Dark Chocolate Pomegranate VitaTops Review

More pleasure? More nutrition? Fewer calories? This is what the Vitalicious box is telling me! Vitalicious appears to be a jam-packed, nutrient-dense treat. The nutrition content of a vitamin-fortified cereal -- 15 vitamins and minerals -- is fused into what is normally a decadent high-sugar, high-fat indulgence void of nutrients: a muffin! These tops claim to be a good source of fiber and protein, low in sodium and fat, and free of trans fats and cholesterol. Can we have our muffins and eat them, too? Let's see if these are Too Good to Be Food.

What's in Them?
Water, whole-wheat flour, organic sugar, egg whites, chocolate chips [(sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, soy fiber, cocoa (processed with alkali)], erythritol, inulin (chicory fiber), dried honey, wheat gluten, lecithin, Fruitrim, tricalcium phosphate, pomegranate flavor, plant sterols, leavening (potassium bicarbonate, sodium acid pyrophosphate), natural flavor, pomegranate seed flour, sea salt, xanthan gum, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, biotin, zinc.

Water? How often do you see that as the first ingredient? Check!

The second ingredient is whole-wheat flour. When you see "whole" in front of wheat flour, you're eating a whole grain that provides fiber as well as B vitamins and minerals. I love that there's whole-wheat flour here, instead of the less nutritious white flour found in most baked goods.

Organic sugar is next. I would prefer that sugar be lower down on the ingredient list, but overall, this product has 11 grams of sugar -- less than what you normally find in a piece of fruit and less than many otherwise healthy cereals. Side note: It's a bonus that it is organic.

Egg whites come next. Certainly a real food here. Egg whites boost the protein content and provide structure.

The next set of ingredients makes up the chocolate chips: First, there's sugar again. Without it, the chocolate would taste bitter. Chocolate liquor and cocoa butter are the main ingredients in chocolate, giving it its characteristic smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Soy lecithin is a common emulsifier. Soy fiber, as its name implies, boosts the fiber content -- though I do prefer soy from whole sources, such as tofu and edamame. Lastly, there's cocoa (processed with alkali). While I love cocoa for its antioxidant content, cocoa that is processed with alkali loses much of its antioxidants.

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol, which is a naturally derived substitute for sugar that has almost no calories. I am not a fan of sugar alcohols in general, but this one does not have side effects in most people when consumed in small amounts.

The next ingredient is inulin, a type of fiber derived from the chicory plant. It is used as a fat substitute and is a prebiotic, which promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

Dried honey comes next. Honey is dehydrated to make it more shelf stable. Honey has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Wheat gluten is another source of protein. Lecithin is added as an emulsifier to prevent water and fat from separating.

Fruitrim is next. It's a trademarked liquid sweetener and fat substitute made of grape juice and brown rice syrup. It is used to extend the shelf life in products and contributes to a moist, soft texture.

Tricalcium phosphate is added for its anti-caking, firming, raising and stabilizing properties. It also provides calcium, which is important for healthy bones and teeth.

Pomegranate flavor comes next. It's probably extracted from the pomegranate fruit. Do we know how much of the antioxidants are in the extract? No! However, there is nothing negative here -- just don't think you are getting a hefty dose of the fruit and don't forget to eat the real ones, too!

Plant sterols are added for their cholesterol-lowering effects. They are found naturally in a variety of foods, such as nuts, vegetable oils, grains, fruits and vegetables, and help reduce the risk of heart disease. You should be sure to get plant sterols from the real sources like nuts; getting it here is just a bonus -- nothing negative or harmful.

Two leavening ingredients follow: potassium bicarbonate and sodium acid pyrophosphate.
Then, there's natural flavor. Natural flavors are extracted from plant seeds, leaves and stems, and used by food manufacturers to add flavor. The only issue is that we do not know exactly what it is, but I am not concerned.

Pomegranate seed flour is made from pulverizing the dried seeds and adds a tart flavor and some fiber.

Sea salt, from evaporated seawater, enhances flavor and acts as a preservative, similar to table salt.

Xanthan gum comes next. It is derived from plants and is a safe fat replacer, thickener and stabilizer when used in small amounts.

Finally, there are added vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, biotin and zinc. Therefore, the amounts of these vitamins and minerals are increased to 50 percent of the recommended daily values.

Bottom Line:
Normally, a laundry list of ingredients makes me put the product back on the shelf like a hot potato. However, I was pleasantly surprised! Even though I am not a fan of soy flour or sugar alcohols, this nutrient-packed, portion-controlled alternative to the traditional coffee muffin is not Too Good to Be Food. The bonus? It tastes decadent.

My first choice would be a homemade bran berry muffin, but for the busy bees out there, VitaTops is an excellent option for an on-the-go snack or as part of breakfast.

Nutrition Info:
[1 VitaTop]
Calories: 100 cal
Fat: 1.5 g
Sat Fat: 0.5 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 140 mg
Potassium: 160 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 21 g
Fiber: 6 g
Sugar: 11g
Protein: 3 g

Nationally recognized nutrition expert and published author of "The O2 Diet," Keri Glassman is the founder and president of Keri Glassman, Nutritious Life, a nutrition practice based in New York City. For years, Keri has been a leader in advancing a "whole person" approach to health and wellness. She has dedicated her career to creating services and promoting education through her Nutritious Life brand. You can be friends with Keri on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.