Snack Review: Kellogg’s Special K Blueberry, Special K Crackers, and FiberPlus Antioxidant Bars

In the wide world of snacking, the people at Kellogg’s are definite rockstars. I mean, they make most of the country’s favorite cereals. Sure, cereal is a tasty and simple-to-prepare breakfast. But most people in my acquaintance agree that the crunchy, highly-sugared goodness of Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes are just as satisfying - if not moreso - at three A.M., in the aftermath of a wild party, than before school or work.

Because of this legendary greatness, I was surprised, and flattered, when I heard Kellogg’s wanted to send l’il ol’ me a sampling of their newest products to review. When I received a package from the company’s headquarters in Battle Creek, MI, and accepted that the offer wasn’t a put-on, I began to worry. What if I didn’t like the samples I was sent? Would I be blacklisted by the crunchy conglomerate? Labeled a “cereal killer” and banned from major grocery stores for all eternity? Would I awaken at some ungodly hour to find the Honey Smacks Frog pelting me with poisonous goo while Tony the Tiger mauled me to death?

I gave these loathsome possibilities, and countless others, careful consideration. In the end, I squared my shoulders, gulped, and made the braver and morally sound decision. Supermarket snubbery and killer mascots be darned - in the name of journalistic integrity, I’d offer my honest opinions.

Taking inventory of my Kellogg’s package, I was filled with hope. The centerpiece of the gift was a new cereal offering. A twist on one of my favorites, to boot - Blueberry Special K! Also included were two varieties of “Special K Crackers” - Multigrain and Italian Tomato Herb. Being, from my eerily far-reaching and accurate memory, a rather sweet cereal, I didn’t know how well Special K would translate into cracker form. Naturally, I would withhold judgment until tasting. My sample set was rounded out with two packages of FiberPlus Antioxidant Bars - one Chocolate Chip, the other Dark Chocolate Almond.

Feeling pretty fluish the day of the package’s arrival, with a resultingly nonexistent appetite, I didn’t tear into my bounty immediately. However, over the next few days, I found time to taste each of Kellogg’s offerings. As it turned out, I had very little to fear in potentially offending the Kellogg’s juggernaut - the new offering ranged from “all right” to “delicious.”

Special K Blueberry

From the moment I laid eyes upon this box, I was pretty excited. I’ve been a fan of Special K since early childhood. Naturally, back then I had no idea the cereal was supposed to be healthy. I was actually fairly sure it wasn’t, given how insanely sweet it tasted. Basically, I’ve always seen Special K as a slightly crispier version of Frosted Flakes. I also like the flavor of blueberries, so I was interested in seeing how the flavors would combine.

The box, blue-white but for its striking signature red “K”, boasts of “crunchy blueberry, rice and wheat flakes with oat and blueberry clusters.” So far, so good. I pulled the cereal out, giving it a once-over. I noticed right away that Special K Blueberry features no actual blueberries. Rather, the ordinary-looking flakes are specked with purplish “fruit flakes” (which, according to the ingredients list, are only half-blueberry in origin!). Holding a few flakes under my nostrils, I noticed they smelled blueberry-like. That was one positive sign.

Thrusting the flakes into my mouth brought back a flood of sweet memories. It may be fortified with plenty of vitamins and minerals, but one taste reveals Special K is more highly fortified with sugar. Oddly, beyond the sugary, flaky crunch, there’s barely a trace of blueberry flavor. I’m not saying I really miss it, but… this is “Special K Blueberry.” According to the box, eating this for breakfast (and lunch) is supposed to help you lose weight. I’m skeptical, but if there’s any truth to this, maybe I’ve finally found I diet I’d be able to work with.

Special K Crackers

I very much like good multigrain crackers, so I wondered how Kellogg’s “Special K” variety would measure up. I had no idea how a cereal so close in taste to Frosted Flakes might translate into savory cracker form. Examining the crackers’ containers and ingredient lists, I concluded that the their “Special K” moniker has more to do with being “healthy” and low-calorie than any taste similarity. Bearing only 90 calories per 17 cracker-serving, these are as diet-friendly as crackers are likely to get.

The crackers come in two varieties - Multigrain and Italian Tomato-Herb, and my package included a box of each. I sampled the plain Multigrain variety first, as I figured that would offer a better picture of the crackers’ taste. Biting in, I was struck by the density of the brownish squares. For a low-calorie cracker, these have a decent amount of body. Admittedly, I wasn’t overly wild about the taste. It wasn’t bad, just a bit blah. There was also a vague sweetness which seemed out of place in such a cracker.

In the Italian Tomato-Herb variety, the sweetness was intensified… and slightly disturbing. Do you remember the industrial-grade tomato soup served in your elementary-school cafeteria? That’s what these crackers remind me of. Meaning no offense toward Kellogg’s, of course, I really don’t think I’d buy Special K crackers again, unless the recipe is modified.

FiberPlus Antioxidant Bars

I saved the best for last. The cereal was yummy. The crackers were… special. But the real standout from my Kellogg’s gift box were the two boxes of Fiberplus Antioxident Bars. The perfectly snack-sized bars came in two varieties - Chocolate Chip and Dark Chocolate Almond. Each bar has only 120 or 130 calories, an incredible 9 grams of dietary fiber, and… CHOCOLATE!!

Upon opening my first Fiberplus bar, I was reminded of a soft granola bar. Biting in, I was corrected as the bar gently yielded and split, leaving in my mouth what felt and tasted like a matrix of Rice Krispies and Oats united by sweet, sweet caramel and delicious chocolate. Wow. I sure hope these are compatible with the Special K diet. More Snickers than Nature Valley, these are the healthiest candy bars I’ve ever tasted!

I’d like to thank Kellogg’s for allowing me to sample their latest snacks. Truly, I feel honored. Special K is great in any form, and as it’s so light yet so incredibly sweet, I believe Special K Blueberry will be a smashing success. Although I don’t personally like the Special K Crackers, I’m sure they’ll find their niche. After all, they’re low-calorie, and when you can latch onto the diet industry in any way, your product has a guaranteed niche. Finally, I know they’re new, but already I’ll plead my case for FiberPlus Antioxidant Bars - please, Kellogg’s - NEVER take these off the market. If there comes a day when you must, kindly send all unused stock my way!

• Kellogg’s Website

Buy Kellogg’s Special K Products Online:

• at Amazon.com

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