QUICK REVIEW: Kellogg’s Wild Berry Froot Loops Cereal

/ / Reviews / 9 Comments

Kellogg s Wild Berry Froot Loops Cereal

What is it?

Froot-flavored loops and froot-flavored staars that mostly don’t look like regular Froot Loops. There are red pieces, which I assume represent strawberries, purple pieces, which may stand for blackberries, teal pieces for blue raspberries, and green pieces that don’t symbolize any berry and are there just to throw us for a Froot Loop.

Kellogg s Wild Berry Froot Loops Cereal 2

How is it?

As expected, it doesn’t have a generic amalgamation of a wide spectrum of fruity flavors like original Froot Loops. Instead, it’s like a generic amalgamation of a wide spectrum of berry flavors.

It’s not bad. Sometimes it reminds me of berry smoothies I’ve made for myself and other times it tastes like snack bars with dried berries. Can I pinpoint particular berries by eating individual pieces? No, but who, besides birds and infants, eat cereal pieces one by one. Okay, maybe a few of you, but not spoon-wielding me.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Froot Loops’ mascot, Toucan Sam, has said to follow your nose to the fruity taste of the cereal he represents. But if I did that with his new Wild Berry Froot Loops, I’m sure my nose would lead me away from it because it smells weird. Inside the bag or right after pouring it into a bowl, my beak noticed a plasticky and berry smell. It reminds me of those scented play dolls my sister had in the 80s whose eyes would follow me around the room. The aroma subsides once I pour the milk, but it’s odd and a little unappetizing.

Conclusion:

Kellogg’s Wild Berry Froot Loops Cereal is a decent cereal, but I have to say it doesn’t compete with the original. It’s different and a nice change of pace, but I’m not wild about it.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample from Kellogg’s, but this didn’t influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 10 oz. box
Purchased at: Received from Kellogg’s
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 110 calories, 5 calories from fat, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: General Mills Dippin’ Dots Cereal (Cookies ‘n Cream and Banana Split)

/ / Reviews / 1 Comment

General Mills Dippin Dots Cereal Cookies N Cream and Banana Split

Are actual Dippin’ Dots still a thing anymore?

I used to beg my mom to buy it for me all the time when I was a kid, but I can’t even remember the last time I saw a Dippin’ Dots kiosk. For something that used to tout itself as being the “Ice Cream of the Future,” it sure seems like it hasn’t aged well. Perhaps a reason for its lack of success was that the ice cream had to be stored in ultra-cold super-freezers, which prevented people from buying and eating them at home.

Thankfully for those of us who don’t have freezers that can hold ice cream at -40° F, the kind people over at General Mills lent their breakfast-making prowess to Dippin’ Dots to recreate two of its most popular flavors into a much more easily distributable cereal form.

General Mills Dippin Dots Cookies n Cream Cereal

The Cookies ‘n Cream flavor features tan and brown cereal puffs mixed with clusters of milk chocolate-coated cookie bits. Opening the bag, there was an aroma that reminded me more of Corn Pops mixed with a few crushed Oreo wafers than it did of ice cream.

The corn-heavy smell of the cereal foreshadowed its flavor, which didn’t taste like Cookies ‘n Cream at all. I had hoped the brown and tan puffs would emulate both flavors respectively, but they instead had that generic “corn-y” taste shared by most cereal puffs.

The chocolate cookie clusters were the only element that actually tasted like how they were supposed to, but there weren’t nearly enough of them to go around, and I found they had a tendency to sink to the bottom of my bowl once I added milk.

General Mills Dippin Dots Banana Split Cereal

Banana Split is constructed like the Cookies ‘n Cream version, but the quality here is a different story. I was hesitant to try it at first since banana is a flavor that often oversteps into the territory of being overly artificial. But it turns out it was what this cereal needed to overcome the flavor coming from the corn flour in the puffs.

Every bite I took tasted like authentic, sweet bananas and the banana-flavored white chocolate crunchies brought that creamy element of vanilla that really let this cereal hone in on being an ice cream-inspired flavor.

General Mills Dippin Dots Cereal Cookies N Cream and Banana Split 2

While I’m on the topic of those crunchies, they’re the best part of the cereal. Dippin’ Dots should consider boxing them up and selling them as candy. But there seemed to be way more of them in my box of Banana Split than in my box of Cookies ‘n Cream.

Both flavors got soggy quickly in milk, but the Banana Split flavor was able to use this to its advantage by getting the dairy to work alongside the white chocolate crunchies to produce a flavor reminiscent of a melting banana split. Cookies ‘n Cream didn’t fare as well. It sopped up the milk and tasted like mushy Corn Pops that had jarring chunks of chocolate coated sandwich cookies in it.

So, has Dippin’ Dots created the Cereal of the Future? Probably not, but it sure is fun to be able to say that you’ve just had a bowl of Dippin’ Dots for breakfast.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 cup – Cookies ‘n Cream – 120 calories, 15 calories from fat, 1.5 grams of total fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 65 milligrams of potassium, 27 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 10 grams of sugars, 15 grams of other carbohydrates, and 2 grams of protein. Banana Split – 130 calories, 20 calories from fat, 2.5 grams of total fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 115 milligrams of sodium, 55 milligrams of potassium, 27 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 11 grams of sugars, 15 grams of other carbohydrates, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $3.64 each
Size: 18 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 3 out of 10 (Cookies ‘n Cream)
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Banana Split)
Pros: Not needing a super-freezer. Great flavor in the Banana Split version. Awesome crunchies in both flavors! Getting to tell people that you’ve just had Dippin’ Dots for breakfast.
Cons: Not enough flavor in the Cookies ‘n Cream variety. Neither one holds up well in milk. Crunchy bits are not available in stand-alone candy form.

QUICK REVIEW: Kellogg’s Raisin Bran with Bananas

/ / Reviews / 13 Comments

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas

What is it?

You’re not gonna believe this, but it’s Raisin Bran with bananas added in! No false advertising here.

How is it?

It’s everything you expect it to be. Do you like Raisin Bran? If so, this improves on the original. I mean, think about it, how could you possibly go wrong adding in banana flavor?

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas 2

I’ve actually been on record about not really being a big “fruit in cereal” guy. While I’ll eat banana in just about anything, I always found adding banana slices in milk a little too slimy for my liking. This cereal takes care of that.

Kellogg s Raisin Bran with Bananas 3

The banana chips are great. Actual banana is too wet and mushy. The standard banana chips you buy in bags are too hard and caramelized. These are a perfect width, flavor, and texture. They really knocked it out the park. The banana pieces have a nice little crisp and a perfect banana flavor without it tasting too sugary and artificial.

Sometimes raisins can be overwhelming but mixed with the early crunch of the bran flakes (they sog up super quick) and the crisp of the banana chips, this cereal really blends textures nicely.

Also – and don’t hold me to this – I think the flakes had a tad of banana flavor added to them. It tasted that way to me at least.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Don’t expect a banana in every bite. If Raisin Bran gives you two scoops of raisins per box, you’re probably looking at about a half scoop of bananas. Sure, I’d prefer a few more, but I didn’t think the ratio was too bad. The banana flavor is constant.

Conclusion:

There’s something about Raisin Bran that just feels like a fulfilling start to the day. Adding bananas to the mix was a brilliant move, and this cereal is a big flavor and textural win in my book.

Purchased Price: $3.00
Size: 14.5 oz. box
Purchased at: Acme
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 200 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 105 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

QUICK REVIEW: Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers Beverage

/ / Reviews / 1 Comment

Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers Beverage

What is it?

Get excited, Starbucks Refreshers fans! There’s a new kid in town, and it’s Mango Dragonfruit. With its pretty purple-pink hue and real dragonfruit pieces, it’s a fun drink that certainly refreshes and lives up to its name.

How is it?

I wouldn’t have thought to put mango and dragonfruit (dragonfruit, for those unfamiliar, is a tropical fruit with a kiwi-like inside) together, but the results are a super smooth, easy-to-drink beverage.

Starbucks Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers Beverage 2

I loved how the sweetness was subtle – more on that below – and it has a nice aftertaste that doesn’t leave your mouth sour (which some of the other Refreshers have been known to do, at least for me).

Is there anything else I need to know?

The biggest thing that struck me about the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher is that it isn’s as sweet as the others I’ve tried – in a good way. I’m also a big fan of the Strawberry Acai Refresher, but I sometimes feel as though it’s a little too sweet for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Even though there’s only one gram of sugar difference between the two (Mango Dragonfruit has 19 grams for a grande, Strawberry Acai has 20 grams for the same size), I would have put my money on Mango Dragonfruit having much less. I loved not feeling like I was drinking a sugar bomb.

Conclusion:

Highly recommend. I now deem this my new favorite Refresher! Just don’t tell Strawberry Acai. We’ll keep it our little secret.

Purchased Price: $3.75
Size: Grande
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Grande 16 fl. oz.) 90 calories, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 19 grams of sugars, 0 grams of protein and 44-55 milligrams of caffeine.

REVIEW: Limited Time Only Sloppy Joe Pringles

/ / Reviews

Limited Time Only Sloppy Joe Pringles

What is and is not truly American food is a great debate, but there are some things you just can’t argue.

One such United States staple is the Sloppy Joe, aka Toasted Deviled Sandwiches aka Chopped Meat Sandwiches aka A Loose Meat Sandwich aka my mom was feeling kinda lazy tonight. The Sloppy Joe is a staple of any good American household, marrying ground beef, onions, and classic condiments like ketchup into one sauteed pan of sloppy goodness that gets slop-plopped right on top of a hamburger bun.

On the cusp of celebrating America’s annual Independence Day, Pringles has taken its often experimental seasonal offerings to new patriotic heights with the Walgreens-exclusive Sloppy Joe-flavored crisps.

Limited Time Only Sloppy Joe Pringles 2

In short, they taste like meat and potatoes. The first flavor is the distinct taste of ground beef followed by tomato and then the usual Pringles potato. Sloppy Joe’s are like a burger with all of the fixins’ mixed in where the individual notes get a bit blurred, and these chips reflect that. They’re kind of meaty and herbaceous with hints of onion but never really jump out with anything special or memorable.

These remind me of Pringles’ Cheeseburger flavor without the acidic pickle pop. As I continue to eat them I keep anticipating that extra dill zing and it never comes, which disappointing. It actually tastes like it took that seasoning and removed all of the great McDonald’s-y kick. When I think of a Sloppy Joe, I think of a more pronounced sweetness. While the tomato sweetness is there, I’m missing the layer of brown sugar or vinegar I want.

Limited Time Only Sloppy Joe Pringles 3

Another key component that seems to be missing is Worcestershire sauce, which is fundamental to any great Sloppy Joe. The sweet and salty sauce made with anchovies brings a layer of depth that’s missing here. They aren’t sweet like BBQ or spicy like Jalapeno or complex like Salt and Vinegar, and ultimately aren’t that exciting for a brand that puts out some wild flavors.

While Pringles tend to deliver on the flavors it promises, like the magic in its Ketchup chips, or the oddly accurate Kickin’ Chicken Taco, the Sloppy Joe lacks the American spirit that makes the sandwich such a great and simple pleasure.

(Nutrition Facts – 15 crisps – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $1.99
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: It’s a Pringle so it’s stackable and crunchy and good but…
Cons: Not enough distinct Sloppy Joe flavor. Lack of depth, tastes like Cheeseburger Pringle without the pickle and fun.

Scroll to Top