taste and texture you love, sans the deep-fat fryer. And that's why the nutritional information on these puppies seems almost too good to be true. Plus, no trans-fat.
What We Liked Best: Once cooked, they are flash frozen and shipped via FedEx right to your door. They come with clear and simple instructions for how to defrost and enjoy.
What We Liked Least: Doughnuts must be shipped, so no instant gratification. Also, they’re still not super low-calorie, so they should be eaten sparingly.
The Price: $23.95 per dozen.
Offerings: Glazed, Coconut Cream Pie, Boston Creme, Apple Caramel, Raspberry Crumb, Jelly, Blueberry Crumb, Strawberry Shortcake, Apple Coffee Cake, Marble Frosted, Classic Vanilla, Caramel Crumb Ring, Dolce Latte Frosted, Caramel Vanilla, Black and White, Strawberry Swirl.
Web Site: www.holeydonuts.net
Where to Buy: Company Web site at www.holeydonuts.net.
Ingredients: Wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, fiboflavin, folic acid, dextrose, soybean oil. Contains less than 2% of-salt, dairy blend (whey solids, nonfat dry milk, sodium caseinate), leaviening (sodium acid pryophosphate, baking soda)soy flour, dried egg yolks, mono and diglycerides, citric acid added as preservative, sodium stearoly lactylate (dough conditioner), vegetable color (annatto and turmeric) contains wheat egg milk and soy. Glaze ingredients: Sugar, Water, corn starch, corn syrup, food starch-modified, wheat starch, agar, guar gum, potassium sorbate (as preservative), citric acid, silicon dioxide, artificial flavor, dextrose, 101904 (L).
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving: (Marble Frosted) one doughnut
210 calories
3.5g fat
39g carbs
4g protein
Calorie Bargain: Birds Eye Steamfresh Veggies
The Why: What a great food-packaging idea. You simply take the frozen veggies out of the freezer, put the unopened bag in the microwave for four to five minutes and you’re done. Wow, it’s that simple; you have steamed vegetables. And they’re great. Vegetables are very filling and extremely low in calories. Steaming is a healthy method of preparing vegetables. There is no need for oil, which means no added fat or calories.
The Health Bonus: Get your daily dose of veggies loaded with antioxidants.
What We Liked Best: It makes eating vegetables and preparing healthy meals so much easier. Our two favorites are the Broccoli, Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas & Water Chestnuts and the Asparagus, Gold & White Corn, Baby Carrots.
What We Liked Least: Almost all of the versions are just vegetables flash frozen, nothing else. However, the four Specially Seasoned varieties are not all-natural (and they’re not listed below as part of the offerings). For instance, Asian Medley has added sugar.
The Price: Approximately $2.20 per 12-ounce bag.
Offerings: Broccoli Cuts; Super Sweet Corn; Sweet Peas; Cut Green Beans; Mixed Vegetables; Sweet Mini Corn on the Cob; Broccoli, Cauliflower & Carrots; Broccoli, Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas & Water Chestnuts; Broccoli & Cauliflower; Asparagus, Gold & White Corn, Baby Carrots; Broccoli Florets; Baby Brussels Sprouts; Whole Green Beans.
Web Site: www.birdseyefoods.com/birdseye/steamfresh.
Where to Buy: Local grocery store, frozen food aisle.
Ingredients: Just vegetables.
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving: (Broccoli, Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas & Water Chestnuts ) 3/4 cup
35 calories
0g fat
6g carbs
1g protein
2g fiber
25mg sodium