Girl Scout Cookies come around each year just as some people are finally getting the hang of whatever diet they’ve decided to try out or just as they have given up on said diet.

Girl Scout Cookies are not permitted on most trendy diets, but Yoplait takes advantage of its “health food” reputation to offer a product to appease those who want to eat them on the 27th day of their diet.

Well, that’s what I tell myself because Yoplait surely can’t believe that someone would choose to eat a Girl Scout Cookie-flavored yogurt instead of a Girl Scout Cookie. Right? But, hey, maybe these flavors will prove themselves a good substitute for when you want some only to find that you’ve missed all the cookie sales.

For the purpose of this review, I procured some Thin Mints and Caramel Delites from a neighborhood Scout for comparison.

Yoplait Original Caramel Coconut

The latter are my favorite Girl Scout cookie so I decided to start with Yoplait Original Caramel Coconut flavored yogurt. Ahhhh, the first Caramel Delite of the cookie season…dry toasted coconut bits, crisp shortbread cookie, light milk chocolate flavor, chewy burnt caramel coating. Yum. I start to eat another and remind myself that I’m reviewing the yogurt, not the cookies.

I wasn’t sure what Yoplait’s rendition of Caramel Coconut would look like, but I was surprised to see that it was so boring. The yogurt was a pale caramel color and peppered with salt-sized coconut bits. The taste was more disappointing than the appearance. I imagine this is what “caramel color” tastes like in its pure form, astringent and chemical-forward.

There was a tinge of coconut, but it was off-putting and overpowered by the caramel notes. Nary a hint of chocolate was detected, despite the chocolate stripes depicted on the cookie on the label. This knockoff flavor will leave you wanting to eat multiple Caramel Delites to cover up the cloying flavor that lingers long after the last spoonful of deception.

Yoplait Whips! Thin Mints

Next up, Yoplait Whips! Thin Mints. I spotted some chocolate ingredients on the label of this yogurt, so I had high hopes. It had a dark chocolate color and the usual spongy Whips! appearance. The chocolate flavor was quite strong and authentic. The mint flavor was good but more pronounced (and more artificial tasting) than in real Thin Mints.

It’s hard for me to get past the texture of the Whips!, though. This probiotic-laced sugar bomb is not a bad choice if you’re in the mood for chocolate mint yogurt, but it’s not nearly as satisfying as a serving of Thin Mint cookies, if that’s what you’re hoping for.

Yoplait Whips! Peanut Butter Chocolate

Finally, I wish I could say that the Yoplait Whips! Peanut Butter Chocolate was more remarkable that its Thin Mints cousin, but it wasn’t. The chocolate flavor was milder and the peanut butter flavor was reminiscent of a scratch-and-sniff sticker and not of actual peanut butter. At least the mint in the Thin Mints one tasted like mint.

The Tagalongs that were the inspiration for this flavor feature a dime-sized nugget of peanut butter, so I was expecting this to be nuttier than it was. Another disappointment.

Bottom line: Eat these if you’re eager to try a new Yoplait flavor and you prefer some yogurt cultures with your 20+ grams of sugar. Otherwise, just eat the Girl Scout cookie you’re craving (or 2 or 4) and be happier.

(Nutrition Facts – Caramel Coconut – 160 calories, 3 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 110 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 20 grams of sugars, and 6 grams of protein. Thin Mints – 160 calories, 4 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 22 grams of sugars, and 5 grams of protein. Peanut Butter Chocolate – 160 calories, 4 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 22 grams of sugars, and 5 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: 60 cents each
Size: 4 oz.
Purchased at: Food Lion and Walmart
Rating: 2 out of 10 (Caramel Coconut)
Rating: 4 out of 10 (Thin Mints)
Rating: 3 out of 10 (Peanut Butter Chocolate)
Pros: Probiotic yogurt cultures. Gluten-free if you’re into that.
Cons: Cloying flavors. 20+ grams of sugar per serving (twice as much as a serving either Girl Scout cookie). Lactic acid esters of mono and diglycerides, whatever the heck those are!

Let’s not beat around the Bell with each other here, alright Hoss?

If you’re a regular reader of a website called The Impulsive Buy, more than once after picking up a bagful of Chalupas and Meximelts from the nearest Taco Bell drive-thru, chances are you’ve probably then driven across the street to the McDonald’s (or whatever burger joint is closest) for an order or two of those famous large fries, hot out the fryer and ready to dip in that quintessential Taco Bell cheese sauce.

I know I have. Like yesterday.

But it’s alright, baby. In the world of fast food, there ain’t no shame in this game. Let’s face it: French fries go great with just about everything, from the finest cuts of aged Wagyu beef to the lowliest no-name prison-approved Nutraloaf. It’s an American classic (yeah, I said it!) and finally, the culinary geniuses at our fave faux-Mex eatery, Taco Bell have come to their senses and are now offering them as part of their beloved dollar menu.

While at first I was mostly excited about all the gas money I’ll be saving, now I know I’ll probably use the aforementioned cash to buy more of these Taco Bell Nacho Fries, because, amigos, its take on papa fritas is the bomb.

Cut thicker than most other fast food chains’ and absolutely coated with dangerously covetous Mexican seasonings (exactly what seasonings and from where in Mexico, we’re never told), these deep-fried darlings are perfectly crispy, surprisingly dense, and have a thick “twice-fried” feel to them that few places know how to get right and if they do, you gotta by a terrible roast beef sandwich to pair with them. I’m looking at you, Arby’s.

Sadly, the serving size is quite small, even for a dollar menu offering, but, truth be told, these fries do manage to pack a lot of flavor in such a singular container, with or without the nacho cheese dipping sauce. So order two servings and everyone’s happy. Additionally, ketchup is available, but — hello Mild, my old friend – that good ol’ reliable T.B. hot sauce works even better as a potato condiment, complementing the mysterious Mexican spices with just enough heat to provide a smooth finish and pleasant enough aftertaste.

In a surprising twist of fate, besides the one buck incarnation of these Nacho Fries, the Bell is also offering them in Supreme ($2.49) and Bell Grande ($3.49) variations. Both use said fries as a bed for nacho cheese, ground beef, tomatoes and sour cream, with the Bell Grande doubling everything for a dollar more. While it’s a completely unnecessary gesture — seriously dudes, the Nacho Fries were good enough — it’s not wholly unwelcomed either. Just don’t look for it to replace the Nachos Bell Grande anytime soon, unless you order both and mix ‘em together, trough style.

That being said, Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries have definitely moved to the top of the “must order” list and deserves to be part of the regular menu, if there is truly any justice in this cold, heartless world. The only problem with that, however, is now when I go to McDonald’s, I’ve gotta go across the street to get my preferred fries from the Bell. What a deliciously wonderful problem that is to have. ¡Cómpralo ya!

(Nutrition Facts – Nacho Fries only – 320 calories, 160 calories from fat, 18 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 620 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $1.00
Size: N/A
Rating: 10 out of 10
Pros: Crunchy, perfectly seasoned, and affordable.
Cons: Small serving size. Might be addictive. Limited time on menu?