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dining out

A walk through the aisles

by Frank Sabatini Jr.

Published Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 in issue 1036

Product: Trader Joe’s Fat Free Lime Fruit Floes

Description: Four frozen lime bars on wood sticks made of lime juice, water, fructose and sucrose

Preparation summary: Keep frozen until ready to eat

Highpoints: Tastes as fresh as biting into a sweet, ripe lime. Bars measure a little bigger than standard Popsicles. Only 60 calories per serving and zero grams of fat.

Lowpoints: Facial contortions triggered from the intense citrus flavor don’t subside until taking several licks.

Average retail price: $1.99

Availability: Trader Joe’s

Product: Aidells Chicken & Turkey Meatballs (Chipotle)

Description: Twelve-ounces of fully cooked cocktail-size meatballs from retail sausage maker chef Bruce Aidells

Preparation summary: Heat in the oven, microwave or stovetop and serve

Highpoints: Can be used for playing badminton, tennis or Ping-Pong.

Lowpoints: Severely rubbery no matter how you heat them. Lots of water added, and the chipotle tastes frighteningly astringent.

Average retail price: $6.99

Availability: Major grocery stores

Product: Tyson Any’tizers Honey BBQ Boneless Chicken Wyngs

Description: Frozen breast meat nuggets, breaded and glazed in a honey barbecue sauce

Preparation summary: Bake in a 400-degree conventional oven for 15-18 minutes, or microwave on high for two minutes

Highpoints: Spicy and cloying at the same time and with a slightly better texture than honey chicken from fast-food Chinese restaurants. Almost worthy of serving to guests.

Lowpoints: Though the nuggets contain only breast meat, the rendered poultry still takes a mulching through Tyson’s processing mill.

Average retail price: $3.99

Availability: Major grocery stores

Product: Jazz Diet Pepsi (Black Cherry-French Vanilla)

Description: Zero-calorie and zero-carb flavored cola by Pepsi in a two-liter plastic bottle

Preparation summary: Ready to drink

Highpoints: You can drink it lawlessly without growing fat.

Lowpoints: The flavor of aspartame creeps up fast, allowing for only a flash of the fake vanilla and black cherry extracts to register on your tongue.

Average retail price: $2.99

Availability: Major grocery stores