Snack Review: Little Debbie Muffins

I imagined it old school style.

Richard Dawson kissin’ up on the ladies, the giant Family Feud board behind him as he repeats the question: “Name something special you might eat for breakfast.” He winks at the Milwaukee housewife as she bites her lip, concentrating as if her life depended on uttering the most popular response to this inane survey question. She’s really kickin’ those wheels into high gear up there. At last she blurts out: “MUFFINS!”

She’s bouncing and vibrating all over. She’s either ready to burst or smother Dawson in her ample midwestern bosom. Suffice to say, she’s excited. Dawson gives her a wink and a pat on the hand, wiggling his pinky ring with a flourish.

“Show me MUUUFFFINNNNS!”

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Little Debbie Giveaway Winners

Our Little Debbie Giveaway ended on Friday, and I know you’re all dying to hear who the winners were. Right? Right?

First, how we chose the winners: Using the integer generator at random.org, we got three random numbers. Those numbers were matched with the corresponding comments and thus were winners created! The winning entrants were: jamesinsocal, ShannonRenee, and naturallia. Congratulations, and enjoy your Little Debbie 100-Calorie goodness!

Snack Giveaway: Little Debbie Goodies!

Ever wondered what it’s like to be an official Snackerrific staff member? Well, here’s your chance to find out! The wonderful folks over at Little Debbie have set aside three boxes identical to the one Jim received for his review of Little Debbie’s New 100 Calorie Snacks, and one of them could be yours!

From the anticipation through to the tasty finale, the life of a Snackerrific snacker is never dull. For your chance to experience the same joy (and get a BUNCH of tasty snacks to boot), simply leave a comment telling us your snack-related New Year’s resolution.

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Snack Review: Little Debbie 100 Calorie Snacks

I’ve been crazy about Little Debbie since I was Little Jimmy. I remember fervently wishing that the cute cowgirl on the snack cake package lived nearby so we could play together, not knowing Debbie was easily twice my age at the time. Like all good stories, there’s a narrative arc: Now Little Debbie is following ME! On Twitter! (LittleDebbie is trying to make you salivate like a Great Dane who missed lunch. about 5 minutes ago from web)

What’s more, she sent me a huge box of cute li’l snacks! For pre-packaged, mass-produced cakes and sweet treats, you can’t find much better than this.

The trick to wise snacking is sensible portions in moderation. Little Debbie’s 100 Calorie Snacks help us do just that, or at least suggest it; the rest is up to us. These snacks have about the same fat and sugar content as their regular items, but the serving sizes are anywhere from 50-60% smaller. In short, you’re eating the same sweet and fatty food, just less of it. At least it’s a start.

Although I’m not a body builder like the narrator’s father and brothers in Jonathan Evison’s excellent first novel, All About Lulu, I swear I thought my arms were super bulked when I grabbed a Yellow Cake (with “butter creme” icing) and a Triple Fudge Brownie.

Man, I’m massive!

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The Dao of Debbie

When it comes to the smiling faces on snack packages and fast food wrappers, it’s hard to know what to believe. Colonel Sanders, Aunt Jemima, Wendy the Redheaded Burger Girl - did these people ever exist or were they simply the products of genius marketing?

Sometimes, as with Betty Crocker, the line between fact and fiction is frustratingly blurry. Though rarely seen in person, Betty spoke on radio programs and published newspaper columns. She wrote the quintessential entertainment guide, personally responded to letters asking for baking advice, and in 1945 was even named America’s 2nd most popular woman by Fortune magazine (Eleanor Roosevelt, that minx, snagged first place).

Yet, despite her friendly demeanor and media savvy, Betty was bogus. When it came down to it, she was nothing more than a pleasant phantom invented by General Mills and made real by the hundreds of secretaries who mastered her curvy signature.

I have to admit, when I first discovered this truth, it shook me to my very core. “Betty Crocker was a crock!” I found myself wailing in the bakery aisle, much to the confusion of my fellow shoppers. If you can’t trust an American institution like her, who can you trust?

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