The Impulsive Buy

REVIEW: Nescafe Coffee Protein Smoothies

Marvo / February 8, 2019 / Reviews / 2 Comments

As someone who likes to smoosh things together if it makes my life a little more efficient, like shaving in the shower, binge-watching Netflix in the shower, or eating in the shower, I like the idea of products that attempt to do the same. That is why I’m intrigued by Nescafe’s new Coffee Protein Smoothies.

As you can tell by its name, it’s java and protein mixed in the same bottle. The coffee is 100 percent Colombian Arabica, while the 15 grams of protein each bottle comes from pea and brown rice proteins. They’re also made with oats and almond butter and are available in two varieties — Banana and Mocha.

With the former, I kind of taste banana, but for some reason, it seems mostly mocha-ish to me, which is weird because there isn’t any chocolate (and because there’s a Mocha variety). Maybe the combination of bananas and coffee give off a chocolate vibe? I dunno, but I enjoyed it, and I was a little sad after I was done with the bottle.

Now if you’re putting two and two together and thinking the Mocha one will taste like a Nesquik and Nescafé baby, it does not. It has a darker chocolate flavor, which might be that way because of the coffee’s bitterness. It has a somewhat similar taste as other mocha beverages I’ve had, but I did enjoy it.

I was expecting these to be chalky because of the oats, but they’re mostly smooth. Yes, there’s a negligible grittiness, which I imagine will turn off some of you. But I’m okay with it because I thought they’d be as unpleasantly gritty as the Suja chocolate milk I had, but thankfully they’re not.

One minor quibble I have with these is that after scanning all 360 degrees of both bottles, I have no idea how much caffeine it provides. It says it has an amount of coffee equivalent to eight fluid ounces, but that just gives me a wide range of how much caffeine it could have. But, I felt a little energized after drinking them, and I guess that’s all that really matters.

DISCLOSURE: I received free samples of the product. Doing so did not influence my review in any way. Although, it totally seems like it. But I assure you it did not.

Purchased Price: FREE (retails for $3.49)
Size: 11 oz. bottles
Purchased at: Received from Nestle
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 bottle) Banana – 170 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 13 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of protein. Mocha – 180 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 13 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of protein.

SPOTTED: f’real Limited Edition Chips Ahoy Milkshake

Marvo / February 8, 2019 / Spotted on Shelves / 3 Comments

According to the photo contributor, Chips Ahoy is new, but Oreo is just a licensed rebranding of f’real’s standard cookies and cream. (Spotted by James D at Sandella’s.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if the product is old, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Bites

Mike / February 8, 2019 / Reviews / 4 Comments

Do you wake up precisely 43 seconds before you need to be out the door? Or maybe you have a heart condition, and the sudden POP! of the toaster would too much for the ol’ ticker? Or perhaps you don’t like your kids too much, and don’t want to do anything that could be mistaken as cooking for them?

If so, Pop-Tarts Bites are the product for you! Able to go from box to mouth in under 10 seconds, these bite-sized pieces promise the classic Frosted Strawberry or Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon flavor without all that tedious toasting.

An even faster, less labor-intensive version of toasted Pop-Tarts may seem like a product in search of a problem, but I’m willing to be convinced. After all, I’m a guy so impatient that I’ve never successfully cooked a TV dinner using the conventional oven instructions. I always get tired of waiting and throw it in the microwave.

I open a pouch of each and stick my nose in deep to sniff that classic Pop-Tart scent of slightly undercooked pastry. The Brown Sugar Cinnamon has an additional spice scent, and the strawberry strongly reminds me of strawberry jam. So far, the experience is identical to regular Pop Tarts.

I pop a Brown Sugar Cinnamon Bite into my mouth, crunch through the frosting, and into the sugary center. These taste like Pop-Tarts. The Brown Sugar Cinnamon Bites have a kick of spice to them, and the Strawberry Bites have a nice tartness, but these are fundamentally the popular toaster pastry.

If anything, they’re a bit more monotonous. With a traditional Pop-Tart, you can vary the eating experience by adjusting the amount of filled center vs. unfilled edge in each bite. I know I’m not the only one who likes to nibble away all the edge first, leaving the super sugary center for last. It’s also possible I way over think these things.

For me, the major drawback to these is that they can’t be toasted. While I understand one of the selling points of Pop-Tarts is that they allow you to eat breakfast while still in REM sleep, I’ve always preferred them toasted. Having a “cooked” breakfast will enable me to maintain the facade of being a functional adult. Plus, it gets rid of the aforementioned undercooked dough flavor. A brief 20 second trip in the microwave results in a pillowy crust and warm filling, an improvement, but one not intended by the manufacturer.

Everything you need to know about Pop-Tarts Bites is right there in the name. They’re mini bite-sized Pop-Tarts. They deliver precisely that but don’t add much to the Pop-Tarts Extended Universe.

Purchased Price: $4.98
Size: 10 pouches/box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 pouch) Strawberry – 150 calories, 3 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. Brown Sugar Cinnamon – 150 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 160 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Kellogg's Pop-Tarts

SPOTTED – 2/8/2019

Marvo / February 8, 2019 / Spotted on Shelves / 1 Comment

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Entenmann s Little Bites 20th Birthday Bash Party Cake Muffins — *Entenmann’s Little Bites 20th Birthday Bash Party Cake Muffins*

(Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)

*Minute Maid Plus Antioxidants Tropical Lemonade*

Minute Maid Plus Antioxidants Tropical Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade Version 2 — *Minute Maid Plus Antioxidants Strawberry Lemonade*

(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Bang Keto Coffee Cookies Cream Craze and Mocha Madness — *Bang Keto-Coffee (Cookies & Cream Craze and Mocha Madness)*

(Spotted by Bob K at Giant Eagle.)

Minute Maid Fruit Veggie Watermelon Blend — *Minute Maid Fruit & Veggie Watermelon Blend*

Minute Maid Fruit Veggie Tropical Blend — *Minute Maid Fruit & Veggie Tropical Blend*

(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Bob Evans Italian Sausage Marinara Pasta — *Bob Evans Italian Sausage & Marinara Pasta*

(Spotted by Melody at Meijer.)

*Kite Hill Everything Cream Cheese Alternative*

(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)

Oh So Organic Kids Variety Pack — *Oh-So Organic Kids Variety Pack*

(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

(Spotted by Sarah R at Whole Foods.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if the product is old, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

SPOTTED: Polar Red Hearts and Black Hearts Seltzers

Marvo / February 7, 2019 / Spotted on Shelves / 2 Comments

Strawberry and black cherry? (Spotted by Tommy at Shaw’s.)

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if the product is old, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: Nescafe Coffee Protein Smoothies

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SPOTTED: f’real Limited Edition Chips Ahoy Milkshake

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REVIEW: Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Bites

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SPOTTED – 2/8/2019

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SPOTTED: Polar Red Hearts and Black Hearts Seltzers

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