"packs" news and stories

100 calorie packs are one of the hottest, fastest-growing market segments today, yet I was a bit surprised to see them at Trader Joe's this weekend. Although TJs is usually up to the minute with their foods and flavors, I haven't seen them give in to packaging trends as they have done here. It does fit in with their desire to make good foods - especially ones that are nearly ready-to-eat, like frozen and refrigerated meals - easily available to their consumers, though.

The only flavor I saw on the shelves was Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, which are an ever so slightly smaller version of their crunchy, mini cookies that are traditionally sold in tubs at the stores. The regular cookies are fantastic and these tasted just like them. In my opinion, they are definitely a cut above a lot of the other 100 calorie pack "cookies" I've tried. I'll still get the tub cookies for munching at home, but I wouldn't think twice about these as a lunch or road-trip option.