News: Domino's - Smart Slices for School Lunches

Looks like Domino's Pizza is getting into the school lunch game with the introduction of their Smart Slice school lunch pizza program. A Smart Slice is a healthier version of Domino's Pizza made with 51% whole wheat white flour, reduced sodium, and reduced fat.

The Smart Slices are baked fresh at local Domino's locations and delivered to participating schools.

There are currently over 120 school districts participating in the program and Domino's plans to double that number within the next year.

News: Starbucks - No Joke, Trenta is Coming

On the plus side, the Trenta is "only" about 1/4 the size
of the fake 128-ounce Plenta shown above.

The Trenta is coming! Yes, the same Trenta (Italian for 30) is that 31-ounce monstrosity Starbucks was testing in a few select markets last year is set to roll out nationally.

For those dreaming of a 31-ounce hot latte, just stop. The Trenta will only be available for iced coffee and iced tea. It will cost about 50 cents more than a 20-ounce Venti in most markets.

The Trenta is making a staggered release mirroring warm weather patterns; it will be introduced in the South and Southwest today (January 18th), in California starting February 3rd and by May 3rd you can expect to see the Trenta nationwide.

In case you're wondering how much calories is in a Big Gulp-sized (roughly) cup of Iced Coffee at Starbucks, I've provided a rough guestimate via the magic of math:

Review: Jamba Juice - Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blends

Strawberry Alive

So I tried all three Jamba Juices's new Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blends which come in three flavors: Vibrant Blueberry, Strawberry Alive, and Thrivin' Mango. They normally cost $3.45 for 12-ounces but I got these for $1 each since Jamba has a coupon out that's good until the 19th.

Each features their respective fruit blended with nonfat yogurt, soymilk, and Jamba's specially formulated Probiotic Boost.

News: Panera Bread - New January Items 2011

New to the Panera Bread menu this month are three new items: Low-Fat All-Natural Chicken Soup, Thai Chopped Chicken Salad, and Wild Berry Smoothie.

The Low-Fat All-Natural Chicken Soup is a new recipe that replaces their previous version and features a seasoned chicken broth with all-natural white chicken, carrots, onions, celery and egg noodles.

The Thai Chopped Chicken Salad consists of all-natural chicken, romaine lettuce, wonton strips, fire-roasted edamame, red bell pepper and carrot tossed in a Thai Chili Vinaigrette. It is then topped with seasoned grilled chicken, Thai cashews, fresh cilantro, and a peanut drizzle.

Review: Burger King - BK Stuffed Steakhouse Burger

Burger King's new limited-time Jalapeno & Cheddar BK Stuffed Steakhouse burger features a thick beef patty with pieces of jalapenos and Cheddar cheese inside. The patty is joined by a creamy poblano (another pepper) sauce, tomatoes, and lettuce on BK's premium sandwich bakery bun. Like most of the Steakhouse line a BK Stuffed Steakhouse will run you $3.99.

News: Pizza Hut - New Big Dipper Pizza for $12

Pizza Hut's latest limited-time offer, the Big Dipper Pizza is a cross between the Big Italy (which it replaces) and the Dippin' Strips Pizza they offered back in '05.

The Big Dipper Pizza features a 1-topping, long rectangular pizza cut in 24 rectangular strips (3 pepperonis per slice if the picture is to be believed) and served with four cups of marinara sauce (so everyone can have their own) for $12.

Review: Pringles - Hoppin' Horseradish Potato Crisps

Pringles's limited-time Hoppin' Horseradish flavor is part of their "Extreme" line of chips and generally cost around $2.49 at regular price for a 6.38-ounce canister or between $1 and $2 on sale.

Review: Sonic - Strawberry Limeade Chiller

The Sonic Strawberry Limeade Chiller is, as far as I know, unique to Sonic among the fast food chains. It features a blend of the standard Sonic Strawberry Limeade and vanilla ice cream topped with whipped topping and a thick wedge of lime.

Besides Strawberry, Limeade Chillers are also available in Cherry and Lime. It's $2.49 for a 14-ounce "regular."

Frozen Friday: Healthy Choice - Country Herb Chicken

In a change from the one pound (or more) frozen dinners I normally review, I tackle Healthy Choice's Herb Chicken dinner which features chicken tenderloins with herb gravy, red potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli florets with carrot coins, and a cherry blueberry multi-grain crisp for dessert.

Regular price on one of these is about $3.99 while sales price would be around $2 to $3.

Review: McDonald's - Crispy Ranch Snack Wrap

A longtime favorite of The Sister, McDonald's Crispy Ranch Snack Wrap have done quite well for themselves offering a lighter menu item for those with smaller appetites, as well as an alternative to burgers. They're promoted as food on the go and are a simple mix of a Chicken Selects Breast Strip, shredded Jack and Cheddar cheeses, shredded lettuce, and a Ranch sauce wrapped up in an open-ended tortilla.

The resultant Snack Wrap costs $1.49.

Review: Subway - Turkey Pesto Sub

Subway is trying out a basil pesto sauce in the southern California market with two limited-time subs, the Turkey Pesto and the Pesto Chicken Melt. While my new year is without resolutions, I still went for the healthier Fresh Fit option (7 grams of fat in the 6-inch version) in the Turkey Pesto which carries the price of $6 for a foot long.

Review: Fatburger - Fatburger

The namesake burger of Fatburger, the Fatburger is the chain's "medium"-sized burger and features a 5.3-ounce beef patty with mustard, relish, diced onions, crinkle-cut pickles, a slice of tomato, shredded lettuce, and mayo for $4.59. Cheese, bacon, egg, and/or chili are available as add-ons for 69 cents each. I considered the bacon but opted for just cheese.

It is also available in a combo with fries and a fountain drink for $8.69.

News: Burger King - New BK Stuffed Steakhouse

Burger King is really putting their new broilers to work: first, it was Fire Grilled Ribs and now, they're making Stuffed Steakhouse burgers. The new limited-time Jalapeno & Cheddar BK Stuffed Steakhouse burger features a beef patty with pieces of jalapenos and Cheddar cheese inside. The patty is joined by a creamy poblano (another pepper) sauce, tomatoes, and lettuce on BK's premium sandwich bakery bun.

Price of admission is a steady $3.99 which falls in line with previous Steakhouse burgers.

If the picture doesn't give you a good sense of the sandwich, you can catch the BK Stuffed Steakhouse via TV ad starting January 17, 2011.

Review: Subway - Turkey BLT

One of Subway's New Year's sandwiches, the Turkey BLT (i.e. the Turkey sub with bacon) features a base of turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato on your choice of bread with your choice of veggies, cheese, seasoning, and sauces. A footlong carries a premium price tag of $7.20 or 5 cents less than their "premium" sandwiches.

With the right build, it's a Subway Fresh Fit sub despite the bacon at 7 grams of fat (for a 6-inch).

Classic Review: Nabisco - Better Cheddars

Better Cheddars are part of Nabisco's Flavor Originals line of crackers. Along with Nabisco's Cheese Nips, Pepperidge Farm's Goldfish, Sunshine's Cheez-Its, Nabisco's Better Cheddars are the only cheese-flavored crackers I know of. I don't pretend to know why Nabisco saw fit to make two separate cheese-flavored cracker brands but a 7-ounce box carries a normal price of $3.59 though I got this particular box at two for $1.

Review: Trader Joe's - Chocolate Ganache Torte

Trader Joe's Handmade Chocolate Ganache Torte is a decadent feast featuring chocolate mousse sandwiched between two layers of rich, moist chocolate cake and finished with a semi-sweet chocolate ganache. I remember that it used to be around $6 to $7 a while back but these days it costs $7.99 for a pound and a half of cake.

Review: Disneyland - Tiger Tails

Not to be confused with the similarly named Tigger Tail from Pooh's Corner, the Tiger Tails are squiggly breadsticks toasted over a grill at Disneyland's Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland. An order of two Tiger Tails will cost you $3.69.

News: Hostess - New SmartBakes Streusel Cakes

More healthier products for the new year. Hostess unveils new SmartBakes Streusel Cakes. SmartBakes is Hostess's "better-for-you" line of baked breakfast products. The new SmartBakes Streusel Cakes come in three different flavors (cinnamon, raspberry and cream cheese) featuring whole grains, 3 grams of fiber, and 150 calories per serving.

A box of Hostess SmartBakes Streusel Cakes comes with 8 individually-wrapped cakes and costs $3.99 (may vary).

Frozen Friday: California Pizza Kitchen - Garlic Chicken Pizza

California Pizza Kitchen's frozen Garlic Chicken Pizza features a crispy, thin-crust pizza topped with a bordelaise butter sauce, white chicken cubes, mozzarella cheese, onions, roasted garlic, and parsley for $6.49.

News: Jamba Juice - New Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blends

With a long but descriptive name, Jamba Juice's new Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blends come in three flavors (Vibrant Blueberry, Strawberry Alive, and Thrivin' Mango) and feature smoothies made with nonfat yogurt, soymilk, whole fruit, and Jamba's specially formulated Probiotic Boost.

The main selling point is over 500 million active cultures per serving which will potentially improve immune system functioning and digestive health. Also, it's New Year's so people are looking to be and eat healthier.

To push you to try the new products, from 1/10 through 1/23 with a coupon printed from www.jambajuice.com, 12 size Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blends are just $1, 16 size Coldbuster Smoothies are just $2 and Steel Cut Oatmeal are also $1.