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The Skinny Cow Low Fat Ice Cream Cone
By: Dreyer’s
I Paid: $4.85 for four 4-ounce cones (prices may vary by region)
Simply put, these low-fat prepackaged ice cream cone sundaes are pure (diet-friendly) culinary dynamite. They could step into the ring with Drumsticks and emerge battered but proud, possibly even victorious by means of a judge’s decision.
This is not what one would expect of a diet treat, but the Skinny Cow has clearly done its legwork in terms of perfecting the recipe of a low-cal simulacrum. I sampled the Vanilla with Caramel version, and for 150 calories, here’s what I got: a crunchy, full-sized ice cream cone. Light but creamy ice cream. Caramel drizzled on top that was gooey and sweet without being overly so. And chocolate lining the interior of (and plugging the bottom of) the cone that tasted vividly of, well—who would have guessed?—actual chocolate. Compare this to a Drumstick (a full-on gastronomic wand of hedonism), and all you’re really going to miss is the chocolate-coated ice cream ball on top and the nut bits that cover it.
Eating a diet dessert typically means a major sacrifice on one of two fronts: size or flavor. This manufacturer has single-handedly shattered the paradigm and, during August of all months, brought a little bit of sweet, cooling pleasure to the masses.
BK Kids Meal with Macaroni and Cheese and Apple Fries
By: Burger King
I Paid: $4.59 (prices may vary by region)
A recent Burger King commercial revolves around the King’s creepy, mask-wearing son kicking his dad in the shin in order to obtain a box of the restaurant’s new apple fries.
You can’t blame the diminutive hobgoblin; the sight of what are clearly—clearly!—french fries in a french fry holder is spellbinding when you realize that they are not actually fries at all, but rather apple pieces cut to look just like fried potatoes.
There’s a television-versus-reality shock that comes when you receive your kids’ meal: The box that holds the fries dwarfs them, swallowing them entirely if you stand it up vertically. But after that initial disappointment, I enjoyed them. They’re not deep-fried; they’re crisp and juicy. They taste like apples, which is what they are. But I found them irresistibly interesting in their fry shape.
They come with a 35-calorie packet of pleasingly light caramel sauce. A little caramel sauce on a fry, and you’ve got a low-impact caramel-apple thing going on, in a relatively nutritionally sane context.
The BK Kids Meal also comes with a toy (I received a plump wind-up bear that sits atop a pencil or crayon and vibrates) and, if you so choose, the new Kraft Macaroni and Cheese entrée option. The latter tastes exactly like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.
I totally agree with the verdict on the Skinny Cow caramel cone. It is more than delicious without sacrificing flavor or size. The caramel is the ooey gooey melt in your mouth type. Not too much nor too little. The chocolate is just the perfect amount as well. Overall, I'd give it a 9 out of 10.
Skinny Cow is a fantastic product. I could eat them for all three meals. Who ever developed this easy to eat , enjoy, not feel guilty in doing eating one should win an award for new food product development.
I love Skinny Cow. The chocolate tipped (note, not covered) ice cream pops that come in a box of both mint and vanilla are a perfect fix without the guilt!
Skinny Cow products are wonderful as stated: low fat/calorie yet delicious.
mwliechty: I don't put much stock into the old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then you shouldn't say anything at all." However, I do think that if you never have anything nice to say, then maybe you should take a long, hard look in the mirror. I've seen you post around Chow a number of times and I can't think of a single one where your comment had any positive tone to it...+READ
mwliechty: I don't put much stock into the old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then you shouldn't say anything at all." However, I do think that if you never have anything nice to say, then maybe you should take a long, hard look in the mirror. I've seen you post around Chow a number of times and I can't think of a single one where your comment had any positive tone to it (although admittedly your scathing words were sometimes coupled with helpful and insightful offerings as well). Why is that?
Personally, I liked this review, and it brought to my attention the fact that Burger King was trying to make inroads into somewhat healthier eating for children. Thanks, as always, James, for your great column.-COLLAPSE
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches and their ice cream popsicles are wonderful as well.
I'm right along side you with being a cut-apple sucker. I'm not big on fruit, but I'll polish off a bag of Trader Joe's sliced apples without batting an eye.
I couldn't agree more to the efforts made by Burger King to recreate the Apple Fry with a Fresh "Fry Cut " of apple that is treated with good old Vit C. Ascorbic Acid. Maybe if we could get the chemical label to drop the Acid label and just call it Vit C ascorbic then we could keep the safety alarms at a minimum. I have been in the Processed apple industry since 1975 and have developed many a new...+READ
I couldn't agree more to the efforts made by Burger King to recreate the Apple Fry with a Fresh "Fry Cut " of apple that is treated with good old Vit C. Ascorbic Acid. Maybe if we could get the chemical label to drop the Acid label and just call it Vit C ascorbic then we could keep the safety alarms at a minimum. I have been in the Processed apple industry since 1975 and have developed many a new apple product. The fry cut is very well done by Burger King and I would hope that they could convince the nay sayers from ruining what I see as a great thing for the apple industry. Kind of like what the Potato French Fry has done to the Potato industry. Please keep me informed with any comments that arise from this Apple Fry business. I have tried to develop a battered apple fry myself and still am improving on that product. I really like the shape of the Burger King fry and the fact that the peel is not left on as well. Keep the comments flowing.-COLLAPSE
So let me get this straight. You give a positive review to ... drum roll please ... APPLES! Wow, you sure earned your paycheck this week.