Several weeks ago, I explained to you all that I would be re-incorporating eggs into my diet. In response to my return to ovo-land, many of you recommended that I embrace eggs by eating scrambles, egg salads…and VitaTops. These popular breakfast treats contain egg whites, so in my prior decision to eschew eggs, I had never sampled VitaTops for myself.

Fortunately for me, Vitalicious was kind enough to send me a sampler box containing a wide variety of flavors:

Crikey! I had no idea there were so many options awaiting me in the world of muffin tops!

Although it’s tough job, I managed to taste each of the flavors provided me by the folks at Vitalicious. Read on for a synopsis of my thoughts on each flavor.

Banana Nut

Nutrition

Flavor and Evaluation

I liked this flavor, mostly due to the fact that it lives up to its name—it tasted of fresh bananas, and there were plenty of nuts distributed throughout the muffin. However, there are no bananas to be found on the ingredients list, merely banana flavor.

Serving Suggestion

Raisin Bran

Nutrition

Flavor and Evaluation

This flavor was one of my favorites thanks to its inclusion of a few of my favorite ingredients, namely raisins and oat bran. The texture of this flavor was particularly enjoyable in that it was heartier and less sticky than the others; it tasted like a good whole grain baked good.

Serving Suggestion

Golden Corn

Nutrition

Flavor and Evaluation

To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of cornbread. Perhaps due to the fact that I had only been exposed to Jiffy corn muffins, I was under the impression that cornbread was a dry, crumbly concoction that ultimately ended up in the dog bowl. Fortunately, the VitaTop version was moist and delicious, although I found it too sweet to be paired with savory foods (such as chili). Next time I’ll be sure to slather it with some jam instead.

Serving Suggestion

Blue Bran

Nutrition

Flavor and Evaluation

Quite simply, I found this flavor tasty, but not nearly berry-tastic enough for my preferences.

Serving Suggestion

Apple Berry

Nutrition

Flavor and Evaluation

This flavor is most like something I would bake for myself at home. The ingredients list features applesauce, cranberries, and blueberries, making quite a delicious combination…but I’m pretty sure I could make something similar with Craisins, bloobs, and unsweetened applesauce at home, with a much smaller price tag.

Serving Suggestion

Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip

Nutrition

Flavor and Evaluation

Fudgy peanut butter? Yes, please! Of the more dessert-y varieties that I sampled, this was my favorite. Admittedly, I amped up the PB-factor by spreading mine with creamy Naturally More peanut butter, but there were plenty of peanut butter chips in the muffin itself too. Yum!

Serving Suggestion

Triple Chocolate Chunk

Nutrition

Flavor and Evaluation

Generally, I’m not a fan of anything with “chunk” in the name (hence my distaste for chunky peanut butter). Nonetheless, this indulgent muffin top won me over, with its abundance of chocolate and deceptively rich flavor.

Serving Suggestion

General Thoughts

Nutrition

Not only do VitaTops offer a wide variety of tempting flavors but they also boast impressive nutritional stats as well. Almost all varieties are 100 kcalories, low-fat, and high-fiber.

However, like most baked goods (both homemade and store-bought), VitaTops are high in sugar. Some of the more indulgent flavors have up to 12 grams of the sweet stuff (the equivalent of one tablespoon).

Although the labels featured on the Vitalicious website do not indicate it, the samples I received listed sugar alcohols in the ingredients list. Sugar alcohols are a popular addition to low-carb products to keep carb counts low and reduce sugar. However, the major drawback of these sugar alcohols is their impact on the human digestive tract—they can cause serious gas and discomfort in some people. Also, it’s worth noting that xylitol (a popular sugar alcohol) is toxic to dogs.

As their name suggests, a major marketing aspect for Vitalicious is the addition of vitamins and minerals to their products. I consider it a perk, but it is certainly not the reason I would purchase these products. Vitamins and minerals are so abundant in my favorite foods that I don’t need additional fortification from processed foods. My question is this: why are these products not fortified with calcium?

Finally, these products are processed foods. They have lengthy ingredients lists that feature items not found in a homemade muffin. Inulin (an isolated form of fiber), soy lecithin (an emulsifier), and acacia gum (a natural thickener), are all relatively harmless, but as a matter of personal preference, I would rather have muffins made of whole wheat flour, oil, fruit, and little else.

Cost

VitaTops cost over 1$ apiece when ordered online, and they are priced similarly when purchased at a grocery store. Accordingly, I would consider these products an occasional indulgence rather than a staple.

Freshness

Due to the lack of preservatives in VitaTops, they must be frozen in order to preserve freshness. Thanks to my predilection for smoothie-making, much of my freezer is often occupied by frozen fruit, so it was no easy task finding space for these VitaTops. Freezing does not seem to affect the taste or texture of these products—just a quick zap in the microwave makes them taste fresh-baked.

Before this review rivals a novel in length, I’ll conclude here.

Have you ever tried VitaTops? Which is your favorite flavor?

Filed under: Product Review