Wendy's Great Eight March 2021 #WendyGreatEight #tryit #newontheshelf

It's time for another Wendy's Great Eight roundup of my favorite new-to-me food and beverage items. Variety is the spice of life...so? This month, I'm featuring everything from artisan yogurt to alcohol-infused coffee -- so let's jump in and get started!!

(1) Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt. We first tasted the Ellenos family's signature Greek yogurt while visiting Seattle's Pike Place Market in 2019. One bite and we were swooning over its rich, smooth flavor! We asked if we could purchase their yogurt in Texas and sadly were told no. Fast forward to Fall 2020, and we were so excited to find select flavors of Ellenos Greek yogurt available at Central Market! We typically find Lemon Curd, Marionberry, Vanilla Bean, Mango, and a seasonal limited edition flavor -- currently Brownie Batter (!!) -- on our shelves. I'm crazy for the Lemon Curd, while Michael's favorite is the Marionberry.  What sets Ellenos' Greek yogurt apart from other yogurts we've eaten is their traditional handcrafted family recipe, as well as their commitment to using quality ingredients. All milk used to make their yogurt comes from a single family-owned farm and dairy. In addition to Texas Central Market locations, Ellenos Greek Yogurt is available at Whole Foods Markets across the country...and select Amazon Fresh markets. Not in a city where Ellenos' yogurt is sold? No worries! They also sell their yogurt via a convenient online store.

(2) Mikey's Pocket Sandwiches. Mikey's recently added two new flavors to its line of gluten-free, dairy-free pocket sandwiches: spicy Buffalo-Style Chicken and plant-based Cauliflower & Broccoli Cheddar. They joint Mikey's Cheese Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza pockets to offer allergen-friendly, clean meal options. Each pocket's gluten- and grain-free crust is made from cassava and sunflower flours. The pastry cooks up tender, with a slightly nutty flavor. The fillings Mikey's uses are free from gluten and all dairy/milk/lactose. The pockets also use only plant-based cheeses. The bottom line for me is taste! I love that these pockets cook up perfectly in the microwave -- from frozen -- in about two minutes. All of the flavors are tasty, but my personal favorite is the Broccoli Cauliflower...it has tons of flavor, with just 270 calories. I'm always looking for meatless meals for Lenten Fridays...and this pocket is an ideal lunch option! Created by Chef Michael Tierney, Mikey's pockets are available at natural, club, and grocery stores in the U.S. -- and they can also be purchased online via EatMikeys.com.

(3) Element Snacks. One of my current snack obsessions is Element Snacks' lineup of thin rice cakes topped with organic chocolate...or fruit-and-cream flavors! Each organic Element snack starts with a thin gluten-free, non-GMO rice cake. The rice cake is topped with the perfect amount of chocolate or creamy fruit. The end result is a fabulous treat that has just 80 calories, 5 grams of sugar, and no cholesterol! These rounds are perfect for a late afternoon pick-me-up...or an after-dinner snack that won't break the calorie bank. 

Element Snacks are treats you can truly feel good about eating...they contain zero cholesterol, artificial ingredients, preservatives, corn syrup, hydrogenated fat, milk hormones, BPA, or trans fats. Something that's this healthy that also tastes fantastic is a winner in my book! I've tried the Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Sweet Vanilla Orange, and Strawberry 'n Cream flavors -- they're all fantastic! I find that one perfectly satisfies my sweet tooth...or chocolate craving. 

Element Snacks can be found at retailers nationwide...and via online retailers.

(4) Yasso Chocolate Dipped Frozen Yogurt Bars. I've always been a fan of Yasso's delicious frozen yogurt bars, so imagine my excitement when they released a line of creamy frozen yogurt bars dipped in chocolate!! Bottom line? They truly taste as amazing as they sound! The chocolate dipped line comes in three flavors that feature crunch from crisped quinoa: Mint Chocolate Crunch (15o calories), Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch (160 calories), and Sea Salt Caramel Crunch (150 calories) -- my personal favorite. This is an ideal nighttime snack that satisfies your chocolate cravings without breaking the calorie bank. Yasso's Chocolate Dipped line can be found at grocers nationwide...or purchased directly from Yasso's convenient Online Store.

(5) Bear Naked Granola Bites. Bear Naked offers a line of yummy granola products. Their lineup includes traditional crunchy granola...but I'm currently in love with their soft granola bites! These lightly sweet granola bites are made with oatmeal, dried fruit, nuts, and nut butters. Flavors include tropical Coconut Cashew, intense Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, classic Peanut Butter and Honey, and the fruity-nutty Trail Mix and Dark Chocolate. Each 11-bite serving has 150-170 calories and is also good source of fiber and protein. These soft granola bites are great eaten straight from the bag...but my favorite way to eat them is to sprinkle them on top of lowfat yogurt. This combination makes a filling, healthy breakfast...or afternoon pick-me-up. Bear Naked Granola Bites can be found at a grocery store near you.

(6) Partake Cookies. It's no secret that I have a sweet tooth...but my goal these days is to find healthier options for the foods I enjoy. Partake's lineup of Crunchy and Soft Baked cookies taste amazing, but they are much healthier than traditional cookies. These cookies are vegan, gluten free, and free from the eight most common food allergies. What they don't have is nuts, eggs, dairy, soy, artificial flavors, GMOs, and preservatives. Instead, Partake cookies contain ingredients like gluten-free oat flour, cassava flour, fresh fruits, and organic sugars. The end result is a cookie that tastes amazing...but doesn't include any unpronounceable ingredients. My favorite Crunchy cookie is the Birthday Cake, and my favorite Soft Baked cookie is the Triple Chocolate. Partake Cookies can be purchased at major US grocery retailers...and directly from their online store.

(7) Bomani Alcohol-Infused Cold Brew Coffee. Bomani is one of the most unique alcoholic beverages I've tried in recent memory. It's a combination of premium cold brew made from 100% Arabica coffee and alcohol! An 11-ounce can of smooth Bomani has a distinct coffee flavor and as much caffeine as a half cup of coffee and is 5.7% alcohol by volume. Even better? Each can has just 110 calories, zero carbs, and zero sugar. Versatile Bomani can be enjoyed straight from the sleek, black can...or over ice. It can also be used as a cocktail mixer...or served with cream and sugar like traditional coffee. If you're a coffee lover? You'll go crazy for both Bomani flavors: Traditional and Vanilla. Bomani can be purchased at select retail locations, as well as via the Bomani Online Store.

(8) NatureBox Snack Boxes. One of my biggest roadblocks to healthy eating is snacking! I'm easily tempted by sugary and salty snacks that aren't good for me. I was excited to discover NatureBox mail order snack boxes! Their goal is simple: "...promote wellness and prevent stress by providing delicious, healthier snacks delivered in the most convenient way possible..." NatureBox snacks don't contain artificial flavors or sweeteners, corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, or MSG. My sampler box contained so many tasty, better-for-me snacks. My favorites were the crunchy Aged Cheddar Lentil Loops, spicy Kung Pao Pretzels, and bite-sized crunchy Peanut Butter Maca cookies. The easiest way to see what NatureBox is about is to order a monthly Discovery Box membership! For $29.95/month, you'll receive five different full-size snack items carefully curated by NatureBox! Prefer to select your own snack assortment? No problem! Want to give someone a NatureBox snack box? They also offer a SnackPasss gift card for easy gifting.

Disclosure: The makers of the products featured in this Wendy's Great Eight feature provided me with sample products. I only feature products in this monthly column that I have personally tried and enjoyed. All opinions expressed are solely my own.