Review: Atkins Products

While I haven't followed the Atkins diet specifically, I know that eating more protein and less carbs makes me feel better - especially when I was dealing with gestational diabetes. In an effort to eat healthier, we've been taking a look at all our eating habits and trying to incorporate better choices into our meals.  When Mom Central asked if I'd like to try some Atkins products, I was willing to give them a shot. They sent me a box of penne pasta and a bag of baking mix to use in our kitchen.

We tried the penne pasta first.  It cooked up the same as traditional pasta, and I didn't notice any difference in the taste.  You can see our dinner from the other night -- steak, chicken (we didn't have quite enough of either meat for the 5 of us, so cooked both), watermelon and the penne pasta sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and Italian dressing.  I notice from the website that this is something they recommend for the final phase of their program, as I imagine the carbs are too high for the earlier phases.  I admit that I was worried it would be gummy or odd, but everyone in the family ate it without complaint.

Each serving contains 140 calories and 37g of carbohydrate, and 18g of fiber.  That compares to 210 calories, 42g of carbohydrate and 2g of fiber in a competitor's penne pasta.

A couple days later I made pancakes with the baking mix.  Once again, there was no noticeable difference in the taste or texture of the pancakes.  Again, these were higher in fiber than competitor's products. 

If you were following the Atkins diet, these products would fit easily into your plan.  They are also a great alternative for those trying to watch their carb intake and increase their fiber intake. There were no strange ingredients in either product, which I appreciated.

Atkins is currently running a recipe contest! Develop a new recipe using one of these two new products during the month of September, and have a chance at winning some fabulous prizes -- including an assortment of Atkins products! There are a variety of different categories, so try out your recipe-developing skills and submit a recipe!


*I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Atkins.  Mom Central sent me products to review and a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.*