Ball Park GrillMaster Franks. Beef, Garlic, Cajun Style and Smokey. $3.99 per 14.5-ounce package containing five hot dogs.
Bonnie: "They're big, they're juicy and they're flavorful!" was the first comment I got after serving these new Ball Park GrillMaster Franks. That about says it all. Although the assertive flavors and large size (about 40 percent larger than the average hot dog) are for adults, they're fine for kids, too. I especially like the plain beef, as I prefer adding flavorings instead of having the hot dogs pre-seasoned.
There's also the chance that adults who might normally eat two hot dogs from the grill might be satisfied with one of these — and thus save some calories.
Carolyn: These Ball Park GrillMaster Franks are billed as "adult" franks. They're no more obscene-looking than any other hot dog: The "adult" refers to their bigger size and more assertive flavorings. In fact, these actually remind me more of grilled sausage. The Cajun especially is reminiscent of a "Georgia Hot." But these are missing the casings needed to be considered truly sophisticated.
Arizona Botanically Brewed Tea. Red, Green and Black. $1.59 to $1.99 per 42-ounce bottle.
Bonnie: Each variety of this new botanically brewed Arizona tea is made using organic cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). In fact, this is one of the first new products we've seen that's been formulated in response to concerns about the ubiquitous HFCS and its possible role in America's current obesity epidemic.
Each variety of Arizona tea is also either naturally caffeine-free (red) or decaffeinated (green and black). The only problem I see here is choosing which one to drink: red, black or green? Black and green teas, rich in polyphenols, have been linked to cancer prevention; red teas claim this and additional benefits not evaluated by the FDA. In other words, any of these would be fine.
Carolyn: Ergonomically speaking, Arizona's Botanically Brewed Tea is among the best new products in the supermarket. A hand grip takes up almost a quarter of the bottle design, and the size and weight are also just about perfectly suited to (at least this) human hand.
At least two of the drinks in these bottles are also worth buying. The green and black teas are as refreshing and sweet as less politically and ergonomically correct Arizona iced teas. But I think they should offer a low-cal green or black option in place of the red one. Its jungle-bush flavor and extreme sweetness don't really go together. In fact, I'd buy it only to reuse the container.
Dove Triple Chocolate Bar. $3.99 to $4.99 per 12-ounce box containing four bars.
Bonnie: If you like chocolate and ice cream, this new Dove Triple Chocolate Bar might very well be heaven on a stick. These dark chocolate-covered chocolate ice cream bars with a chocolate fudge swirl are so large, so decadent that I also fully expected them to wreak havoc on any diet. They contain only 280 calories and 18 grams of fat. Although hardly diet food, one bar contains less fat and fewer calories than a scoop of many kinds of Ben & Jerry's ice creams. And it's certainly well worth every bite!
Carolyn: At a time when most new food product innovation and excitement is focused on low-fat and low-carb (typically resulting in low taste and low satisfaction), it's nice to see at least one company go for high indulgence. Indulgence-king Dove has long made a dark chocolate-coated ice cream bar. But that chocolate ice cream is now shot through with veins of rich chocolate syrup (what is known in the ice cream biz as chocolate "swirls").
This is a small improvement, to be sure, but an improvement in a direction that offers us noncarb-conscious folks both pleasure and hope.
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