Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 07:24 AM
“I’ll bring a dip!” How many times have I said that when the occasion is my book club get-together, girls’ night, or a holiday gathering? Lots! Dips and spreads are super-popular in households across the United States and for many busy people, they are a Go To choice for meals, snacks and appetizers. I love to make my own dips, but there are also many great prepared choices in the supermarket. The thing I’ve learned, since I came to work for NuVal, is that the nutritionals on dips and spreads really vary.
Take Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, for example.
- Tribe Red Pepper Hummus: NuVal score of 48
- Cedar’s Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: NuVal score of 43
- Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: NuVal score of 26
So, I save the Sabra for special occasions and buy either the Cedar’s or Tribe for every day.
To learn more about dips and spreads, I consulted the registered dietitians at NuVal. Here’s what I learned.
- The highest scoring dips are vegetable-based. So, hummus and guacamole get the best scores since they have the most fiber and protein.
- Among the lowest scoring items are dip mixes which have an inordinate amount of sodium for the calories.
- Cheese and cream based dips score low primarily due to saturated fat content and sometimes the addition of trans fat.
Here are some sample scores:
- Wholly Guacamole 100 Calorie Snack: NuVal score of 60
- Cedars Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: NuVal score of 43
- Guiltless Gourmet Milk Black Bean DipL NuVal score of 42
- Tostitos Creamy Spinach Dip: NuVal score of 42
- Sabra Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts: NuVal score of 25
- Helluva Good French Onion Sour Cream Dip: NuVal score of 24
- Fritos Mild Cheddar Flavored Cheese Dip: NuVal score of 20
- Kraft Creamy Ranch Dip: NuVal score of 18
- T Marzetti Fat Free Ranch Dip: NuVal score of 8
- Brummel & Brown Creamy Fruit Spread with real strawberries & Natural Yogurt: NuVal score of 2
- Walden Farms Caramel Dip Calorie Free: NuVal score of 1
When I’m not in a rush, I like to make my own veggie dip. Take plain non-fat yogurt (not Greek), add feta cheese and chopped fresh dill to taste. Yum!
As for some other dip recipes here at A Better Bag of Groceries, check out:
Pepperoni Pizza Dip (um, OK, not really in the “healthy” category, but you will be asked to bring this one to Girls Night again!)
Chobani’s Holy Guacamole
Cooking Light’s Spinach & Artichoke Dip
White Bean & Basil Dip
Question of the Day
What’s your favorite dip and how do you enjoy it?
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Score Lowdown
Tags: Cedar's, hummus
Monday, June 28, 2010 at 07:10 AM
For my 40th birthday, my husband took me on a mini-getaway to Cape Cod. We enjoyed some of the things that we used to do before we became a family of four – like bike-riding at a pace faster than a slow snail. The Cape Cod Rail Trail runs for 22 miles through the towns of Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. After a morning of biking, we stopped at The Local Flavor Lunch and Bagel Shop after noticing the sign announcing that it was voted Best Sandwich Shop on the Cape by Cape Cod Life Magazine. It was well worth the stop!
I ordered a sandwich called “The Hippie”: hummus, Swiss cheese, avocado, baby spinach, roasted red peppers,
tomato & onion on your choice of bread, all for $6.39. No onions for me, thanks and put it on a wrap. Delicious!
Since coming home, I have been recreating The Hippie in my own kitchen.
I use a Wrap-Itz tortilla, which scores a 32 on the NuVal scale.
I add roasted Cedar’s Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Nuval score of 61, the highest of all hummuses we’ve scored.
Then I add:
- A slice or two of Boar’s Head sliced cheddar (we haven’t scored the items in the Service Deli department yet, but we will!)
- Roasted Red Peppers (NuVal score of 7 for Pastene)
- Sliced Avocado (NuVal score of 89)
Then, I top it off with whatever is in my salad bowl in the refrigerator – usually the following:
- Romaine lettuce (NuVal score of 100)
- Red leaf lettuce (NuVal score of 100)
- Cucumbers (NuVal score of 93)
- Tomato (NuVal score of 96)
Now all I need is a Tie Dyed T-shirt and some bell bottoms and I will really be a Hippie. Peace, Man!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Lunch
Tags: avocado, avocados, Hippie Sandwich, hummus
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 06:52 AM
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday, everyone’s favorite day here on A Better Bag of Groceries. Every Tuesday, I blog about a Trade-Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal scores and I give away free stuff. Today, I’ve chosen one of my favorite salty snacks and an amazing new hummus that I discovered.
First, Stacy’s Simply Naked Chips. Oh, how I love these chips. I have to admit, on most workdays, I indulge in a handful of these after I walk through the door. I think because I typically eat a pretty low-carb lunch, I am craving something that carb-y and salty as I get started on dinner and homework. I featured Stacy’s Simply Naked Chips as a Cart Confession some time back. I mean, they get the same score as Lay’s Potato Chips, so they are not really a Trade Up. But I do love them, and hey, they score better than pretzels, which hover in the 9 – 13 range.
But the real reason that I included the Stacy’s chips in today’s giveaway is because they go so nicely with this Wild Garden Hummus Dip that I discovered at Price Chopper. You might remember that I visited Price Chopper for their Healthy U Open House back in March. I love going out to our Retailer Partners, walking the aisles and checking out all the NuVal scores. I always find something new. This Wild Garden Hummus Dip gets a great score of 51! That is right up there with the refrigerated hummus dips:
Cedar’s Red Pepper scores a 61
Tribe Red Pepper scores a 51
Sabra Red Pepper Hummus only scores a 26. Boo! Too bad. I do love their hummus.
You know what I love most about today’s Giveaway? It is shelf-stable. No refrigeration required. Headed out for a picnic? You can bring both of these and not even worry about having a cooler. Invited to a party after the beach? This is a snack you can bring along and not fret about keeping cool. Headed to the pool with the kids? Throw this in your swim bag. Easy-peasy.
Today’s Giveaway
One lucky commenter will win today’s giveaway. Just leave a comment below telling me one of your favorite summer snacks. Leave a second comment with the NuVal score and you will be entered twice. You can find some scores at NuVal.com, on TradingUpDowntownor (of course) by shopping at one of our Retailer Partners if you are lucky enough to live near one of them. Right now, we have scores on shelf at Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Meijer, United Texas and at 26 Kroger stores in Lexington, KY. More to come really soon, by the way.
I will choose one winner at random at 7 am EDT on Wednesday. Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: hummus, Stacy's Chips, Trade-Up Tuesdays
Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 06:58 AM
When I grocery shop, I have three choices: Stop & Shop, Shaw’s or Roche Brothers. For my regular weekly big shopping trip, I’m a Stop & Shop girl. I know where everything is, I like their wide selection, and I’m a big fan of self scanning. I pretty much only go to Shaw’s for a couple of products that I can’t find elsewhere (like my favorite Almond Butter – Barney Butter). And then there is Roche Brothers. I am lucky to live near a beautiful, newly-renovated store. It has a walk-in beer and wine cooler, scrumptious prepared foods, and gourmet treasures too many to name. It’s the kind of place I like to go to sans kids. I get a coffee and peruse the aisles. It’s like Vacation Grocery Shopping. You know, just for leisure.
Roche Brothers is also the place I go to get the “Things I Forgot”. There are always a few. It was on such a trip, in search of Forgotten Items, that I happened upon the hummus cooler. And there I saw the most glorious sign: Hummus – 10 for $10. Now that is an amazing promotion! The larger container of hummus usually retails for $4.50 at my Stop & Shop, so the smaller containers for only a dollar were such a bargain. I eagerly scooped up four containers.
And by the way – this was just a couple of days ago – so if you live near a Roche Brothers, the promotion is probably still on!
I love hummus. My husband loves hummus. My kids love hummus. So this week, we’re eating a lot of hummus! Cedar’s gets some of the best NuVal scores in the hummus category. You may remember that from an earlier post I wrote about my kids’ Hummus and Cheese Sandwiches. Check out these NuVal scores:
- Garlic Lover Hummus: 45
- Roasted Garlic and Chive Hummus: 47
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (my kids’ favorite): 61
Unfortunately, we haven’t scored the Taboule yet, but we’re snacking on that too this week. Hey, it was a buck!
Question of the Day
What is your favorite promotion at your grocery store?
NuVal on Facebook
If you haven’t already, check out NuVal on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=h#!/NuVal
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Uncategorized
Tags: hummus, Uncategorized
Friday, April 23, 2010 at 06:32 AM
Happy Friday! Here in Massachusetts, this is the last day of School Vacation. While these no-school days can be tough to figure out when you live in a two-income family, it’s nice to take advantage of the sunny weather and enjoy a break in routine. One of my blogging goals for this Spring Break was to arm Moms with some fresh ideas for lunch-making as we head into the last weeks of the school year. Yesterday’s post had some Favorite Things and today, I bring you the Infamous Hummus and Cheese Sandwich!
How did this sandwich become a favorite in our house? It all started when my son started pre-school at age three. A peanut-free, all-day, no heat-ups pre-school. We had been spoiled. Until that time, my son had attended a small daycare where the staff was very flexible about food. For lunch, they would heat up whatever healthy food I sent with him, including veggie burgers, homemade casseroles with vegetables, soups, etc. So the thought of a cold lunch with no peanut butter option definitely limited the choices. While my son will eat lean deli ham or turkey and cheese, it’s not his favorite. So, we started spreading hummus on 100% whole wheat bread and added some American cheese.
Soon, my son became known among the Pre-School Teachers and Teacher Aides as The Boy Who Eats Hummus and Other Healthy Things. Literally, as I was dropping off and picking up my son in the Pre-School Car Line, the teacher aides would ask me, “Can you make my lunch too?” It was interesting to watch my son develop an awareness of food and what was healthy and what was not. He would say, “Danny eats Doritos. They’re junk!” My son is now about to turn seven and he is finishing the first grade. While most of the time his first choice for lunch is Peanut Butter and Jelly, Hummus and Cheese comes in at a close second.
So, how does his sandwich score on the NuVal scale?
Cedar’s Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: 61(the highest of all hummuses we’ve scored!)
Freihofer’s 100% Hearty Whole Wheat: 33
Land O’Lakes Cheese from the Deli: Not Scored Yet
Not Scored Yet. What does that mean? NuVal is scoring just about everything in the grocery store. While our efforts started (and continue) in the Produce, Meat, Seafood, Grocery and Frozen departments, next we are embarking on scoring items in what we call Outlying Departments (like Deli, Bakery, Prepared Foods). When we’re done, you will be able to see which deli items score the highest. Pretty cool, huh? In the meantime, I feel pretty good giving my son this sandwich.
There are other breads that score higher than the 33, by the way. For example, sometimes I buy Arnold’s Flax and Fiber, which gets a 48. However, the Freihofer’s is the right size and consistency for my kids. They also like this sandwich on pita. Since I buy Joseph’s Flax, Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Flour Pita Bread which gets an incredible NuVal score of 65, that is a great choice.
But back to the hummus. What an incredible creation! I love to dip carrots, Stacey’s Naked Chips, and Wheat Thins in it. I bring it with some Joseph’s pita and have it alongside my salad for lunch. We’re big fans of red pepper hummus in our house, and as I mentioned above, Cedar’s gets the best score at 61. Tribe (the Hummus Formerly Known As Tribe of Two Sheiks) gets a 52. Sabra Hummus only gets a 26. Bummer. That’s the one I like to buy when we’re having company. It looks so chic, with red peppers and a little olive oil drizzled on top.
The lowest scoring hummus? Sabra Green Olive with a score of 23.
So Moms, gear up for one last stretch of lunch-making, homework-helping and school bus stop-sprinting. It’ll be sure to fly by. And children of all ages, try a Hummus and Cheese Sandwich today. You will soon be known at That Healthy Person Who Eats Hummus For Lunch!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Lunch
Tags: hummus
