SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 5/28/2015

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.

Perrier Green Apple

Perrier Green Apple

I thought Perrier was classy. Green Apple Perrier doesn’t sound classy. (Spotted by Robbie at 7-Eleven.)

Stouffer's Fit Kitchen Steak Fajita

Stouffer’s Fit Kitchen Steak Fajita

Stouffer's Fit Kitchen Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken and Bourbon Steak

Stouffer’s Fit Kitchen Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken and Bourbon Steak

If steak and turkey aren’t your thing, there are also Cilantro Lime Chicken, Monterey Chicken, and Oven Roasted Chicken Fit Kitchen entrees. (Spotted by Marvo at Target.)

Bud Light Mixx Tail Long Island

Bud Light Mixx Tail Long Island

Bud Light Mixx Tail Hurricane

Bud Light Mixx Tail Hurricane

Bud Light Mixx Tail Firewalker

Bud Light Mixx Tail Firewalker

Bartender!? I don’t need no stinkin’ bartender. (Spotted by Kate at Walmart.)

Ocean Spray PACt

Ocean Spray PACt

PACt contains cranberries and cranberries contain PACs, otherwise known as proanthocyanidins, and according to the Ocean Spray website they “naturally cleanse and purify the body by preventing certain harmful bacteria from sticking, allowing them to be naturally flushed from the body.” (Spotted by Charmi at Foodland.)

Jimmy Dean Special Edition Sausage, Egg & Cheese Pretzel Roll Snack Size Sandwiches

Jimmy Dean Special Edition Sausage, Egg & Cheese Pretzel Roll Snack Size Sandwiches

Pretzel rollz 4 EVA! (Spotted by The Groove Machine at Sam’s Club.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition 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 Google Search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Glaceau Vitaminwater vital-t and refresh

VitaminWater Vital-T

VitaminWater Refresh

What does lemon iced tea vital-t have? It has 100% vitamin C, 25% vitamin E, 100% vitamin B6, 100% vitamin B12, 100% vitamin B5, 0% capital V, and 0% capital T. It also has 25-32 milligrams of caffeine. What about the tropical mango refresh? It has 100% vitamin C, 25% vitamin E, 100% vitamin B3, 100% vitamin B6, 100% vitamin B12, 100% vitamin B5, and 0% capital R. (Spotted by Aaron.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition 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’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos or use the Google Search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Evolution Fresh Greek Yogurt Inspired by Dannon

Evolution Fresh Greek Yogurt Inspired by Dannon

Wait a minute. “Inspired by Dannon”? So let me get this straight, it’s Greek yogurt that’s “inspired by Dannon” but is not Dannon yogurt? I don’t know. Whatever. But what I do know is that this new line of yogurt also includes a Pineapple Passion Fruit variety and don’t have any added flavors, artificial sweeteners or preservatives. (Spotted by Carla at Safeway.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition 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’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos or use the Google Search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.

REVIEW: Snack Pack Chocolate Fudge Pudding Bar

Snack Pack Chocolate Fudge Pudding Bars

I never thought I’d relive that fateful day.

It was my freshman year of college. I was hustling to class, doing my best to avoid being late to another midterm, when hunger pangs suddenly attacked. My midterm would take over two hours, yet I had neglected to eat anything beforehand.

Desperate, I ran to the closest location that served food – a Mediterranean-themed food truck. Because I didn’t have enough time to wait for them to reheat a plate of lamb and green leaves, I looked at the prepackaged snack foods they had on display. The cream cheese coffee cake immediately grabbed my attention.

“Wow! A delicious coffee cake with a cream cheese filling? What a novel idea!” I thought to myself. Ecstatic, I handed the vendor my two dollars, and went on my way.

It was only when I sat down and opened up my snack that I realized it wasn’t a cream cheese-filled coffee cake. Rather, it was just an ordinary coffee cake with cream cheese blended into the mix. Never had I been so utterly taken aback by a junk food’s misleading title.

Needless to say, I was much too despondent to focus on my exam, failing it just as swiftly as my coffee cake had failed me. Truly, one of my lowest lows. I swore to myself that I would bury this regretful memory, and never speak of it again.

Snack Pack Chocolate Fudge Pudding Bars 2

But then I opened up a new Chocolate Fudge Snack Pack Pudding Bar, and it all came back to me.

When I first heard of these brownies, I hoped for a soft chocolate snack with a pudding center. (And yes, I refuse to refer to these small square-ish chunks as “bars” and the back of the box uses the word “brownies” too so I’m not wrong here.) After looking at the packaging, which advertises that the pudding is, unfortunately, mixed into the batter, I braced myself. Sure, it wouldn’t be what I was expecting, but the pudding could add an interesting texture and taste to a junk food that’s hard to screw up.

Snack Pack Chocolate Fudge Pudding Bars 3

But the brownie was mediocre. A good brownie should be moist, sweet, and rich, and this was none of those things. Every bite was a dry experience. This surprised me, especially because the brownie had a pudding base, and pudding is about as liquid-y as desserts get. The chocolate flavor was unimpressive, bland, and it somehow managed to be worse than a Banquet frozen meal brownie.

But what about the pudding ingredient?

I can’t even answer that question because I have no idea if the pudding added or detracted from the experience. All I can say is that this thing, in no way, shape, or form, reminded me of pudding. Pudding is jiggly, moist, and simply fun to eat. This brownie was none of those things.

Was this snack an utter failure? No. It’s still a brownie, so it’s certainly edible, and it’s not like I gagged or lost my vision or anything. But would I buy it again?

No.

If you want the experience of a pudding brownie, buy a regular one and dunk it in some Snack Pack pudding instead.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 bar – 120 calories, 45 calories from fat, 5 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein..)

Item: Snack Pack Chocolate Fudge Pudding Bar
Purchased Price: $2.00 (on sale)
Size: 6 bars
Purchased at: Vons
Rating: 4 out of 10
Pros: Edible. Light on calories, relatively speaking.
Cons: Waste of an interesting junk food concept. Where is the pudding filling? Dammit! Dry.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Nabisco Honey Maid Star Wars Grahams

Nabisco Honey Maid Star Wars Grahams

Does the Yoda piece look like it could also be used as a Gizmo piece if there was Honey Maid Grahams for a Gremlins reboot? (Spotted by Emily at ShopRite.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition 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’re wondering if we’ve already covered something, search our Flickr photos or use the Google Search box on the right (or below if you’re on a mobile device) to find out.