Product Reviews

Review: AriZona Sugar Free Lemonade Mix by Amy Dungan. If you like lemonade, you'll love low carb Arizona Sugar Free Lemonade Stix. Lots of great lemon flavor without the all the self-destructive guilt you'll get from drinking regular lemonade. It's a simple as opening a package and dumping it into your favorite 16 or 20 ounce water bottle. Shake it well and you'll get a delicious drink, not to mention a little arm exercise. (Water bottles and drink mixes - the original shake-weight-thingy.) It mixes well with cold water, so you don't have to worry about gritty chunks, and in the 16 ounce bottles it's got just enough twang to make you pucker a bit.

Protein bars are one of those items that I've loved the convenience of, but I was never convinced they were really good for me. Many have an ingredient list that boggles the mind. I'm not crazy about getting my protein from hydrolyzed collagen and soy. The makers of Quest Nutrition Protein Bars weren't excited about that either, so they set out to make a better protein bar. I believe they have succeeded.

I've tried a few recipes that have worked reasonably well for a hot cereal substitute, but they were kind of bland. Recently I was able to try Sensato Foods Hot Cereal and I can say it's anything but tasteless. I enjoyed a bowl of the apple cinnamon flavor and for just a few moments I was transported back in time, having that hot cereal with my siblings and mother.

Spry gum and mints are recommended on the Belly Fat Cure because they are made with Xylitol. Along with being a Sugar Alcohol, Xylitol claims to be great for your teeth. Spry even has a toothpaste product!

One of the things low-carbers often bemoan is the lack of convenience items that fit on the plan. Sure there are a few foods like nuts, beef jerky (which you have to watch ingredients on) and the like, but filling low-carb meals you can just toss in the microwave are few and far between.

One of the most common questions I've received about the Belly Fat Cure is "What protein bars are allowed, so I can have them in my car when I am out and get hungry?".

I think it's safe to say I've become a protein powder connoisseur. I've found it useful in various recipes, as well as its traditional use for shakes. One thing I've learned the hard way is that you get what you pay for. This is especially true when speaking of protein powder.

Meringue cookies were one of my favorite snacks while riding the low-fat roller coaster in my younger days. They were low in fat, crispy, and one of the few low-fat foods that I thought tasted wonderful. Now that I'm no longer shunning fat, meringues are something I rarely think about. In my mind they were always a low-fat thing. So I was happy when I discovered a company making a sugar-free meringue that low-carbers can enjoy.

Finding a good pasta on a Low Carb diet is really difficult. Even the whole wheat versions aren't that low, so that is why I was anxious to give "Tofu Noodles" a try.

Without a doubt the best tortillas I have found for the Belly Fat Cure are the Smart & Delicious Low Carb Tortillas from La Tortilla Factory.

All of which makes this a great time to review a couple of products Andrew sent me last summer, and I neglected to review in a timely fashion: R.W. Garcia Soy and Flaxseed Tortilla Chips, and Baja Bob's Sugar Free Margarita Mix. I just love it when Andrew sends me a party in a box!

I'm a sucker for the combination of coffee and chocolate. My first ever sip of a Diary Queen Moolatte sent my tastebuds into orbit. Sadly, it sent my blood sugar soaring as well. Coming back down from that high was not pleasant at all, not to mention it's counter productive to weight loss and good health. Many times I have tired to find a substitute for my beloved Moolatte, only to end up with less-than-acceptable copies. Thankfully I came across a product from Big Train that will work in place of this high-sugar favorite.