Pirro's Sauce
Claim: Pirro's Sauce is a line of sauces made using simple ingredients, bright flavors with no additives for lighter cooking.
What the experts say: First off it's worth pointing out that this line of sauces can rival most made-from scratch options as far as taste. That said, the Nutrition Twins point out that although it's great that the sauces source fresh produce for all their ingredients, including their basil, carrots, garlic, fennel, etc., and don't use additives, they still include added sweetener (honey) and a source of saturated fat (butter), in a marinara sauce. "Their Bolognese sauce is nitrate and nitrite-free, but still contains saturated fat from the uncured bacon and the veal. Each one-half cup serving of the Bolognese sauce has more calories than the same one-half cup serving of pasta and also has 3.5 grams of saturated fat per serving."
Verdict: Fresh and tasty, but rather high-cal!
Image via @pirrossauce
Snow Monkey
Claim: Snow Monkey markets itself as a vegan "anytime" dessert.
What the experts say: "Made with only fruits and seeds and what Snow Monkey calls 'superfoods,' this dessert actually can help to keep your blood sugar stable thanks to its' six satisfying grams of protein and three grams of fiber, which slow digestion and don't allow for a sugar high followed by a crash," say The Nutrition Twins. "Snow Monkey also contains anti-inflammatory packed ingredients that are extremely rare to find in a dessert including Ceylon cinnamon, hemp seeds, cacao and matcha green tea."
Verdict: Healthy!
Treeline Cheese
Claim: Treeline Cheese is a vegan, kosher, dairy-free, probiotic rich cheese that is also Paleo friendly.
What the experts say: "These vegan cheeses contain all real, healthy ingredients like cashews, spices and probiotics," say The Nutrition Twins. "Each serving is 90-100 calories, which is less than the 115 calories in an ounce of most cheese, and it's much lower in saturated fat than traditional cheese. As a bonus, it actually contains a little fiber unlike conventional cheese."
They do note that there is a small downside — and that's that each serving contains only 3-4 grams of protein per serving, which is less than the seven grams of protein in each ounce of milk-based cheese.
Verdict! Healthy! (Though not as protein-rich as regular cheese.)
GG Crackers
Claim: GG Crackers claim to be appetite-controlling high-fiber crackers.
What the experts say: "These are made with simple ingredients and provide four grams of insoluble dietary fiber per serving, which is of benefit for our digestive system as well as our appetite," says Susan Piergeorge, MS, RDN and nutritionist for Rainbow Light and Natural Vitality Calm. "They also serve as a great vehicle for your favorite spreads to round out a snack such as nut butter, hummus, guacamole, egg, tuna, or chicken salad, salmon with some cream cheese or cottage cheese."
Verdict: Healthy!
Sakara Life Beauty Super Bar
Claim: Sakara Life Beauty Super Bars are said to be made with a patent-pending skin-beautifying ingredient clinically shown to make skin look clearer, brighter and firmer. They're also marketed as a high-fiber, low-sugar bar.
What the experts say: "This product gets a big eye roll from me," says nutrition expert Natalie Smotkin, CNTP. "The ingredients are inherently clean, but I wouldn't recommend eating more than one a day since it has 11 grams of sugar per bar. Per the studies conducted on the product, you would have to eat a bar a day for 8-12 weeks to achieve 'glowing skin.' You're better off eating real, whole, naturally occurring fruits and veggies that help balance your hormones and in turn brighten your skin. This product, and seemingly the entire brand, seem to capitalize on and perpetuate the insecurities of women and devalues the real definition of wellness. With testimonials from their products that read 'I lost 5 pounds in two weeks!,' I can conclude that this company is not in the business of wellness but luring people into buying their products with unrealistic expectations."
Verdict: Not necessarily unhealthy! But it has unrealistic goals!
