If you come to our forum, you will meet the very lovely Eyeliner Whore!!! She has graciously provided us with her very own food reviews!

Trader Joe's Southwest Chicken Quesadilla
Calories 320
Calories from Fat 140

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 60mg 20%
Sodium 740mg 31%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 1g
Protein 20g 40%

Vitamin A 20%
Vitamin C 30%
Calcium 30%
Iron 10%

Est. Percent of Calories from:
Fat 45.0% Carbs 32.5%
Protein 25.0%

I think this quesadilla would make a GREAT lunch or dinner. A lot of frozen quesadillas dont taste very good and are very small once you warm them up. This quesadilla I made in the microwave on a medium sized plate and it fills the entire plate. It tastes like it was freshly made, not frozen. Very flavorful, you can taste and see the southwest flavor and the chicken (instead of just being filled with goo like so many other frozen ones). Nutritionally its okay. I think the calories are basically fine for how big it is. It is a GREAT source of protein (20g!), the only downside is the amount of fat (16g). But all around, I think this is a great and flavorful meal.

 

Clif Chocolate Bar Brownie
Calories 240
Calories from Fat 40

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4.5g 7%
Saturated Fat 1.5g 8%
Sodium 150mg 6%
Potassium 260mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 15%
Dietary Fiber 5g 20%
Sugars 20g
Protein 10g 20%

Vitamin A 30%
Vitamin C 100%
Calcium 25%
Iron 25%
Vitamin E 100%
Vitamin K 25%
Thiamin (B1) 25%
Riboflavin (B2) 15%
Niacin (B3) 15%
Vitamin B6 20%
Folic Acid (Folate) 20%
Vitamin B12 15%
Biotin 10%
Magnesium 25%
Panthothenic Acid 20%
Zinc 20%
Copper 15%
Manganese 35%
Chromium 10%
Molybdenum 15%

Est. Percent of Calories from:
Fat 16.9% Carbs 75.0%
Protein 16.7%

Nutrition/protein/energy bars are tricky. They either have really great nutritional value, and taste awful. Or they taste wonderful but are tiny and high in calories for something so small. I have nothing to say about the chocolate brownie clif bar. It is a decent size and for 240 calories you get 100% of your daily vitamin c, 20% of protein and fiber, and a crazy amount of other vitamins. It tastes fresh, like it was just made and it is made from natural ingredients. I can actually taste gooey brownie in this bar and its really awesome. I like to eat it for lunch and have 3 times this week already!

 

Jamba Juice
Over the past month or so, Jamba Juice has become my new obsession. I at first only tried the light drinks because you can get a gigantic one for under 400 calories, but then I decided to start trying other things on the menu, which in moderation can also be lower in calories if you chose the medium size which is always plenty to fill me up. Below is a list and description of each drink I have tried thus far. Each drink is also a great source of daily fruit. Each 12 oz has 3 servings, 24 oz has 5 servings and 30 oz has 7 servings!

Chunky Strawberry
Strawberries, Bananas, Yogurt, Soymilk and Peanut Butter topped with Bananas and Organic Pumpkin Flax Seed Granola
12 oz: 450
16 oz: 570
This was the first thing that I tried and its really amazing. There is a great smoothie place in New York called Big Apple Smoothies and they have a smoothie similar to this and it is AWESOME and this is finally something close to how amazing it was, plus with granola added on top! This smoothie is high in fiber and vitamins but also fairly high in fat so you wouldnt want to have this everyday unless you make sure to eat less calories during the rest of the day but it does make a good filling meal in the mid-morning.

Mega Mango
Mango, Strawberries, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice
16 oz: 220
24 oz: 340
30 oz: 420
I dont really remember much about this so it must not have been so spectacular but I do like that all of the drinks that have mango in them have small chunks of whole mango that come up through the straw! Each size has your full day needs of vitamin A plus an abundance more than you need of Vitamin C. They are also low in fat since they are pure fruit and juices.

Pomegranate Paradise
Pomegranate Juice, Strawberries, Mango, Peaches
16 oz: 220
24 oz: 340
30 oz: 420
I got this smoothie yesterday and I thought it was excellent. I got it without peaches so I can judge exactly on taste but I loved the combination, and again, the chunks of mango that come up through the straw! Althought not quite as much as the above smoothie, this is also a good source of Vitamin A and C.

Berry Fullfilling
Lower Calorie Dairy Base, Raspberry Juice, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries
16 oz: 150
24 oz: 260
30 oz: 330
I didn't like this smoothie as much as the others. The taste was pretty good (although I prefer non-dairy smoothies) but I don't like raspberries in smoothies due to the many tiny seeds. I dont like feeling like I am chewing something that is pretty much a liquid. Definitely good to fill you up though, you can get a gigantic one for under 350 calories. Fairly good source of Vitamin C, If you get the 30 oz it is over 100% of your daily needs.

Strawberry Nirvana
Lower Calorie Dairy Base, Strawberries, Apple Strawberry Juice, Bananas
16 oz: 150
24 oz: 250
30 oz: 310
I again like this one alright but I dont like smoothies with a dairy base. It has a slightly strange aftertaste but other than that its good. I usually get peanut butter instead of banana to try to recreate my beloved New York smoothie. This is definitely my choice of the low calorie smoothies. Good source of Vitamin C again, the large has 200% of your daily values. All of the sizes have under 1 gram of fat as well.

Fit n' Fruitful
Passionfruit Mango Juice, Strawberries, Mangos, Lemonade, Peaches
16 oz: 240 (200)
24 oz: 370 (330)
30 oz: 460 (420)
I liked this smoothie a lot, I would have to say it is my second favorite (first favorite involves sherbert and is below!). I didn't get peaches again but im sure it doesnt taste too much diferent with them in it. This smoothie has a weight burning supplement mixed in (although they were out the day I got it so I dont know if it changes the taste) so this might be a good choice and hour or so before the gym. If you decide to skip the supplement you will save 40 calories in each size. Good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Strawberry Surf Rider
Strawberries, Lemonade, Peaches, Lime Sherbet
16 oz: 320
24 oz: 490
30 oz: 630
This is definitely my favorite that I have tried so far. The Lime sherbert makes it slightly tart and very REFRESHING! I dont even like lime but this is amazing. Again, I left out the peaches (I obviously don't like peaches) but lemonade, sherbert and strawberries is apparently the best idea ever. Not quite sure how the difference in calories between the 24 oz and 30 oz (4 oz.) is so drastic, but I always get the 24 oz so im not worried. This is a good source of Vitamin C and is low fat.

On my next trip, I will be trying Citrus Squeeze (strawberries, bananas, orange juice, pineapple juice and orange sherbert) but probably without the bananas.