SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Ruffles Flamin’ Hot

Update: We reviewed it! Click here to read our review.

Ruffles have r-r-ridges. Ruffles Flamin’ Hot bu-u-urns. (Spotted by Sean at 7-Eleven.)

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: Lay’s Poppables (White Cheddar and Sea Salt)

In between its flavor experiments (long live the cappuccino chip!), Lay’s has decided to try switching up the form factor on the beloved potato chip for its next innovation. The results are named Poppables for their popped up 3D shape that can easily be popped into your mouth.

Before you read any further please take note, though, that these are high class potato snacks.

Exhibit A – the eye catching design on the top of the bags as Harper’s Bazaar tells me that polka dots are recently back on trend.

Exhibit B – the o in Poppables needs a dot below it, which the internet tells me is a diacritic mark, whatever that is. Do you pronounce it differently? No clue.

Exhibit C (and if you weren’t already convinced this is the dead giveaway) – notice that the two featured flavors are not just cheddar but white cheddar and not just original but sea salt.

I’m surprised they didn’t go further with possibly aged white cheddar or pink Himalayan salt or something. I, myself, alternate between drip coffee and espresso, so I do like to think of myself as highbrow every now and then meaning I was very, very excited to try out these bite-sized snacks.

Their shape looks like a lattice cut potato chip and an M&M had a beautiful snack baby. A very hollow but starchy one. Each is about the size of a quarter and significantly puffed out towards the center. The crunchiness is definitely a highlight as there are so many layers to bite through from the unique shape.

After the crunching gives way, the flavors definitely make their arrival. The sea salt ones have a tiny bit too much saltiness to them as it increases the more you chew. The white cheddar, though, have a nice crunch followed by intense cheesy flavor that then transforms into your classic potato chip profile. I found myself continually popping these into my mouth as they are a lot lighter than expected and not heavy at all (until you have eaten half the bag, though).

To wrap up on these Poppables, out of the two eatable flavors available, and while this could be debatable, I did think that the white cheddar was more desirable and capable of tingling my excitable taste buds even though both, while perishable and potentially breakable, were portable, delectable, and very satiable potato snacks.

(Nutrition Facts – White Cheddar – about 28 pieces – 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Sea Salt – about 30 pieces – 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $3.49 each
Size: 5 oz. bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10 (White Cheddar)
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Sea Salt)
Pros: On trend packaging design. Potato chips and M&M’s falling in love and procreating. Crunchiness and lightness all in one.
Cons: Overuse of the suffix -able. Aged White Cheddar and Pink Himalayan Salt getting the shaft.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Hostess Limited Edition Shamrock Cup Cakes

I wish Pepto-Bismol had a limited edition green shamrock version I could take for those times I’ll consume too much of a Shamrock Shake or too many of these Hostess Shamrock Cup Cakes. (Spotted by Amanda Y at Kroger.)

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.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Hostess Chocolate Cake Twinkies, White Fudge Ding Dongs, and Peanut Butter Ho Hos

I really think Hostess should introduce all future limited edition flavors in these smaller packs instead of a box of 9-10. Because if it isn’t good, we’re stuck with 8-9 filling-filled treats we don’t want to eat. (Spotted by Jason P at Walmart and David Putnam at Get Go.)

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.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 2/12/2017

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.

Thomas Pizza Flavored Bagels

So what does one top a pizza-flavored bagel with? Pizza toppings to make it more pizza-ier? (Spotted by Breanna B at Food Lion.)

Crystal Farms Ready Egg Go! with Roasted Peanuts & Colby Jack Cheese
Crystal Farms Ready Egg Go! with Pistachios & Cheddar Cheese
Crystal Farms Ready Egg Go! with Almonds & White Cheddar Cheese
Crystal Farms Ready Egg Go! with Cashews & Gouda Cheese

Egg-cellent idea! Actually, for some reason, I think it’s kind of a weird combination. (Spotted by Amanda Y at Market Street.)

Cream of Wheat Maple Brown Sugar
Cream of Wheat Cinna-Apple Walnut

Warm your innards with new Cream of Wheat flavors! (Spotted by Amanda Y at Tom Thumb.)

Clif Whey Protein Bar

Whey-t a minute! Clif has whey protein bars too. Suck it, PowerBar! (Spotted by Noreen at Wegmans.)

Nature’s Path Coconut & Cashew Butter Granola
Nature’s Path Vanilla Pumpkin Seed Granola
Nature’s Path Blueberry Pecan Crunch Granola

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Kroger.)

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. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

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