Cookies
Organic Healthy Handfuls Chocolate Chip Chimpies and Lemon Vanilla Koala Krackers
Filled with organic whole-wheat flour, the brand aims to provide tasty, crunchy cookies with a little less guilt. Chocolate Chip Chimples and Lemon Vanilla Koala Krackers, $2 for 1.5-ounce box, Organic Healthy Handfuls.
What the kids said: They were pleased with these thin cookies, but not elated. "It's sweet and good but not delicious," Carla, 10, said of the Koala Krackers. The Chocolate Chip Chimpies also fared well. Catalina, 10, said, "It doesn't taste organic. Like, I wouldn't know it was healthier."
The verdict: Taste, 5 for Koalas, 4 for Chimpies; 5 on excitement level for Koalas; 4 for Chimpies
Snikiddy Snacks Organic Banana Nibbles
With no trans fats, no hydrogenated oils, no preservatives, and no genetically modified organisms, Snikiddy offers natural products, low in sugar and high in taste. Organic Banana Nibbles, $4 for 5, Snikiddy Snacks, Shop Organic.
What the kids said: "I think they're too hard and banana-y. I think it'd be better if they were a bit softer like the soft ones at the store," said Carolina, 11. But Christina, 10, disagreed. "I like it!" she said. "It tastes like a banana!"
The verdict: Tastes, 3; Excitement, 3
New Morning MiniBites Chocolate Graham Snacks
Made with organic grains and no trans fat, these small-portioned packs contain a lot of chocolate flavor. Mini Bites Chocolate Graham Snacks, $5 for 6, New Morning, MaxVite.
What the kids said: Some kids found these chocolate cookies too rich, but others appreciated the intense flavor. "They taste like those chocolate teddy bears—like they are just normal chocolate cookies," said Jennifer, 10. "They taste super chocolatey," added Brian, 10.
The verdict: Tastes, 4; Excitement, 4
Ian's Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons
The wheat- and gluten-free cookies come in an organic and nonorganic variety. Cookie Buttons, $5, Ian's.
What the kids said: While the kids didn't mind the flavor of these crisp mini cookies, some said that they were more along the lines of a cookie cereal than a real cookie. "It's almost crackery," said Catalina, 10. "It has a weird nutty flavor. It tastes like peanuts."
The verdict: Tastes, 3; Excitement, 3
Home Free Mini Chocolate Chocolate Cookies
These barley flour-based cookies have no peanuts, nuts, eggs, dairy, sulfites, casein, wheat, or sesame, but claim to be "delicious" and "irresistible." Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons, $6, Home Free.
What the kids said: They loved the super chocolatey flavor of these mini cookies, although the bite-stealing adults found the texture a bit dry. "It's delicious," said Paul, 10. "Better than regular cookies!"
The verdict: Tastes, 5; Excitement, 5
What the nutritionist said: Schoen preferred the Healthy Handful varieties to the competing cookies. "Both products list whole-wheat flour as a first ingredient, giving them each two grams of fiber, and they're both low in sodium, contain a little iron, and have two grams of protein per serving," she said. The New Morning MiniBites also scored big with their small portion size and clean ingredients. Home Free Mini Cookies and Ian's Cookie Buttons were last with their higher sugar content and larger portion size.
