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A house full of people working and learning from home means kitchen craziness. Between breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner, anyone without a full-time chef on hand could use a hack. Especially a snack hack.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are always good snack choices, but when the craving hits for something soft, warm, filling and comforting, it’s time for a fast, no-mess, heat-and-eat snack from the freezer.
Thankfully, supermarket freezer cases are packed with promising options. For this feature, we reached past the usual frozen snacks — pizza pockets, bagel bites and taquitos — to find some new and uncommon bites that are likely to appeal to young eaters. We rounded up a random stash of promising contenders and put the toaster oven to work.
Our snack caper taught us a few things. First, those pictures and illustrations on the package? Don’t be fooled. In most cases, the snacks inside bear very little resemblance. We also learned that great-looking snacks are often the biggest disappointments.
The best snacks are carefully made with the best ingredients. They bake evenly and are so tasty that it’s hard to stick to a single serving. Sadly, not every snack hits that mark. The worst are doughy, gummy and nearly taste-free.
Here are details on the best heat-and-eat snacks and those that are likely to get freezer burn. Nutrition details refer to servings of about two ounces, or between one and four pieces, depending on size.
Trader Joe’s Brazilian Style Cheese Bread
Moist, chewy interior and a slightly crisp crust make these pingpong-sized balls a delicious, flavor-packed bite. They’re made with tapioca flour, a bonus for gluten-free eaters. 2 pieces have 190 calories, 11 g fat, 310 mg sodium, 5 g protein. $3.99 for an 11-ounce box of 12. (4 stars)
Brazi Bites Cheddar & Parmesan Brazilian Cheese Bread
Lovers of cheese will have a hard time resisting these crispy, chewy, cheesy balls of awesomeness. The Three Cheese Pizza flavor is also stellar. 3 pieces have 173 calories, 8 g fat, 347 mg sodium, 4 g protein. $4.99 for an 11.5-ounce bag of 18 at Target. (4 stars)
Trader Joe’s Mac And Cheese Bites
Rich cheddar cheese, a touch of herbs and a light crumb coating make these a flavorful surprise. They are unctuous, toasty and tasty. 2 pieces have 127 calories, 7 g fat, 187 mg sodium, 5 g protein. $3.99 for a 10-ounce bag of 10. (4 stars)
Trader Joe’s Mini Beef Tacos
Juicy, flavor-packed shredded beef tucked inside a crispy corn tortilla makes for an impressive bite. Dunk these in salsa or guacamole for a perfect snack. 3 pieces have 142 calories, 6 g fat, 232 mg sodium, 7.5 g protein. $4.49 for a 17.5-ounce box of about 24. (3 1/2 stars)
Sprouts Everything Hot Dogs in Puff Pastry
Kids will love the flaky dough surrounding this mini dog, but may be a bit dubious about the tiny seeds sprinkled on top. 2 pieces have 155 calories, 12 g fat, 270 mg sodium, 5 g protein. $3.99 for a 5.95-ounce box of 7. (3 1/2 stars)
Perfect Pasta Sausage & Peppers Toasted …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Lifestyle
