If the choosy choose Jif, do the picky pick Skippy?
Skippy Natural Peanut Butter
Where purchased: Meijer
Price: $1.99 on sale (Regular $2.29)
Overall rating: 4/5
Today’s entry stems from my sister’s comment regarding my review of Jif Natural peanut butter. Her family was also not impressed with the Jif Natural, but they do like the Skippy Natural. So, even though it is not “new” anymore, I purchased the Skippy Natural to see how it measures up.
Skippy Natural vs Jif Natural
Skippy did a much better job making their natural version more like their regular peanut butter than Jif did. I found it very creamy and smooth, and it didn’t taste dry to me at all. I really didn’t find that weird texture difference (or really a taste difference, though I’m not as familiar with Skippy’s regular taste) that I definitely noticed in the Jif Natural. Comparing the two brands’ nutrition/ingredient labels, I noticed that Skippy Natural kept the full 150 mg of salt (Jif reduced their to 75 mg in their natural version) and Skippy had only 4 ingredients – no molasses. Also of note: Skippy has 3.5 g of saturated fat while Jif has 3 g, and Skippy has 6 g carbs while Jif has 7.
Skippy Natural vs Original Skippy
Skippy Natural has 10 fewer calories, 0.5 g more saturated fat, and 1 g less carbs than its regular counterpart. The sodium content remained the same. While original Skippy has 0 g trans fat on its nutrition label, it does contain partially hydrogonated vegetable oils – which we know means there are trans fats, but less than 0.5 g per serving.
So where does this comparison leave us? If you are loyal to Jif, keep buying the regular version. Switching to the natural version just isn’t worth what you lose in texture and flavor. However, if you are a Skippy person or not brand-loyal, I’d recommend trying the Skippy Natural. Though you will still be consuming the saturated fat found in palm oil, you will eliminate those scary trans fats found in the regular version – and more importantly, you won’t be sacrificing flavor and texture. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much this spreads and tastes like the regular peanut butter. And if you are a natural peanut butter eater only because you are very concerned with receiving the health benefits, keep buying the “real” natural peanut butters that contain only peanuts and salt, with no added oils or sugars. If you are ok with the fact that it will never taste like that creamy smooth peanut butter you grew up with, then fine. At least you can feel better about your health while you stir it and fight to spread it on your bread!
I am giving Skippy Natural a rating of 4 out of 5 because they did a great job at keeping their natural version closer to their regular version. Normally a rating this high would mean I would purchase it again (and maybe I would if I was the only one eating peanut butter in our household), but I think I am actually going to just keep buying regular Jif. I will finish up the Skippy Natural, and Noah will finish up the Jif Natural (he didn’t think the Jif Natural was bad, but he really didn’t like the Skippy Natural because it “tasted like Skippy”), but in the end I think we’ll go back to our grocery rut and stick with the stuff we love.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Its all in the sauce
And we aint talkin' 'bout BBQ baby.
Kraft Sandwich Shop Chipotle Flavored Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
Where purchased: Super Walmart
Price: $2.00
Overall rating: 4.5/5
I used to be quite the expert on the Panera sandwich line. I always found it interesting that our special “Signature Sandwiches” really weren’t much different from the regular café sandwiches. The main thing distinguishing the signature sandwich from its café counterpart was its unique sauce. Whether a creamy thousand island or a spicy horseradish, the sauce gave people that “wow” factor that the regular mayo and mustard couldn’t quite touch.
Today I created my own signature sandwich with Kraft Sandwich Shop Chipotle Mayo Spread. But I think Kraft’s sauce was even better than many of the sauces found in actual sandwich shops. Why? It was loaded with flavor, but not with fat and calories. Kraft’s chipotle mayo has only 40 calories and 4 grams of fat per tablespoon. And you might not even use the whole tablespoon serving. It has so much flavor that you only need to spread a thin layer on your sandwich.
I found the flavor of the sauce delicious, with just the right amount of heat. I like the convenient squeeze bottle with its unique straight edged tip that works perfectly for distributing an even layer on your bread. And picking this up for only $2.00 was a great deal – I’m not sure whether that was a promotional price, but I wouldn’t have a problem paying twice that.
This product is highly recommended and gets a 4.5 out of 5 rating for great taste, great value, and a great job at keeping the mayo low fat and low calorie. I’m definitely planning on trying their other new flavors in this new Sandwich Shop line – Garlic & Herb and Horseradish-Dijon.
Kraft Sandwich Shop Chipotle Flavored Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
Where purchased: Super Walmart
Price: $2.00
Overall rating: 4.5/5
I used to be quite the expert on the Panera sandwich line. I always found it interesting that our special “Signature Sandwiches” really weren’t much different from the regular café sandwiches. The main thing distinguishing the signature sandwich from its café counterpart was its unique sauce. Whether a creamy thousand island or a spicy horseradish, the sauce gave people that “wow” factor that the regular mayo and mustard couldn’t quite touch.
Today I created my own signature sandwich with Kraft Sandwich Shop Chipotle Mayo Spread. But I think Kraft’s sauce was even better than many of the sauces found in actual sandwich shops. Why? It was loaded with flavor, but not with fat and calories. Kraft’s chipotle mayo has only 40 calories and 4 grams of fat per tablespoon. And you might not even use the whole tablespoon serving. It has so much flavor that you only need to spread a thin layer on your sandwich.
I found the flavor of the sauce delicious, with just the right amount of heat. I like the convenient squeeze bottle with its unique straight edged tip that works perfectly for distributing an even layer on your bread. And picking this up for only $2.00 was a great deal – I’m not sure whether that was a promotional price, but I wouldn’t have a problem paying twice that.
This product is highly recommended and gets a 4.5 out of 5 rating for great taste, great value, and a great job at keeping the mayo low fat and low calorie. I’m definitely planning on trying their other new flavors in this new Sandwich Shop line – Garlic & Herb and Horseradish-Dijon.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Gobble gobble 'em up
I should totally run Hillshire Farms’ marketing campaign.
Hillshire Farms Turkey Lit’l Smokies
Where purchased: Meijer
Price: $3.89
Overall rating: 4/5
Lit’l smokies have been a potluck staple for years. Who doesn’t love mini sausages covered in a delicious sauce? Or wrapped up in Pillsbury crescent rolls? And in our house, we actually like to brown them up in the skillet and serve them as breakfast sausage.
I should start out by saying that this product isn’t brand new to me – I first noticed these turkey smokies a few months ago, and I have purchased them about 3 or 4 times since. Hillshire Farms did a great job with the turkey variety of this traditional favorite. It has great taste that is very close to the original but is MUCH healthier with only 4 grams of fat and 80 calories per 5 link serving, compared with 14 grams of fat and 160 calories in the original. You will notice that they are a bit drier (no surprise there) and don’t have the same juicy “pop” in your mouth of the traditional ones. But honestly, put these in a crockpot with some sauce and few people will notice the difference.
I give these guys a 4 out of 5 rating for an overall good flavor and excellent job at cutting way down on the fat and calories from the regular version. You might want to wait to pick these up on sale – I have gotten them a couple times at Meijer for $2.00, which definitely makes them seem like a better value.
If you do decide to try these, here’s a tasty crockpot sauce (adapted from Robin Miller’s Sweet-N-Sour Turkey Meatballs) you might want to try. Just mix together and heat!
2 pkgs turkey lit’l smokies
1 15oz can tomato sauce
1 c chicken broth
½ c chili sauce
¼ c cider vinegar
¼ c brown sugar
1 tsp dried thyme
Cornstarch/water for thickening (optional)
Hillshire Farms Turkey Lit’l Smokies
Where purchased: Meijer
Price: $3.89
Overall rating: 4/5
Lit’l smokies have been a potluck staple for years. Who doesn’t love mini sausages covered in a delicious sauce? Or wrapped up in Pillsbury crescent rolls? And in our house, we actually like to brown them up in the skillet and serve them as breakfast sausage.
I should start out by saying that this product isn’t brand new to me – I first noticed these turkey smokies a few months ago, and I have purchased them about 3 or 4 times since. Hillshire Farms did a great job with the turkey variety of this traditional favorite. It has great taste that is very close to the original but is MUCH healthier with only 4 grams of fat and 80 calories per 5 link serving, compared with 14 grams of fat and 160 calories in the original. You will notice that they are a bit drier (no surprise there) and don’t have the same juicy “pop” in your mouth of the traditional ones. But honestly, put these in a crockpot with some sauce and few people will notice the difference.
I give these guys a 4 out of 5 rating for an overall good flavor and excellent job at cutting way down on the fat and calories from the regular version. You might want to wait to pick these up on sale – I have gotten them a couple times at Meijer for $2.00, which definitely makes them seem like a better value.
If you do decide to try these, here’s a tasty crockpot sauce (adapted from Robin Miller’s Sweet-N-Sour Turkey Meatballs) you might want to try. Just mix together and heat!
2 pkgs turkey lit’l smokies
1 15oz can tomato sauce
1 c chicken broth
½ c chili sauce
¼ c cider vinegar
¼ c brown sugar
1 tsp dried thyme
Cornstarch/water for thickening (optional)
Friday, March 26, 2010
It's ok to be choosy
Jif says so.
Jif Natural Peanut Butter
Where purchased: Meijer
Cost: $2.22 (18 oz)
Overall rating: 2.5/5
My husband, Noah, is a Jif Man. Growing up his family had generic brand everything – except peanut butter. And they took it even further than that. No Peter Pan, no Skippy – only Jif. So, you can imagine my surprise when he suggested trying the new Natural Jif peanut butter…
Natural Jif has almost identical nutritional information to traditional Jif. There are 2 differences:
1) Natural JIF has 140 Calories from Fat, and Regular has 130.
2) Natural JIF has 75 mg of sodium, and Regular has 150 mg.
So, let me be clear. According to the nutrition label, we’re not reducing fat intake, we’re not reducing calorie intake, and we’re not reducing sugar intake by choosing Jif Natural. Only salt intake. The other differences appear when looking at the ingredients:
Jif Natural Regular Jif
Peanuts Peanuts and sugar
Sugar (is this different from peanuts, sugar?)
Less than 2% of: Less than 2% of:
Palm oil Molasses
Salt Fully hydrogenated veg. oils
Molasses (rapeseed and soybean)
Mono- and diglycerides
Salt
To be able to give a fair rating to this product, I felt I had to do somewhat of a cost/benefit analysis. Namely: does the substitution of palm oil for the fully hydrogenated vegetable oils and mono and diglycerides give me a large enough health benefit to sacrifice the taste/texture that I love about regular JIF peanut butter?
For me, the answer is no. The answer might be different for you. But here’s my reasoning (and this is where some of you might just want to skip to the next paragraph!). First, let’s take a step back and look at what we are dealing with. We are talking about ingredients that make up less than 2% of the finished product. The primary ingredient here is still peanuts, which we know are a good source of protein and more desirable fats. And even though Jif Natural boasts "Made of 90% peanuts!" on the label, Jif itself says on its Web site that all peanut butters are required by law to be at least 90% peanuts. Which means Jif regular is, too. Second, we know that the regular peanut butter contains less than 0.5 g of trans fat, because the ingredient list shows 0 grams trans fat. Further, after some research, I discovered that FULLY hydrogenated oil (as opposed to partially hydrogenated oil) has NO trans fat. So… IF there are traceable amounts of trans fat in the regular peanut butter, it would only be coming from the mono and diglycerides (fats that act as emulsifiers to provide consistent texture and prevent separation). Also, let’s look at what we are comparing it to. Palm oil – not olive oil, or canola oil, or another oil high in unsaturated fats. No, palm oil is actually very rich in saturated fat, and therefore not considered one of the more “desirable” oils to have in your diet.
I have the same complaint about Jif Natural as most people do about natural peanut butters in general – the consistency is just weird. It feels dry in the mouth and doesn’t spread as well as I’d like it to. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do think Jif made a good effort and tried to keep this product as close to the regular version as possible. It doesn’t separate at all, and it is still spreadable – just not AS spreadable. The taste was a little off for me as well – it actually had a stronger dry-roasted peanut taste. Not sure if that comes from the difference in when they add the sugar, or the reduction of salt, or the different oil? Maybe a combination.
In any case, I won’t be making the switch. Jif made a worthy attempt with this one, but I’m just not ready to give up that creamy deliciousness of the regular Jif peanut butter I love. So, I am giving it a rating of 2.5 out of 5 – I liked that it was the same price as the regular Jif, it kept some of the classic JIF qualities, and had lower sodium, but I don’t think the flavor and texture sacrifice is worth the slight health benefit.
Jif Natural Peanut Butter
Where purchased: Meijer
Cost: $2.22 (18 oz)
Overall rating: 2.5/5
My husband, Noah, is a Jif Man. Growing up his family had generic brand everything – except peanut butter. And they took it even further than that. No Peter Pan, no Skippy – only Jif. So, you can imagine my surprise when he suggested trying the new Natural Jif peanut butter…
Natural Jif has almost identical nutritional information to traditional Jif. There are 2 differences:
1) Natural JIF has 140 Calories from Fat, and Regular has 130.
2) Natural JIF has 75 mg of sodium, and Regular has 150 mg.
So, let me be clear. According to the nutrition label, we’re not reducing fat intake, we’re not reducing calorie intake, and we’re not reducing sugar intake by choosing Jif Natural. Only salt intake. The other differences appear when looking at the ingredients:
Jif Natural Regular Jif
Peanuts Peanuts and sugar
Sugar (is this different from peanuts, sugar?)
Less than 2% of: Less than 2% of:
Palm oil Molasses
Salt Fully hydrogenated veg. oils
Molasses (rapeseed and soybean)
Mono- and diglycerides
Salt
To be able to give a fair rating to this product, I felt I had to do somewhat of a cost/benefit analysis. Namely: does the substitution of palm oil for the fully hydrogenated vegetable oils and mono and diglycerides give me a large enough health benefit to sacrifice the taste/texture that I love about regular JIF peanut butter?
For me, the answer is no. The answer might be different for you. But here’s my reasoning (and this is where some of you might just want to skip to the next paragraph!). First, let’s take a step back and look at what we are dealing with. We are talking about ingredients that make up less than 2% of the finished product. The primary ingredient here is still peanuts, which we know are a good source of protein and more desirable fats. And even though Jif Natural boasts "Made of 90% peanuts!" on the label, Jif itself says on its Web site that all peanut butters are required by law to be at least 90% peanuts. Which means Jif regular is, too. Second, we know that the regular peanut butter contains less than 0.5 g of trans fat, because the ingredient list shows 0 grams trans fat. Further, after some research, I discovered that FULLY hydrogenated oil (as opposed to partially hydrogenated oil) has NO trans fat. So… IF there are traceable amounts of trans fat in the regular peanut butter, it would only be coming from the mono and diglycerides (fats that act as emulsifiers to provide consistent texture and prevent separation). Also, let’s look at what we are comparing it to. Palm oil – not olive oil, or canola oil, or another oil high in unsaturated fats. No, palm oil is actually very rich in saturated fat, and therefore not considered one of the more “desirable” oils to have in your diet.
I have the same complaint about Jif Natural as most people do about natural peanut butters in general – the consistency is just weird. It feels dry in the mouth and doesn’t spread as well as I’d like it to. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do think Jif made a good effort and tried to keep this product as close to the regular version as possible. It doesn’t separate at all, and it is still spreadable – just not AS spreadable. The taste was a little off for me as well – it actually had a stronger dry-roasted peanut taste. Not sure if that comes from the difference in when they add the sugar, or the reduction of salt, or the different oil? Maybe a combination.
In any case, I won’t be making the switch. Jif made a worthy attempt with this one, but I’m just not ready to give up that creamy deliciousness of the regular Jif peanut butter I love. So, I am giving it a rating of 2.5 out of 5 – I liked that it was the same price as the regular Jif, it kept some of the classic JIF qualities, and had lower sodium, but I don’t think the flavor and texture sacrifice is worth the slight health benefit.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Dressed for... average
I wanted so badly to be able to name this "Dressed for success." Wouldn't that have been the perfect name for an entry about salad dressing?
Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals Roasted Onion Parmesan
Where purchased: Super Walmart
Price: $2.68
Overall rating: 3/5
I eat salad nearly every day, so I often find myself looking for new and different dressings to stay out of salad ruts. I picked up this dressing as a possible alternative to the traditional ranch we always have in our house - and that's exactly what it is.
I imagine those highly concerned with finding healthy dressings wouldn't be looking for a creamy one anyway, but do be warned that this will set you back 12 grams of fat and 120 calories per serving. Most of these fat/calories seem to come from soybean oil as well, which isn't as desirable as the olive, canola, or other oils with the high "good" fats and Omega 3s. But, it does have very low sugar (1 gram) and as long as you are ok with choosing a higher fat/calorie-based dressing for variety's sake (which I am!) this could be worth a try.
I found the flavor to be nice and fairly mild - somewhere between a ranch and caesar. Nothing that would blow your socks off, but nice if you are looking for something just a bit different than your usuals. I'm giving this dressing a rating of 3 out of 5 - good taste, reasonable price, and worth a try - but not something I would see becoming a mainstay in our house.
Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals Roasted Onion Parmesan
Where purchased: Super Walmart
Price: $2.68
Overall rating: 3/5
I eat salad nearly every day, so I often find myself looking for new and different dressings to stay out of salad ruts. I picked up this dressing as a possible alternative to the traditional ranch we always have in our house - and that's exactly what it is.
I imagine those highly concerned with finding healthy dressings wouldn't be looking for a creamy one anyway, but do be warned that this will set you back 12 grams of fat and 120 calories per serving. Most of these fat/calories seem to come from soybean oil as well, which isn't as desirable as the olive, canola, or other oils with the high "good" fats and Omega 3s. But, it does have very low sugar (1 gram) and as long as you are ok with choosing a higher fat/calorie-based dressing for variety's sake (which I am!) this could be worth a try.
I found the flavor to be nice and fairly mild - somewhere between a ranch and caesar. Nothing that would blow your socks off, but nice if you are looking for something just a bit different than your usuals. I'm giving this dressing a rating of 3 out of 5 - good taste, reasonable price, and worth a try - but not something I would see becoming a mainstay in our house.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Bunnies aren't just for Easter
Not if you're talking about Blue Bunny, anyway.
Blue Bunny Triple Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches
Where purchased: Super Walmart
Price: $3.00 on sale
Overall rating: 5/5
Those who know me well know that I love my ice cream. In fact, I have some sort of ice cream treat nearly every night. So naturally, I am always on the search for new, fun things to try. But, don't go thinking that just because I love ice cream I am going to give every ice cream treat a 5 point rating. I am actually quite picky about what I want in an after-dinner dessert. I want something that is around 200 calories or less, I want something that is delicious and satisfying and won’t leave me wanting more and more sugar, and I want something that is a good value – in general, I don’t want to pay more than $.50/treat.
These triple chocolate ice cream sandwiches got top marks across the board. Though they have only 160 calories and 3.5 g of fat per delicious sandwich, you would never know it. The ice cream is rich, and I find the variety of flavors within the sandwich refreshing – my favorite is the white chocolate in the middle, although the milk chocolate and dark chocolate are also both delicious. I also love that it is an “inside-out” version of the classic ice cream sandwich with the vanilla cookie outside and chocolate ice cream inside.
Finding these for $3.00 was a bargain, as I would pay up to about $4.50 for the 10 sandwiches. Blue Bunny always does a great job with their ice cream treats, and this is certainly no exception. This product receives a 5 out of 5 rating from me – great taste, great value, and a great treat that won’t break your diet.
Blue Bunny Triple Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches
Where purchased: Super Walmart
Price: $3.00 on sale
Overall rating: 5/5
Those who know me well know that I love my ice cream. In fact, I have some sort of ice cream treat nearly every night. So naturally, I am always on the search for new, fun things to try. But, don't go thinking that just because I love ice cream I am going to give every ice cream treat a 5 point rating. I am actually quite picky about what I want in an after-dinner dessert. I want something that is around 200 calories or less, I want something that is delicious and satisfying and won’t leave me wanting more and more sugar, and I want something that is a good value – in general, I don’t want to pay more than $.50/treat.
These triple chocolate ice cream sandwiches got top marks across the board. Though they have only 160 calories and 3.5 g of fat per delicious sandwich, you would never know it. The ice cream is rich, and I find the variety of flavors within the sandwich refreshing – my favorite is the white chocolate in the middle, although the milk chocolate and dark chocolate are also both delicious. I also love that it is an “inside-out” version of the classic ice cream sandwich with the vanilla cookie outside and chocolate ice cream inside.
Finding these for $3.00 was a bargain, as I would pay up to about $4.50 for the 10 sandwiches. Blue Bunny always does a great job with their ice cream treats, and this is certainly no exception. This product receives a 5 out of 5 rating from me – great taste, great value, and a great treat that won’t break your diet.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
"You say bagel funny"
Well, it's not a real New York "Baggel" as Britta from Community would say - but it is a whole lot healthier.
Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins
Where purchased: Sams Club
Price: 2/$4.18 ($2.09 each)
Overall rating: 3.5/5
I was excited to see these on my last trip to Sams Club. Many of you may be familiar with the Arnold Sandwich thins that are out there. They act like a bun, but only have 100 calories. These Bagel Thins are a similar idea – they act like a whole bagel, but they are thinner so they are only 110 calories each (equal to about half of a bagel). I sometimes buy the 100% whole wheat mini bagels or regular bagels and cut them in half, so this seemed like a great idea to me.
Overall, I found these to be tasty and they met my expectations. I was happy with the value I received (I don’t think I would pay full grocery store price for these, however) as well as the nutrition information – 100% whole wheat, excellent source of fiber, and no high fructose corn syrup. I tried putting them in the toaster and spreading them with peanut butter for breakfast. Toasting them did cause them to get a bit “thin and crispy,” rather than the thick, chewy texture you would expect to get from a bagel. Next time I will try just putting them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them. I also think they will be great for bagel sandwiches for breakfast or lunch.
These bagel thins received a 3.5 out of 5 rating for me. Nothing special, but I like them and will purchase them again at Sams or if I find them on sale at the grocery store.
Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins
Where purchased: Sams Club
Price: 2/$4.18 ($2.09 each)
Overall rating: 3.5/5
I was excited to see these on my last trip to Sams Club. Many of you may be familiar with the Arnold Sandwich thins that are out there. They act like a bun, but only have 100 calories. These Bagel Thins are a similar idea – they act like a whole bagel, but they are thinner so they are only 110 calories each (equal to about half of a bagel). I sometimes buy the 100% whole wheat mini bagels or regular bagels and cut them in half, so this seemed like a great idea to me.
Overall, I found these to be tasty and they met my expectations. I was happy with the value I received (I don’t think I would pay full grocery store price for these, however) as well as the nutrition information – 100% whole wheat, excellent source of fiber, and no high fructose corn syrup. I tried putting them in the toaster and spreading them with peanut butter for breakfast. Toasting them did cause them to get a bit “thin and crispy,” rather than the thick, chewy texture you would expect to get from a bagel. Next time I will try just putting them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them. I also think they will be great for bagel sandwiches for breakfast or lunch.
These bagel thins received a 3.5 out of 5 rating for me. Nothing special, but I like them and will purchase them again at Sams or if I find them on sale at the grocery store.
We are all consumers
It’s a great time to be a consumer.
Did you know that the average American supermarket carries 47,000 different products? Stop and think about that for a minute. It’s amazing. Forty-seven thousand products, and how many different products do you buy? Probably nothing close to that. If you’re anything like me, you tend to buy the same things over and over again. Why? Because they are safe. You know you like them. They are a good value. There are a million reasons.
But with 47,000 products to choose from, don’t you wonder what else is out there?
When you are deciding on a movie to watch, what is most helpful to you? A description of each movie, or a personal recommendation from a friend? Most people would prefer the recommendation. You may take the time to read movie summaries and reviews, watch trailors, and listen to critics to get a feel for which movies may interest you. But, when decision time comes, you will choose the movie that your friend recommended you should see. Why? Because it’s safe. You are more confident you will like it. You won’t waste money on a bad film. There are a million reasons.
I’m sure you have gone to the grocery store and seen a new or different product that looks interesting to you. But, you don’t want to try it because you might not like it, you might waste money on it, your family may complain that they don’t have their usual product, etc. You could take the time looking up products online and comparing the various products side-by-side at the store, studying ingredients and nutrition information and determining the better value. But wouldn’t you rather purchase a new product based on a recommendation from a friend who has already tried the food?
My goal with this blog is to try some of those new or different foods and eliminate some of the uncertainty you experience when purchasing new products. I know I will waste some money, end up with products I don’t like, and spend more time at the grocery store. But I’m willing to endure all of these hassles for the thrill of finding something new I like and sharing it with you!
Did you know that the average American supermarket carries 47,000 different products? Stop and think about that for a minute. It’s amazing. Forty-seven thousand products, and how many different products do you buy? Probably nothing close to that. If you’re anything like me, you tend to buy the same things over and over again. Why? Because they are safe. You know you like them. They are a good value. There are a million reasons.
But with 47,000 products to choose from, don’t you wonder what else is out there?
When you are deciding on a movie to watch, what is most helpful to you? A description of each movie, or a personal recommendation from a friend? Most people would prefer the recommendation. You may take the time to read movie summaries and reviews, watch trailors, and listen to critics to get a feel for which movies may interest you. But, when decision time comes, you will choose the movie that your friend recommended you should see. Why? Because it’s safe. You are more confident you will like it. You won’t waste money on a bad film. There are a million reasons.
I’m sure you have gone to the grocery store and seen a new or different product that looks interesting to you. But, you don’t want to try it because you might not like it, you might waste money on it, your family may complain that they don’t have their usual product, etc. You could take the time looking up products online and comparing the various products side-by-side at the store, studying ingredients and nutrition information and determining the better value. But wouldn’t you rather purchase a new product based on a recommendation from a friend who has already tried the food?
My goal with this blog is to try some of those new or different foods and eliminate some of the uncertainty you experience when purchasing new products. I know I will waste some money, end up with products I don’t like, and spend more time at the grocery store. But I’m willing to endure all of these hassles for the thrill of finding something new I like and sharing it with you!
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