StarKist Tuna Creations. Zesty Lemon Pepper, Hickory Smoked and Sweet & Spicy. $1.99 per 5-ounce pouch.
Bonnie: The idea of flavored canned tuna just doesn't appeal to me. Although it took me a long time to build up the courage to taste-test these three StarKist Tuna Creations, they weren't as bad as I expected. The flavors aren't overpowering and don't significantly change the nutrition. And tuna is a good source of protein that's low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
I prefer white albacore to the light tuna used in these new Creations for a few reasons. Although chunk light contains some omega-3 fatty acids, solid white albacore contains more. (Canned salmon has even more.) Omega-3s have been shown to help lower the risk of heart disease. Specifically, "Omega-3s in fish improve the electrical stability of the heart," says Joyce Nettleton, author of "Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health." I also prefer the taste of white albacore to the light tuna used in these new Creations. And I prefer it plain. Sorry, Charlie.
Carolyn: Canned tuna fish is pretty dull on its own, especially the "healthy" white meat varieties packed in water. My solution (and many other people's) is to pour on the mayonnaise and relish.
StarKist's was to marinate white tuna in lemon, hickory or sweet 'n' sour flavors. It's a better idea than the tuna flavoring pouches that were offered a few years back in that it's easier (no mixing required). It's also better than canned tuna salad because it gives you more control over the mayo.
The Hickory Smoked is the best of the three flavors by far. The Zesty Lemon Pepper is too subtle, and the Sweet & Sour tasted too much like ordinary ketchup.
I still added some mayo to Tuna Creations, but nowhere near as much as usual. (Aren't you proud of me, Bonnie?)
Oatmeal Crisp Fruit 'n Cereal Bars. Strawberry, Blueberry and Apple Cinnamon. $2.99 per 8.5-ounce box containing six bars.
Bonnie: Oatmeal Crisp Fruit 'n Cereal Bars are going head-to-head with Quaker Oatmeal Breakfast Squares as a portable breakfast or snack. Both have whole grains as the primary ingredient. Whole grains include all parts of wheat, oats, rice or other grains, and have been shown to be protective against heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes.
Both bars also contain added vitamins and minerals and lots of added sugars, especially when compared to a bowl of plain oatmeal; they look a lot better when compared to a candy bar. If you're worried about calories, the Oatmeal Crisp is the one to buy, being a third smaller, and containing 70 fewer calories than Breakfast Squares.
Carolyn: Oatmeal Crisp is a cross between Quaker Chewy Granola Bars and a puffy cereal bar. You can taste the oats, but Oatmeal Crisp is a lot thicker and puffier and is sliced in two with a layer of jam (not fruit, like the box says, although the jam is made from real fruit).
That's not the only thing that makes them sweet. All three seem like they've been drenched in juice. That makes them quite sticky — a serious liability in a portable snack.
Snickers Almond. 60 to 80 cents per 1.76-ounce bar.
Bonnie: Imagine the now-defunct Mars Chocolate Almond bar with a layer of caramel, and you'll have a good idea what this new candy bar is like. It's probably a good choice for anyone who likes almonds more than peanuts (but not for folks allergic to peanuts, since these bars are made on peanutty Snickers-making equipment.)
Snickers with almonds is smaller than the one with peanuts, which means it does slightly more damage to your wallet but slightly less to your waistline (40 fewer calories and 3 fewer grams of fat, to be exact.)
Carolyn: The original peanuts-and-caramel Snickers is the most popular candy bar in America. Mars is obviously now trying to expand its Snickers kingdom to include people who like other things as much, if not better, than peanuts. Snickers Cruncher was for Nestle Crunch fans.
This new Almond Snickers, with its big whole almonds along with the usual Snickers suspects, is for people who might otherwise buy Almond Joy and who used to buy Mars (before the Mars company — no sentimentalists they — decided to jettison it in favor of the more popular Snickers name). But Snickers Almond seems much too upscale and snobby for either the Snickers line or me.
Bonnie Tandy Leblang is a registered dietitian and professional speaker. Carolyn Wyman is a junk-food fanatic and author of "Jell-O: A Biography" (Harvest/Harcourt). Each week they critique three new food items. © Universal Press Syndicate