Yoplait Delights Parfait Lowfat Yogurt. Chocolate Raspberry, Triple Berry Creme, Lemon Torte and Creme Caramel. $2.99 per package of four 4-ounce cups.
Bonnie: Regular readers of this column know of my bias against artificial sweeteners like the ones found in these new Yoplait Delights Parfaits. To me, they have an unpleasant aftertaste.
If that doesn't bother you, then you may delight in these new layered yogurt parfaits with only 100 calories and 1.5 grams of fat, and 15 percent of daily calcium per serving. I like the lemon best and the caramel the least, as it was too sweet. And I like the two-flavor concept.
Carolyn: Yoplait Delights Parfait is the latest in a long line of yogurt products disguised as dessert. Those include Dannon's Double Delights (1994), Stonyfield Farm's whole milk Moo-la-la (2003) and Yoplait's current Light, Thick and Creamy Cherry Cobbler, Cinnamon Roll and Key Lime Pie. Double Delights and Moo-la-la both featured yogurt with accompanying sweet syrups, whereas the layers in Delights Parfaits are different yogurt flavors.
These also are different in that they're diet yogurts, but they are diet yogurts with (despite what Bonnie just said) hardly any artificial sweetener taste. I especially liked the Chocolate Raspberry flavor for its strong flavors and strong resemblance to Neapolitan ice cream (minus the vanilla). The Lemon Torte was also excellent, just not that much different from Dannon's Light & Fit Lemon Chiffon. The Creme Caramel was a little too sweet, and the Triple Berry Creme, too light on the berry flavor.
But the Chocolate Raspberry and Lemon Torte join Skinny Cow Fudge Bars and Chips Ahoy! Bites candy as one of my favorite new 100-calorie treats.
Clif Quench Sport Drink. Orange, Fruit Punch, Lime-Ade and Strawberry Citrus. $1.49 per 16-ounce bottle.
Bonnie: Hydration has always been important for athletic performance. Water is good, but liquids with electrolytes are even better for athletes engaged in activities for extended periods, as they're likely to consume more. Think marathon runners, long-distance bikers or other people engaged in all-day athletic activities.
The makers of Clif Bars recently joined Gatorade in making a drink for these intense athletes. Like those of its competitor, Clif's sports drinks are basically sugar (the energy-providing part), water and electrolytes. The ingredient list contains water, sugar, citric acid, salt, natural flavors, magnesium lactate and potassium phosphate.
Gatorade is also sugar and electrolyte water, but it contains artificial coloring and glycerol ester of wood rosin (to stabilize their flavoring oils).
By contrast, Clif Quench contains no artificial colors, sweeteners or preservatives and comes in a bottle made of 40 percent post-consumer recycled PET plastic, with a label that is fully recyclable. Those things would have me reaching for Clif over Gatorade, if I were engaged in lengthy strenuous exercise.
Carolyn: Clif Quench sports drink is a natural next step for a company that's been making all-natural energy bars for athletes for more than 16 years. And that's natural in more than one way, since Quench is made from all-natural and organic ingredients and also "sports" a natural-looking clear color.
Lime-Ade is the best flavor for adults, the Fruit Punch for kids, but neither tasted sweet enough. Whether they're recyclable or not, I have to question the need for the industrial-weight plastic used to make Quench bottles.
In short, this new sports drink line offers nothing to change the two reasons why I try to avoid strenuous exercise: It's too much work, and it might make you think you have to drink bad-tasting sports drinks.
Hershey's Kisses Meltaway Milk Chocolates. $3.69 per 11-ounce bag.
Bonnie: Hershey's new Meltaway Milk Chocolate Kisses have a meltaway center surrounded by its regular milk chocolate shell. Think the texture of a Kiss as it melts in your mouth with the flavor of the original — or pretty yummy. Each one has about 2 calories less than a regular Kiss.
"Say it with a Kiss" to let someone know what you really mean when you can't find the right words, suggests the bag.
Deja vu.
Eighth grade, returning from a basketball game with my heartthrob, I handed him a Hershey's. His response? That he wanted a kiss, but not that kind.
Speaking of hot kisses: Don't leave these in your car, pocket or purse on a hot day, as they'll literally melt away — something that accidently happened to me.
Carolyn: Deja vu is right, Bonnie, but I'm thinking back only three years, to when Hershey's introduced Chocolate Truffle Kisses. What's the difference between that flavor and this one? Darned if I know, although I do prefer the softer texture of this Meltaway (and the Chocolate Truffle) to the harder one of a regular Kiss.
But Kiss' peanut butter and almond variations are even better.
Bonnie Tandy Leblang is a registered dietitian and professional speaker. She has an interactive site (www.biteofthebest.com) about products she recommends. Follow her on Twitter: BonnieBOTB. Carolyn Wyman is a junk-food fanatic and author of "The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book" (Running Press). Each week they critique three new food items.
© Universal Press Syndicate