Low Carb Freedom

Low Carb Drinks: Fuze Slenderize versus Sparkling Ice

Lois, a reader, sent the following email:

I ran across your website looking for Fuze. I like Fuze no matter what flavor. Now COSTCO appears to have replaced it with Sparkling Ice. I love the grapefruit. I hate the mango or whatever it is; my husband drinks those. The real problem is I don't like the raspberry either. It tastes to me like diet Kool-aid. But I have to drink the darn things so I can have the grapefruit. Out of all them I love the Sparkling Ice grapefruit better than anything I've had in a long time, but I'd rather buy Fuze because I like all the flavors. The problem is I can't find it anywhere. Do you know where I can buy it?

Lois

Well, my family agrees with Lois about the Sparkling Ice drinks... we all prefer the grapefruit, and we like the Mango, but we don't like the Raspberry. If you agree, please go to Sparkling Ice and let them know! (However, one word about this survey. It MAKES you put it in order, along with peach. I have never tasted the peach flavor, but it has to be better than the raspberry! )

Now about Fuze. I don't know where to buy it, except in convenience stores for a lot of money. Anyone else know? (I, too, would prefer to have mostly grapefruit in the Sparkling Ice. I think that this would be a great solution!)

Sparkling Ice is also available at BJs, etc.

Update:

Connie just wrote in comments:

I have found 4 packs of Talking Rain beverage that is the same as Sparkling Ice only a different name , at Target. I got the wonderful Grapefruit and brought it home before I realized it was the same.

So there may be another way to just get the grapefruit... although I don't know the cost.

Also, I just found Fuze Diet Tea at Big Lots for 59 cents a bottle... It isn't the Slenderize, but they may have other types at other Big Lots. It is worth checking!

Update: Fuze is available again at Costco!

Dreamfield's Low Carb Pasta at BJ's and online: Carbmazing?

Yes, an astute reader, Dave Goldblatt, spotted Dreamfield's Pasta at his local BJ's. I just went there and they do indeed carry the penne and the elbow, two boxes of each, for $6.99. Now, if they would just start carrying the linguine and the spaghetti!

Please note that BJ's is not included on the Where to Buy Dreamfield's Pasta page on the Dreamfield website, so they aren't updating that as much as they should be.

I have received more emails asking me about specific locations, and I can only tell folks what is on the website and what other readers tell me. (Thanks, Dave!)

However, you can also buy Dreamfield's pasta from netrition.com (Their price of $2.49 is cheaper than the price at my local market. If you make an order, order the Keto jelly as well! It is far better than anything else you will buy at your local store.)

I have a complete review of Dreamfield's Pasta and a discussion about "digestible carbs".

And don't forget to sign up for my free weekly newsletter to get lots more information on low carb products and news!

Where are the low carb pitas?

I recently received this email from a reader:

Why has Market Basket, Shaws and Hannaford stopped selling Josephs oat bran low carb pitas! Many friends along with myself have been searching for them everywhere and no one sells them. We have 3 market baskets within 5 miles of us and not one of them has them. BRING THEM BACK!!

I think I found the missing pitas -- they are at BJs. You get 3 packages of them for about $3.59, all bundled together. BJs also has Thomas's Carb Counting Bagels, two packages for $4.50 or thereabouts. (As I said before, they also have Atkins approved bread and Russell Stover Low Carb Candy, 15 bars for less than $10.) In the choice of the pre-packaged low carb war, BJs beats Costco.

I suspect that the missing pitas will soon show up again at Market Basket, Shaws and Hannafords. It is probably a supply problem. Remember, Shaws and Stop & Shop were out of Carb Countdown for a while (I could only find it at Johnny's Foodmaster) until supply caught up with demand (and now Market Basket and Crosby's have it.) I would bet that the same thing is happening here.

BTW, the low carb pitas have 60 calories each and 5 net grams of carbs.

BJ's Shopping List

BJ's or BJs	massive update on 10/30/04
Fruits & Vegetables	They usually have smaller packs than Costco and a lot more variety. You really have to compare prices week to week.
Lettuce	No excuse not to have a veggie. We use this to make salad anytime. You get four or five heads for $2.99.
Celery
Vitamins
Fish Oil
Vitamins
Starch Away	I have never used this and probably never will, but here it is. Supposedly blocks calories, buy 60 get 10 free for $10.99
Natrol Carb Intercept	150 ct. $18.99, never have used and probably never will.
Carb Crusher Tea	12 for $12.99. Again, never used this probably never will.
Bars/Shakes	OK, I prefer real food to this stuff, but they seem to sell a lot of it so some people must like it.
Pria Carb Select 18 ct.	Variety pack $19.99
Balance CarbWell	15 ct. $12.39
Advent Edge Carb Control shakes	12 pack, chocolate & vanilla $14.39
Carb Solutions High Protein bar	12 ct. $15.99
EAS Advent Edge Carb Control	15 ct. $18.99
Carb Solutions Good Morning Breakfast & Lunch	10 ct. $10.49
Atkins Advantage Bars	15 ct. $22.99
Atkins Shakes	12 pack, $15.99
Atkins Wild Berry Granola Bar	15 ct. $24.99
Atkins mint or peanut wafers	15 ct. $13.99
Atkins Morning Start	15 ct. $15.99
Advent Edge Sugar Free Perfection Bars	12 ct. (with an instant rebate of $7.99, this comes to $5 for the box. These are chocolate bars)
CarboRite Chocolate Chip Cookie	12 ct. $8.99
CarboRite Chocolate Candy Bars	16 ct. $18.99
Dairy Case
Patrick Cudihy Bacon 100 slices	$10.99 I have officially switched from buying bacon at Costco to buying bacon at BJ's. I don't like the thich Costco bacon and there is no need to have such big pieces. This takes 30 seconds to cook in the toaster oven.
Tropicana Light'n Healthy OJ	2 pack for $4.79. Yes! I hate having to hunt this stuff down in the other supermarkets (mostly Market Basket.)
Borden Whipped Light Cream	3 pack for $6.49. If you don't buy your own Isi whipper, this is the next best thing.
Garelick Ultra Heavy Cream	32 oz. for $3.69 -- Now, if they just don't run out of this!
Cream Cheese	Usually cheaper here than the grocery store
Eggs	18 count, usually cheaper than the grocery store (not cheaper than Costco, but you have to buy 36 at Costco.)
Sugar Free Jello	18 count for $5.39
Yoplait Ultra Variety	12 for $6.99
Dannon Light Carb Control Smoothie	8 for $6.29
Light'n Fit Carb Control Yogurt	12 6 oz. containers (yes, versus the 4 oz. containers at the grocery stores) for $5.99
String Cheese	36 count for $7.89 or 36 count for $8.49 (can't tell the difference)
Yucatan Foods Guacomole	2 16 oz. containers for $5.99 (I usually buy mine at Costco because it comes in 4 packs, easily frozen to make a 7 layer dip anytime!
Meats
Microwave Ready Roast	$2.59 a lb.
Byrd Claw & Special Crab Meat	$6.99 for the claw meat (which I prefer for crab cakes) and $9.99 for the special crab meat
Penfield Farms Chicken	$3.59 a lb. individually packaged. Sold fresh, but easily frozen. Lime Salsa and Teriyaki have the least carbs. (Avoid Honey Mustard)
Hillshire 3 lb. Yard O Beef	$7.29
Cheddarwurst	3 lbs for $7.29 (beats buying the individual packs at the grocery)
Schneider Canadian Bacon	$6.99 (I think 1 1/2 lbs.)
Frozen Foods
Atkins Pepperoni Pizza	3 pack for $9.99. This is the same pizza that was discontinued by Sara Lee. Not sure how much longer they are going to carry it. Still too expensive, but better than $4.99 per pizza.
Tyson 2 lb. Grilled Chicken Strips	$9.99
Mamma Crab Cakes	12 crab cakes for $8.99. Small crab cakes at 2 oz. each.
Fruit2O ice	16 count for $6.99
Atkins Endulge Ice Cream	10 pack for $6.99
Jimmy Dean Omelet	8 ct. for $7.99. (brings the price to $1 each consistently) Review here.
Steak-Eze Sirloin	12 ct. for $9.49. Makes a quick cheese steak to put in a low carb pita or eat plain.
Refrigerated Open Section
Rondele Pub Cheese	2 12 oz. packs for $6.79 (also tons of cheese choices)
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Balls	These come in a tub and can last a long time, depending on how many people are in the family. Much cheaper to buy in bulk than it is in the grocery stores.
Monterey Carbsmart Tortellini Spinach & Cheese	36 oz. split into two packs for $9.69. Review of the Monterey Seafood Tortellini here.
Monterey Pesto Sauce	20 oz. container $6.99
Monetray Grilled Wraps	If you can stand to eat half a wrap as a portion size.
Low Carb Breads	(BJ's stopped carrying the Joseph's low carb pitas, unfortunately. They also stopped carrying the Thomas' Carb Counting bagels, drat!)
Homepride Carb Action Bread	2 pack either white or wheat $2.89
Vita's Tortillas	10 for $3.69 (6 grams per tortilla)
Atkins Carb Counting Bread	2 packs for $4.99
Drinks
Fruit2O and Fruit2O Plus	24 count for $9.99
Crystal Light Variety Pack	24 count for $11.99
Berkley & Jensen Flavored Water	24 count for $8.99 (0 carbs, 0 calories, 0 fat, carbonated)
Apple & Eve Water Fruits	24 count for $9.99
Talking Rain Diet (Sparkling Rain)	24 bottles for $12.99. Review here.
Crystal Light Powder	raspberry, ice tea, lemonade 2 packs $6.49
Carb Options Powder	Lemon Ice Tea $4.99
Crystal Light Sunrise	OJ substitute? $5.99 for 2 pack.
Low Carb Candy	(Some candy is in the candy section and some candy is in the "dieters" section near the vitamins.
Russell Stover Low Carb Miniatures	21 oz. tub for $9.99 or $7.61 a lb.
Jenny's 2 Net count Big Carb Bars	18 count for $14.99 (my kids really like these -- not like a protein bar)
Momentum 3g bars	15 count $9.99 but a $5 instant rebate expires 10/31 (Only my son likes these. Yuch!)
Berkley & Jensen Sugar Free Hard Candy	30 oz. tub for $6.99. 17g of malitol syrup per serving.
Reese's Sugar Free Candy	20 oz. tub for $6.99
Russell Stover Low Carb Candy	15 count for $9.69
Hershey 1 Carb Candy	15 count for $8.99, but instant coupon expires 11/1
Snacks	I am just giving a sample of the nuts...
Doritos Tostitos Edge	3 pack! Yes, you can find them here for $6.99. Inclused Doritos Flavor, sour cream and regular tostitos. (Wish it included the cheetos instead of the tostitos.) I don't know why these things are hidden.
Planters Single Packet Peanuts	48 count $7.49
Manua Laui Macadamia	12 oz. for $7.99
Planters Tube Nuts	12 salted peanut, 6 honey roasted, 6 salted cashews... not your best choice! Honey roasted you would have to give away, and cashews have a lot of carbs, and the serving size is too big.
Planters Mixed Peanuts	56 oz. container $9.99
California Roasted Salted Almonds	40 oz. $7.99
Marinated Mushrooms	$4.99 a jar
Sweeteners
Splenda	700 count $13.99
Equal	700 count $13.59
Berkley & Jensen	700 count $9.69 (compare to Equal)
Splenda (large bags like sugar)	Two 9.7oz $11.29
General
Carb Options Grill Pack	Teryaki Marinade, Barbecue Sauce, Steak Sauce for $4.99
Carb Options Garden Style Spagetti Sauce	2 bottles for $2.99 (they discontinued the Carb Options peanut butter (my theory, way too expensive), so I bet this is on its way out too. If you want it at a good price, get it now.)
Old El Pasa Refried Beans	I buy this to have on hand for the 7-layer dip.
Snows 51 oz. Chopped Clams	I buy the Seawatch brand at Costco.

About BJ's

BJ's is a warehouse store similar to Costco. The major difference that I can discern between the two is that BJ's has more of a selection and are more bold in their product choices. For example, BJ's carried Atkins ice cream at launch and Costco has yet to carry low-carb ice cream. BJ's also carries Russell Stover low-carb candy and only select Costcos carry it. BJ's also has smaller packages than Costco does. This is especially helpful when it comes to family size cream cheese containers.

To find the closest BJ's, go here.