The Impulsive Buy

FAST FOOD NEWS: Papa John’s Brookie

January 7, 2016January 4, 2021 Marvo 2 Comments

Papa John s Brookie

Watching pizza chains come out with new desserts is like watching tennis. Lots of back and forth.

In 2013, Papa John’s came out with a gigantic cookie.

In 2014, Pizza Hut came out with a gigantic cookie.

In early 2015, Papa John’s debuted their Double Chocolate Chip Brownie.

In mid 2015, Pizza Hut began selling their Triple Chocolate Brownies

Then, in late 2015, Domino’s started selling a cookie-brownie hybrid.

And now here we are in 2016 with Papa John’s take on the cookie-brownie hybrid — the Brookie. It’s a family-sized chocolate chip cookie with a chocolate chip brownie center. It’s available for a limited time for $6.

One Brookie slice has 190 calories, 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 95 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

Papa John s Brookie 2

If you’ve tried it, let us know what you think of it in the comments.

(Images via Papa John’s Facebook page and website)

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Post Honey Bunches of Oats Crunch Honey Crunch O’s and Almond Crunch O’s

January 7, 2016March 8, 2023 Marvo 1 Comment

So it’s regular Honey Bunches of Oats cereal with Cheerios-like cereal added. Also, what’s the deal with the recent surge in Crunch products. (Spotted by Paul at Walmart.)

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.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Even Thinner Wheat Thins

January 7, 2016January 4, 2021 Marvo 11 Comments

I. Hate. You. Limited Edition Even Thinner Wheat Thins.

While I’ve made the New Year’s resolution to lose weight for the umpteenth year, and will fail to stick to that resolution for the umpteenth year, you’re skinnier than the ALREADY SKINNY Wheat Thins. Yeah, I’m jealous…and jiggling a little as I stomp in anger, because again I never follow through with my annual New Year’s resolution.

I’m not bitter, but this new snack sounds like someone lost a bet. It’s as if two Nabisco executives were playing Wheat Thins football and one says to the other, “If I make this from across the boardroom, I can make whatever product I want no matter how cockamamy it is.” Then the other one said, “Deal.” And so here we are with thinner Wheat Thins.

So how much slimmer are these?

Since I don’t have an iPhone app that can measure them for me, I had to find an ancient instrument called a ruler. Regular Wheat Thins looked to be three millimeters, while these new ones appeared to be one-third skinnier. Suck it, iPhone! No, really. Suck it in if you want to be as skinny as these crackers.

A serving size of the thin version and thinner version have the same amount of calories, fat, carbs, fiber, sugar, and protein, so binge eating either box while binge watching Jessica Jones on Netflix, binge sitting on my couch, and binge putting up my legs on an ottoman will have the same nutritional result. Although the svelte ones do have 30 milligrams less sodium.

Chain eating both varieties to figure out any difference in flavor made me blow past any serving sizes. You’d think if this newer variety was made out of the exact same ingredients as regular Wheat Thins, they would taste exactly like regular Wheat Thins. But, surprisingly, that’s not the case.

The nuttiness in the now chubby regular Wheat Thins is a bit more noticeable than in these slender ones. Although Nabisco isn’t promoting these as “diet,” their slightly lighter flavor is diet-like. But with that said, I think folks would only notice the difference if they were eating the two varieties one after another.

The cracker’s thinness did cause an issue with me. While stuffing my Wheat Thins hole with these skinnier crackers, I somehow sort of stabbed my upper palate…twice. No blood, but it did hurt a little. That thinness also makes these more crispy than crunchy, which is kind of nice because eating a lot of regular Wheat Thins tends to give my jaw a workout.

Now with all of that said, I don’t really hate these, but I think they’re silly. Tasty, but silly. Making Wheat Thins slimmer didn’t make them better, more snackable, or more appealing. It seems like Nabisco is trying to capitalize on the success of Oreo Thins by trying to figure out what other flagship brands they can turn thin. So I guess we’ll be seeing Chip Ahoy Thins soon.

(Nutrition Facts – 22 pieces – 140 calories, 45 calories from fat, 5 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 90 milligrams of potassium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Item: Limited Edition Even Thinner Wheat Thins
Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 8.5 oz. box
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Tasty. I don’t hate them. More crispy than crunchy so it doesn’t give my jaw a workout. Binge watching Netflix.
Cons: Silly idea. Slimmer doesn’t equal to them being better, more stackable, or more appealing. Stabbing my upper palate with them. Makes me feel bad about breaking my New Year’s resolution already.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 1/7/2016

January 7, 2016January 4, 2021 Marvo 3 Comments

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

Mom Brand’s Dreamworks Kung Fu Panda 3 Po Power Crunch Cereal

If DreamWorks comes out with Over the Hedge 2, then maybe Mom Brand’s could reuse the marshmallows in this one for that movie’s cereal. (Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)

Reese’s Peanut Butter Valentine Exchange Conversation Cups

10,000,000,000 times better than those chalky conversation hearts. (Spotted by Kevin G at CVS.)

Mentos NOW Mints

Why the rush for mints, Mentos? (Spotted by Ellen at Walgreens.)

Annie’s Homegrown Organic Whole Milk Yogurt (Summer Strawberry and Berry Patch)

A white rabbit got Alice lost in Wonderland, so it makes me wonder if that white rabbit on the packaging will get Annie’s lost in the yogurt aisle. (Spotted by Carla at Walmart.)

Kellogg’s To Go Breakfast Mix (Salted Caramel & Praline Almond and Cinnamon Roasted Candied Pecan)

Fits in your cup holder? I’ve never used a cup holder as a bowl, but if you insist Kellogg’s. (Spotted by Emily B at Food Lion.)

Dannon Activia Fruit Fusion (Strawberry & Raspberry and Peach & Mango)

Dannon Activia Fruit Fusion (Blueberry & Blackberry and Cherry & Vanilla)

If you were hoping in 2014 that Dannon Activia Fruit Fusions would be available outside the U.K., your wish has been granted. (Spotted by Amanda at Walmart.)

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’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos or use the search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Nestle Toll House Candy Shop Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

January 6, 2016March 8, 2023 Marvo 5 Comments

Wait…”in the candy aisle”? Am I supposed to bake with them or eat them straight out of the box? I’m so confused. (Spotted by Marissa M at Dollar Tree.)

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