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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Food companies are in business to make money and they are always competing to get you to buy their brand. To stand-out in today’s market, many brands are giving their products a good-for-you twist. Are these newer products the best choices – sometimes yes, sometimes no. Some do make small incremental steps toward better food choices. Americans love potato chips and sweet fruit drinks. The brands I recently tried are attempting to offer healthier alternatives to old time favorites. Give them a try and see what you think
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As an alternative to more calorie-dense potato chips, Special K has introduced Popcorn Chips in 2 flavors – Butter and Sweet & Salty. A 1-ounce serving (28 chips) is generous with 120 calories. Sweet & Salty has 105 milligrams of sodium and Butter 170. Neither is a good source of fiber with only a trace amount in a serving which is disappointing because popcorn is a whole grain. Both flavors have a mild popcorn taste and are crunchy. They are kosher certified (OU). Kids would enjoy these in their lunchbox. The trick is opening the box and only eating one serving.
Although I am a big advocate of eating fruits and vegetables both of these brands of fruit drinks are a good alternative to soda and other presweetened fruit drinks.
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V8 Fusion Sparkling comes in an 8.4 ounce can (an appropriate serving size), is 50% juice, and provides 1 serving of fruit/vegetable. When kids are clamoring for soda, this is a better choice. For adults who regularly drink soda or other sweetened drinks, V8 Fusion Sparkling drinks are a far healthier choice.
They are available in three flavors. I tasted them all and each one is good, not overly sweet, true to the flavor, and refreshing. One can has 60 calories. They are sweetened with stevia (a natural plant no-calorie sweetener). The nutrient profile differs depending on the flavor.
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Sparkling Cherry Pomegranate provides 6% (300 IUs) of your daily need for vitamin A, 20% (12 milligrams) of vitamin C, 10% (3 IUs) of vitamin E, 180 milligrams of potassium and 80 milligrams of sodium.
Sparkling Tangerine Raspberry provides 20% (1000 IUs) of your daily need for vitamin A, 20% (12 milligrams) of vitamin C, 10% (3 IUs) of vitamin E, 340 milligrams of potassium and 80 milligrams of sodium.
Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade provides 20% (1000 IUs) of your daily need for vitamin A, 20% (12 milligrams) of vitamin C, 10% (3 IUs) of vitamin E, 270 milligrams of potassium and 80 milligrams of sodium.
Capri Sun Super V is another entry into the better-for-you drinks. It provides a ½ cup serving of fruits and vegetables in a 6-ounce pouch, also a good serving size. Each drink pouch contains 66% juice (a combination of 75% fruit juice and 25% vegetable juice), 70 calories, 3 grams of fiber, 20% (1000 IUs) of your daily need for vitamin A, 10% (6 milligrams) of vitamin C, 10% (3 IUs) of vitamin E, and 20 milligrams of sodium.
Capri Sun Super V is available in 3 flavors, Apple, Berry, and Fruit Punch. I tasted Apple and though it was sweet there is no added sugar in the drink, the sweetness comes from the mixture of fruit juice concentrates.
For more information on Special K Popcorn Chips go to: http://www.specialk.com/popcorn-chips/butter
For more information on V8 Fusion Sparking go to: http://v8juice.com/Products.aspx
For more information on Capri Sun Super V go to: https://www.facebook.com/CapriSun
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of the nutrition counter series for Pocket Books with sales of more than 8.5 million books.
Look for:
The Complete Food Counter, 4th ed., 2012
The Diabetes Counter, 4th Ed., 2011
The Protein Counter, 3rd Ed., 2011
The Calorie Counter, 5th Ed., 2010
The Ultimate Carbohydrate Counter, 3rd Ed., 2010
The Fat Counter, 7th ed., 2009
The Healthy Wholefoods Counter, 2008
The Cholesterol Counter, 7th Ed., 2008
Your Complete Food Counter App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/your-complete-food-counter/id444558777?mt=8
For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to: www.TheNutritionExperts.com
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