Mixed Review: VitaMuffin Deep Chocolate Muffin Mix
"More like a fudgy cupcake than anything wholesome."
I admit it. I was late to the Vitalicious game. Three years ago, a friend of mine who was completely obsessed with Banana Nut VitaTops asked me to go in on a bulk order with her. (A case of six assorted VitaMixes for muffins and brownies is $33.30.) I declined.
I had only ever seen Vitalicious products at "supplement" stores like GNC. I didn't believe they would actually taste good anymore than I believed the berry-flavored SlimQuick powdered drink mix would actually help me drop five pounds.
But last week, as I contemplated yet another yawn-worthy yogurt and granola bar breakfast, I decided to give the Vitalicious brand a second look.
The website was a veritable Disneyland of diet-friendly baked goods: VitaTop flavors ranging from blueberry-bran to chocolate-fig, pomegranate VitaBrownies, and something called a Dreamy Drizzle Chocolate Supreme VitaCake. While there were several kinds of VitaMuffin mixes, including golden corn and banana-nut, I indulged with the Deep Chocolate VitaMix ($6.25)—more like a fudgy cupcake than anything wholesome.
The mix arrived via UPS two days later. According to the box, the VitaMix made 12 muffins, each of which packed five grams of fiber and 15 vitamins and minerals into 100 tiny calories. It sounded too good to be true. Nevertheless, my hopes were high as I stirred in three large egg whites and 11/4 cups of water. After dividing the batter between a dozen muffin cups I topped each with a few chocolate chips (oddly, while part of the recipe, chocolate chips are not included in the box). Then I slid the pan into the oven.
The instructions said to bake the muffins for 23 to 27 minutes,but this seemed like an oddly long time to me. Sure enough, after only 20 minutes my muffins were puffed and firm, and they passed the toothpick test. I set them on a wire rack to cool just as my boyfriend walked inside.
"You baked cupcakes!" he exclaimed.
"Muffins." I corrected.
"Potato, potahto."
I looked at the VitaMuffins—he was right. They certainly resembled cupcakes. I decided to serve them for dessert.
The VitaMuffins were light, fluffy, and still a bit warm. While the chocolate taste was slightly undermined by the flavor of whole-wheat flour (the first ingredient listed), the sprinkling of chocolate chips on top added an extra fudge wallop that was so creamy, melted, and delicious, I didn't even miss the frosting.
I would certainly make these again, and serve them with coffee for breakfast, or the last few sips of red wine after dinner.
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7 Comments:
I took a look at the ingredients and I'm not impressed -- malitol is ingredient #3, and it can be a slightly nasty sugar substitute. Similarly, although there is whole wheat flour as a source of fiber, there's also inulin, and there's some question whether that is the same as "real" fiber.
I think I'll continue to make my own muffins, and if I want to use a mix, I go for the Hodgson Mills, where the ingredients are the same as I'd use in my own kitchen.
elisabeth
elisabeth58 at 10:32AM on 08/28/09
Good Review Lucy. Its a shame the chocolate taste was slightly undermined by the flavor of whole-wheat flour; but like you said: Those chunks would probably balance it out. They look really appealing.
As someone WHO NEVER BAKES and NEVER EATS MUCH BAKING thank you for posting this as I usually tend to buy these things at VitaHealth or GNC when I have guests who like to have dessert :) This will go on the grocery list if I can find it up here in Canada.
hungrychristel at 10:37AM on 08/28/09
@elisabeth58 re: Inulin as source of Fibre
Great point.
As someone working in the Natural Health Labelling industry here in Canada "inulin" isn't an acceptable source of fibre by Health Canada and therefore the product could not carry the same health claims (re: fibre) as US.
Also Maltitol (as ANY sugar substitue in my opinion) tastes horrible AND will kill you eventually haha and I can guarantee you a product like this one couldn't be labelled in a "food" category but rather a NHP.
...hahah my nutrition rant LOL
hungrychristel at 11:34AM on 08/28/09
Ugh, I'm so annoyed with this product. Not with this review because I love this feature and really look forward to it! But I just checked out the VitaMuffin website and again I'm irked by hungrygirl and her food mentality. Did you check out the comparison, "VitaMuffin, better than and apple", which boasts that the muffin has less sugar, and more nutrients than an apple. Another attempt to lure people away from real food. I have no problem with anyone eating VitaMuffins, but a real problem with this type of logic, nutritionalism, and marketing.
_greenbean at 12:24PM on 08/28/09
Hmm...my biggest concern was that they didn't include chocolate chips when it was on the recipe. Certainly, I can understand when a mix asks you to mix in some stuff that isn't included...like eggs or water or milk. But chocolate chips.
Anyway, I guess there's some problems with how nutritious they seem to be passing it off as. But that really didn't stick out to me. It looked like it came out pretty decent just as a muffin/cupcake. I wasn't thinking in terms of if it was good as an apple substitute.
wunami at 4:51PM on 08/28/09
i love vita muffins. great breakfast.
spartana07 at 5:50PM on 08/28/09
I can't stand hungrygirl for the same reason. They are always trying to push fake foods instead of real foods.
rockandroller at 9:01AM on 08/31/09