Supermarket Guru For the Week of 9/1

I’m Phil Lempert with the New Product Hits & Misses.  First up,
Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Sweet & Spicy Popcorn.
The flavor of this popcorn is a little different than you might expect. In fact, I would probably call it "spicy and sweet!" The garlic, paprika, cayenne and cumin far overpower the cane sugar. It’s a perfect snack to have with a beer or margarita, but I would hesitate to snack on it all by itself. Two cups are 8 grams of fat and 8 grams of sugars. Nicely popped and good mouthfeel.  Retails for $3.50 for 6 oz.  Total Score is 82.

Garden Lites Veggie Muffins Zucchini Chocolate is a hit.
What would you say if I could give you a muffin that was made primarily with zucchini, carrots, eggs and sugar, instead of the typical wheat or corn? These muffins are actually very chocolate-y and satisfying. Keep them frozen and then just microwave them for 35 seconds for a warm, delicious snack. While I applaud the fact that these gluten free muffins use the vegetable base, I do wish that each 2 ounce muffin would be less than 11 grams of sugars.  Retails for $3.99 for 8 oz.  Total Score is 85.

Bongiovi Pasta Sauces Spicy Arrabiata is a hit.
New Jersey is known for its Italian food and obviously its pasta sauce. This one comes from Jon Bon Jovi’s family recipe. The taste is good, but the spice is not arrabiata enough and the consistency? Well, I’d like to see a little thicker sauce. I might just be picking on them but I find it odd that a proud New Jersey family would have their sauce made for them in California. Half a cup is 5 grams of fat, 280 mg of sodium and 4 grams of sugars.
Retails for $6.99 for 24 oz.  Total score is 85.

Vega Del Castillo 100% Organic Free Run Grape Juice Grenache & Tempranillo  is a hit.
If you’re looking for a wine alternative with a unique flavor and full bodied, try this. The "free run" refers to the fact that the grapes are not machine pressed but rather pressed from the weight of the grapes themselves. The aroma is slightly reminiscent of prune juice but the taste is much more similar to a new wine. One 8 ounce glass is 170 calories and a whopping 42 grams of sugars – all naturally occurring. The flavor is best when drunk by itself as it may interfere with the taste of your meal.  Retails for $14.99 for 25.4 fl oz.  Total Score is 85.

Beanitos Puffs White Cheddar is the hit of the week.
How does a cheddar puff that has whole navy beans as its first ingredient taste? Delicious. This gluten free snack is just 120 calories, 4 grams of fat and 180 mg of sodium, but contains 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. They are light and crunchy, the cheddar flavor is very authentic and best of all, you don’t have any orange powder on your fingers. For kids and adults to enjoy.  Retails for $3.49 for 3 oz  Total Score is 94.