I don't usually eat lunch of breakfast, but sometimes the combo of free work coffee...my morning dew, excedrine and aleve for migraine, and ADD meds make a bit jumpy.
Ok, would make MOST people jumpy....
So working from home this wasn't a biggie, but now I work in an office. I brought in several boxes of TJs snacks. I have some cereal bars, some granola, and I just found these the other day and I literally just had one.

OH MY GAWD.

I was wary about the oat thing, since most food items that claim a healthy aspect plus unhealthy one always seem disappointing. I'd rather eat healthfood OR junkfood. the combo always turns odd IMHO.
This one sooooo doesn't. I enjoyed the texture of soft oats in the brownie. It was moist and fudgey and had a nice rich flavor. Boardering on dark chocolate, which I don't normally like. I prefer the semi sweet that is on the low end of the sweet. This is about perfect. It looks like with the frosting swirl it might be too rich or sweet, but it really isn't.

I'm not sure if my kids would like this since they take after me and would rather get a bowl of pickles than a cookie, and its more bittersweet than SWEET like most kid snack items.
I used to LOOOVE fudge rounds as a kid and now they just taste like shortning and make my teeth burn from the high sugar content.
This is like a more grownup version of my fudge rounds as a kid.

Next time I go, i'm buying more. ALL FOR ME!! *insert evil laugh*

A

Ready to bake Brownies

I'm not a huge chocolate fan, I tend to waver more to salty snacks, but every now and then....
I've found the pillsbury 9x13 brownies PERFECTALLY divive into two, so i'll do one egg, 1/4c oil, and a drizzle of water and bake in a loaf pan and it's the perfect size so that I can usually finish them, but are not scarfing brownies for days trying to finish them off. I have serious guilt issues about throwing away half a pan of brownies!

I saw these and was like, awesome! they were a little pricier, but worth a shot since I don't always have eggs laying around. I saw really good reviews.
However I ate half of one, threw the rest away and tossed entire pan.
they had a weird plasticy texture and flavor....they were thick and fudgey in texture, but ehhh...
Since i stocked up on the pillsbury last time they were onsale for like a buck, and they make 2 extra thick loaf pans.....and I prefer the texture/favor I won't buy these again.

Since they have good reviews I wouldn't discourage a try, but I wasn't impressed AT ALL...

D

Trader Joe's mini brie wedge things

I couldn't find a google image for this item and I forgot to take one last night. I made a trek to TJs last night and bought some of this product. not to be confused with the little cream cheese type tubs this stuff looks very simlar to the laughing cow cheese wedges.

I couldn't even finish a wedge even though I actually tried. I contemplated trying again with plain saltines instead of the pita chips, but um...no.

just. NO.

F

Frosted Flakes

The kiddos hardly ever ate cereal in my house due to busy travel schedule and inability to keep dairy in the house. Atleast non expired variety. Usually we did oatmeal for breakfast as it required very little expire-able items. New job, more time to shop!
I bought these on a whim, as I doubt my kids have had FF more than 2x in their lives with ME anyway....and now it's going to be some sort of army of darkness around here if we ever got down to ONE box.
They will pass on booberry or cocoapuffs or any number of cereals which are basically giant bowls of processed sugar with a sprinkling of something to bulk it up. It disturbs me just how crazy the cereal thing is now. *Shudder*
that being said my all time favorite cereal, honey nut cheerios tears up the roof of my mouth something awful. Same thing happens to me when I eat tomato sauce too. Like, I'll be sore for days. I still cave and buy a box every so often, but generally like when I go out drinking I find myself going "WTF? really? why can't you learn already!"
now my rare guilty pleasure cereal is lucky charms. What a load of crap that stuff is. but I can't help myself. one bowl every 6-12m isn't going to KILL me, surely?

Anywho, FF are not the healthiest thing on the planet, but these are really tasty and quite cheap. I'm willing to admit that everytime i've gone to TJs since it's opened i've ended up buying like 3 boxes. and they are disappearing awfully quick!

I really need to pickup a box of bran flakes to make muffins. hmm....

A+

Shrimp fried rice

Going hand in hand with my weird texture issues (again, thanks mom!) goes my general distaste for seafood. Which stinks because it's oh so healthy, but I haven't gotten over it yet. Plus, this has visible onions and that would never do in my world.
However, that being said I really encourage my kids to try new foods, even if that means making 2 different meals for us. I'm just that side of awesome.
So the boys like shrimp, or "shrumps" as my lil one called them for awhile. It was pretty darn cute.
They also do not have my weird food issues at this point in time, so good work self.

I bought this because the younger of the two begged for me to get him some shrimps, and while the idea of even cooking it kinda squicks me out - I figured the fried rice wouldn't be too bad, and it was SUPER cheap. 2.99 and it makes a healthy 4c of rice.
I think it would be enough for a entire meal for 2 adults even, or one REALLY hungry person. easily side dish type for a few adults.
Lucky(?) for me, my two kids who are still shy of double digits eat like they ARE adult size. The younger one gobbled up all the shrimps (as he says) and proclaimed my ex made him a super big lunch and he was full. He didn't say he didn't like it, kept claiming he did....so I think we'll buy again. Sometimes they just are not hungry, but it's fairly rare.

The elder of the two got the slightly larger portion size and inhaled it like someone was going to take his plate away at any moment. Honestly he may have actually been able to eat the ENTIRE package if i'd let him. But in fairness, the other day he ate 4 pieces of pizza PLUS a dessert item, and I ate two. I also *only* eat dinner, and he eats 4-5 meals a day. He's GOT to be hitting a growth spurt, i've been waiting for it to happen for several years now. he really hasn't grown hardly any since like kindy/1st. his brother is 3yrs younger and only 3" shorter. course both of them are still freakishly tall....but the younger one is unbelievably so.

This is def a cheap and easy way for me to not only sneak in some acceptable veggies on them, but keep them eating a bigger variety of foods. And the size was PERFECT for the two of them. at 3 bucks it was a hell of a bargain.

I have read several reviews and they are all quite good, however I suspect the palates of the under 10 crowd might be slightly less umm...sophisticated than the average adult. Sure smelled good and looked pleasing, but I obviously cannot rate based on my own tastes.

B+

Chocolate Peanutbutter cups - Mini

I'm actually not a HUGE chocolate freak. I tend to gravitate more towards salty snacks, however like every human on the planet....sometimes you just need some chocolate. I used to like reeses, much like I used to like snickers. A LOT. now I find myself snagging one from the kid's halloween haul and going "WTF? why did I use to like these?" and then just feeling poorly about myself later for consuming enough fat, calories, and sodium for a weeks worth of food.

Enter Trader Joe's!

These are really tasty and kind of pop in your mouth in a burst of peanutbutter and chocolate. The best thing I think about these is that 27 is considered a "serving" and unlike most treats where I eat an entire package or large brownie or whatever because I don't want it going bad or wasting it (oh mom, so many food issues!) you can eat just a few.
I've been keeping these hanging out near my couch parking spot and after the kids goto bed having 5-6 or 10 of them and I no longer feel like snacking.

Plus it's been a few months now and my container is still like 2/3rds full. I may try the slightly larger but still small version of these next, or making cookies with them.

My coworkers hate me already. Muhahahha!

A

Gone Bananas!

More about my weird texture issues. I don't like cocolate dipped cones or bars. I find the combo of the waxy crunchy chocolate and sweet cold ice cream something akin to eating worms. It just plain squicks me out. However i'd heard good things and the price was good (1.99) for these and even if I didn't like them and they were subpar - I knew the kids would eat the snot out of these. For two young (certainly not little!) my kids both eat more than a grown man does. I just know my grocery budget when they are teens will be more than my morgage and car payments combined. Unless I go and buy a BMW. But I digress...

Box comes with 20 pieces, and while they look small they really are filling. I was admittedly still rather full from my ham and cheese kolache (yum!) but 2 pieces left me patting my tummy with glee. Since my kids were away for the weekend, I didn't have to hide them either!

There is the vague air of the dipped chocolate deal, however the chocolate is GOOD and slightly thicker so I didn't get the odd crunchy chocolate weirdness that normally makes me gag down my frozen treat and smile politely as I watch others scarf theirs down with glee feeling awkward.
Bananas were ripe and firm and tasty. Frozen aspect was good as well, it will be a nice treat esp when it's hot outside.
The kids may have to pry these out of my cold dead hands.

A

Trader Tots

My kids thought me even more insane than normal as I kept yelling "trader tots" because of the punny nature of it. Plus their weird looks were making me laugh more.
I have an odd issue with textures, but when it comes to tater tots and fries I want the outside to be super crunchy and well well done, and the inside to be mealy and delish.
I like sonic tots when done EXPERTLY, however 99% of the time you get the cold and soggy version. The rare day when they are done really well is always a happy day.

Cooking them myself tends to be better, but I always cook my potato items nearly double the suggested time. If that gives you any idea.

Pros - The outside was SUPER crisp and nearly over done, even from the frozen state. IMHO this makes them perfectly done.
Cons - Inside was more mashed potato than baked potato, if you get what I mean. I enjoy the texture of the sonic tots (done well) where you can almost pick out the bits of potato but they are mealy and good but have a little fight left in them. The TTs were a bit mushy for me.

However - Trader tots are definately better than sonic tots are 99% of the time, and fun to cook at home. When you have young kids like mine who consider ketchup a side dish, tots are always a hit with them :)

B

Banana Snacks

The kiddos were somewhat split on the banana chips. The little guy was ok with them, but didn't LOOOVE them. Elder thought they were the spawn of something satanic and evil. Both kids however ADORED the freeze dried variant.
So much so that we returned the mostly uneaten chips (those things are pricey!) and bought freeze dried.

OBC - D
FDBS - A

Turkey Burgers

I'm not a expert on turkey burgers, but it's always a nice alternative to replace beef. I cooked up a few of these for me and the kidlets and there is a certain odd flavor - I think sage or some other herb. I ended up putting a few dabs of A1 onto the patties as they cooked and it upped the favor and made them a bit more meaty.
All in all however, they were very tasty and cheap. I have a few boxes in my freezer now!

B-

Stuffing Mix

I kinda have a weird thing about texture and veggies. It stinks because i'd love to eat healthier but texture is a hard thing to get past. I've done the stovetop - and I can eat it but the pieces of onion and celery squick me out a bit. I actually prefer to eat it dry out of the box. LOL.
Tried this at thanksgiving and was surprised. It was pretty tasty and I didn't have any weird veggie complex going on. About similar flavor to ye olde stovetop.

I'd say it could definately stand a bit more oompf, but I generally show up for thanksgiving for rolls, potatoes, and gravy. Stuffing just makes its way into the pile.

B