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- Verified Buyer
I was eating keto two years ago and tried these for the first time then. They provide a satisfying crunch and were great while doing the keto way of eating. I'm eating low carb again now, and bought them again. When I first bought these, they were between 1 to 2g net carbs depending on the flavor, but now these are 4g net carbs. The picture does show this, I just wasn't careful in looking at the photos b/c I had bought these before - that was my bad. I regret buying them now b/c while these do satisfy the crunch, I don't find them worth allotting 4g of net carbs for this. I wish the description was more forthcoming about the fact that these are a totally different recipe (different calorie count, etc.) But, it's not technically the company's fault so I'm not going to give them a low review for my lack of attention to the pictures.In terms of the product itself, they don't taste anything like cheese puffs, so if you're expecting that, you will be disappointed. But, they are extremely crunchy (much more than cheese puffs) and when you're doing keto, the one thing that is hard to replicate is crunchy, salty snacks. So these fill that void.I'm currently doing the Keto food plan and this snack is a real treatThe Summary: Over a year ago, I discovered the company now called Schoolyard Snacks (formerly the Cereal School). The products, the cereals in particular, are a daily part of my keto diet and provide a good source of protein. The cereals help me stay “on track” without feeling like I am compromising on enjoyable food experiences. Overall, keto dieting gave me (a notorious binge-eater and over-eater) restrictions that helped me lose weight and build a post-pandemic body that is better than my pre-pandemic body.Taste and Texture: The cereal and puffs taste as one would expect based on the name, which is refreshing for diet food. The texture is crunchy and can get stuck in teeth, but, I leave my cereal a bit in my macadamia milk to soften, which solves that issue. The only Schoolyard Snack flavor that I actively disliked was the (now discontinued) Apple Pie cereal, which tasted too much like apple pie to enjoy in cereal form.Diet Food: I enjoy the taste and texture, but, I also have a great deal of exposure to diet foods and tend to enjoy high-quality diet food-products. I know that many do not share this openness, and those persons may never be satisfied with a “substitute” for “the original,” but, those people are also unlikely to achieve their health and wellness goals without feeling greatly deprived, if they can overcome their picky nature at all.Ingredients: The protein-rich and low-carb base for the cereal and puffs is milk protein isolate. As someone who does not take protein powder, I do not ingest a substantial amount of milk/dairy, aside from Schoolyard Snacks’ cereal, which I have daily. For those with lactose sensitivity, I would not write-off the possibility of using the products, as I tend to be sensitive to lactose and am relatively unaffected.Portion Size and Value: The bags are not particularly large, but, we do live in a culture where portion sizes are out of control. To feel satisfied, I usually need two bags of cereal or puffs, and sometimes spring for a third on days when my protein intake is low. The products are not cheap, but, there is value in a product that makes lifestyle goals easier to maintain.Wishes for the Future: Expanded flavor options on cereal (pumpkin spice or coffee/latte) and puffs (like chocolate caramel or buttered popcorn flavors) would be amazing, as well as options to buy/subscribe in greater bulk than currently allowed to save more money.I don't find myself craving these at all. They look similar to the originals but the texture is not the same at all. They feel like stale and stiff hot Cheeto puffs when you chew them. Hot Cheeto puffs are softer and dissolve way more nicely in your mouth.As far as taste goes, they feel way "cheesier" than the hot Cheeto puffs, almost excessively cheesy.All in all, I wish I could've tried one bag instead of being forced to commit to a 30$ purchase of 12 bags that I regret just a little.I guess considering they're keto, they're not awful. But they're not really very good, either. They're kind of whatever.I enjoyed the sour cream and onion but have had the cheddar cheese before and these are milder in taste. They are definitely a good choice for a healthy snack, good texture and macros with not a strong flavor I just wish that they were slightly cheaper as there are many on the market now that are similar and I might purchase if a better deal. They are good and the portion size is nice too just not spectacular. If you are use to low carb treats this is a nice alternative and something to keep in hand. I like cheddar cheese I’ve the sour cream and onion. I’d like to try more.As someone who's successfully attempted the KETO diet to lose weight, I can vouch that the approach WILL help get the weight off but I'll admit that I could not maintain that diet as a lifestyle but I could realistically eliminate and/or reduce many of the carbs I would historically consume on a regular basis. Sugar from my coffee, ordering a small french fry instead of a large (no human should deny themselves of french fries ;-)), but additionally the occasional snack bag of potato chips/pretzels/doritos has now been replaced by these Schoolyard Snacks -- excellent crunch, surprising good flavor and enough to satisfy your hunger before your next meal. My only complaint, and reason I can't give 5 stars is the cost. They are definitely a bit pricey, but I suppose that comes with the low carb food territory. Definitely worth a try. Hope this helps.This product was very flavorful and filling. The only reason it is getting a 3 star instead or 5 star review is that I did not receive the flavor I ordered. I'm a bit "cheesed out" being on keto and was looking forward to the sour cream and onion flavored snack. Instead I received the cheddar cheese and did not get a response or refund from the supplier when I reached out to alert them of the mistake. I hesitate to reorder and get the wrong flavor again, so will hold off until I hear back from the vendor. But if you are a cheddar cheese fan you will probably love these!The bbq flavor is on point. I was a little disappointed with the portion due to the price. However, most diet foods are more expensive. I have ordered several times and will continue to order.
