Elf-inspired Holiday cereal; Smoothie blends boost nutrition; Veggie sides

Elf-inspired holiday cereal

Just in time for the holidays, Kellogg has debuted The Elf on the Shelf Vanilla Candy Cane Cookie Cereal, the brand’s latest “Official Cereal of the North Pole.” The new flavor joins Kellogg’s holiday lineup, complementing the original The Elf on the Shelf Sugar Cookie Cereal.

The new limited-edition offering features star-shaped red pieces sprinkled with white crunchies that are intermingled with mini marshmallows swirled in red and white. Sweet vanilla combined with a touch of peppermint makes for a refreshing holiday flavor. Kellogg’s original Sugar Cookie flavor is also making a comeback, with sugar cookie–flavored red and green star pieces and mini marshmallows dusted with edible glitter.

The festive cereals can be found at Walmart for a suggested retail price of $5.69 for a 12.2-ounce box. The Sugar Cookie flavor is also available in an 8.1-ounce box at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.99.

Smoothie blends boost nutrition

Dole Packaged Foods has introduced a new smoothie kit, Keto Berry Blend, along with a line of three new Dole Boosted Blends, each of which makes a convenient, ready-to-blend smoothie that helps support nutrition goals.

Offering an easy way to add fruit to a keto diet, Dole Keto Berry Blend provides 8 grams of net carbs per serving, using low-sugar and high-fiber sun-ripened fruits as well as healthy fats. Preparation is easy: Simply combine 4 ounces of Dole Keto Berry Blend with 6 ounces of water and blend. Each package includes raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and avocado, and is sweetened with stevia.

The Dole Boosted Blends line features three combinations of fruit and boosted cubes that can be added to a favorite liquid and blended. The Protein option contains whey and almond butter, delivering 10 grams of protein, while Energize features matcha green tea, and Vita-C is made with acerola to provide 220% of the daily value of Vitamin C per serving.

Dole Keto Berry Blend comes in a 12-ounce resealable package that yields three 10-ounce servings and retails for approximately $3.99–$4.49. Dole Boosted Blends come in a 32-ounce resealable package that yields four servings and retails for approximately $9.99–$10.99.

Veggie sides with a twist

Foodie-focused meal brand Happi Foodi was founded on the belief that convenient and accessible chef-inspired eating can be enjoyed from the comfort of home or on the go. The company partners with organizations across the United States to provide educational support for people living in food desert areas and recently launched three new veggie side dishes.

Available in the frozen food aisle, the three sides provide 130–170 calories per serving and offer easy alternatives to traditional appetizers, sides, or quick veggie lunch options. The Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Bacon bowl is made with fresh brussels sprouts and bits of bacon in a light balsamic glaze. Mexican Style Street Corn combines spicy roasted sweet corn with a savory butter sauce and cotija cheese. Potato lovers will find satisfaction with Loaded Au-Gratin Potatoes, which heaps bacon, green onions, and grated cheddar cheese on russet potatoes, then drenches them in a savory sour cream sauce.

Happi Foodi veggie sides can be found at select retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $4.49.

Reduced-sugar baking sweeteners

Organic baking brand Miss Jones Baking Co. has introduced three cup-for-cup alternatives to sugar that match sweetness without using artificial ingredients. The sweeteners are suitable for beverages, cooking, desserts, and other treats.

SmartSugar is made with all-natural, plant-based ingredients that bake like sugar, with 50% less sugar than sugar. In blind taste tests conducted by Miss Jones Baking Co., consumers could not tell the difference between a baked good made with sugar or with SmartSugar.

The blend is available in two varieties: Cane Sugar Blend, a mix of cane sugar, chicory root fiber, tapioca, and monk fruit extract that can be used in place of cane sugar and artificial sweeteners for coffee, baked goods, simple syrup, and more, and Coconut/Brown Sugar Blend, a mix of coconut sugar, chicory root fiber, tapioca, and monk fruit extract that is suitable as a brown sugar substitute in making chocolate chip cookies, sweet quick breads, oatmeal, and more.

BetterSweet is the company’s no-calorie cane sugar substitute geared toward low-sugar and sugar-free diets. A mix of erythritol, chicory root fiber, and monk fruit extract with no maltodextrin or artificial flavoring or sweeteners, it can be used for cakes, muffins, cocktails, and more.

Miss Jones Baking Co.’s SmartSugar and BetterSweet sweeteners can be found on Amazon and in Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $9.99.

Protein pancakes and waffles

Orgain has launched its Protein Pancake and Waffle Mix, the company’s first plant-based protein pancakes to be Certified USDA Organic. Free of soy, dairy, and artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, the mix comes in three varieties and delivers 8–10 grams of plant-based protein per serving.

Orgain was founded by Andrew Abraham, an integrative medicine specialist and cancer survivor who left his medical practice to start the company. The new mixes are the latest in a line of clean nutrition products made from hand-selected ingredients. Whole Wheat & Oat features organic wheat, whole wheat, oats, and pea protein. 50 Superfood boasts a host of veggies, berries, and grasses, including kale, chia, mango, beet, carrot, tart cherry, and wheat grass. The Gluten Free mix combines organic rice flour and pea protein for a delicious breakfast option. All three mixes are kosher, vegan, and non-GMO.

Orgain’s Protein Pancake and Waffle Mix comes in 14-ounce pouches and can be purchased online via Orgain.com or on Amazon for a suggested retail price of $7.99.

Beef bacon adds sizzle to meals

Specialty meat company Devanco Foods recently debuted its Certified Angus Beef brand’s Schmacon Beef Bacon. A whole-muscle, smoked and uncured beef bacon, it cooks in half the time of pork bacon and is lower in calories, fat, and sodium.

The new Certified Angus Beef offering is easy to prepare and provides the taste and texture of beef combined with bold, chef-inspired spices and the smoky flavor of traditional pork bacon. The hearty slices have no added nitrites or nitrates except for those naturally occurring in sea salt and celery powder. The bacon crisps up quickly in the oven, pan, or microwave to add flavor, crunch, and versatility to mealtimes.

Schmacon Beef Bacon is halal certified and comes in a 24-ounce package. It can be found at select Costco locations in the Northeast for a suggested retail price of $9.49.