Just in time for Thanksgiving, Quorn foods, which creates a line of meatless products, has come out with a new Turk’y Burger that has 50 percent less fat than a traditional turkey burger.

Rather than using soy, wheat gluten or textured vegetable protein like many vegetarian products, Quorn relies on a mycoprotein-based ingredient that contains less fat, fewer calories and more fiber than meat. In addition, it contains nine essential amino acids making it a powerful source of protein for vegetarians or for those who are trying to reduce their intake of meat.

DietsInReview.com was one of the first to try the new Turk’y Burger, thanks to a preview package Quorn sent us last week. Each Turk’y Burger contains 90 calories, four grams of fat, ten grams of protein and two grams of fiber.

As a flexitarian myself, and a big Quorn fan, I thoroughly enjoyed the new Quorn Turk’y Burger. It tasted similar to their Naked Chik’n Cutlet but it had more flavor. Since I haven’t eaten a turkey burger in over ten years, I can’t in good conscience compare Quorn’s Turk’y Burger to its meat-based counterpart, but I can offer these tips: If you bake or grill your Quorn burger, splash it with a bit of olive oil or a few sprays of non-stick cooking spray (on both sides). Its low fat content makes it more prone to drying out. Also, a quick schmear of ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard or any combination of your favorite sandwich condiment goes a long way to enhance the burger experience of this meatless chow.

Look for Quorn’s Turk’y Burger in the freezer case of the natural food selection of grocery stores nationwide.

While Quorn provided Heather Ashare with sample product, this review is her own opinion and was not influenced or sponsored in any way.

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Food Find: Quorn’s New Vegetarian Turk’y Burgers

That’s why I was thrilled to see this cute idea from the California Almond Board for easy portion control and portability.

The California Almond Board handed out these petite tins that hold 23 almonds – exactly a one-ounce serving. Now, don’t go counting out almonds every time before you eat them, but do it once so you can see how it fills your hand. Then think about how mindlessly eating high calorie food can totally sabotage your hard work.

Find a tin you can use (and reuse to be green) and start taking your nuts to-go in the right portion. Pair this high energy snack with an ounce of reduced fat cheese for a snack that is sure to leave you satisfied.

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Food Finds: California Almonds Snack Packs

Watch my video for more tips and recipe ideas with these whole wheat, 100 calorie tortillas.

I love these tortillas because you can keep them in your desk at work and use them for quick meals and snacks. For example, next time you get a salad for lunch, wrap this tortillas around it so you can get some healthy, whole grain carbs. If you need a pre-exercise snack, you can have a tortilla with some peanut butter and jelly.

You could also make:

Healthy Tuna Salad Wraps

Twice Grilled Chicken Fajitas

Biggest Loser Breakfast Burrito

Black Bean Mushroom Quesadillas

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Food Finds: 100 Calorie Tortillas from La Tortilla Factory

A one-ounce serving of 50% reduced fat sharp cheddar has 8 grams of protein and only 2.5 grams of saturated fat. If you don’t know what an ounce of cheese looks like, give me a “thumbs up” and there you have it, it’s about the size of your thumb.

This reduced fat cheese makes a healthy snack between meals. Pair it with a handful of nuts like almonds or pistachios as an afternoon snack instead of hitting up the vending machine. You’ll be sure to be satisfied.

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Food Finds: Cabot Reduced-Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Watch my video review of the small Coke cans and another new product, Sprite Green, sweetened naturally with Truvia, the sweetener made from the Stevia plant. Sprite Green has 70 calories in 12 ounces.

If you are someone who is trying to lose weight and know you are drinking too many liquid calorie beverages, this may be just the solution you need to help cut back. These may also be a good idea for parents who don’t want to give their kids artificial sweeteners or a “big soda.” They will be sold in packs of eight at grocery stores nationwide.

I think this is a step in the right direction. When you are trying to lose weight, you need to nourish yourself, and too many sweetened beverages get in the way of getting healthy foods that fuel your body. Cutting portions and calories are important strategies. So now you have no excuse. If you love your sodas, get the smaller cans, sip, and save calories.

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Food Finds: Sprite Green and Mini Cokes

The “Craz-E Burger,” which was created by Food Network star and Southern cook Paula Deen, is a bacon-cheeseburger sandwiched between a buttered Krispy Kreme donut. Yes folks, two of the most saturated fat-friendly foods the American diet has created have joined together in a ceremonious union of heart attack meets muffin top.

The queen of Southern cooking, known for her very generous use of butter, first pioneered the burger on her food show. The heart-stopping creation was picked up by the restaurants and sandwich dives all over the country; including the Big E agriculture fair this past summer in Massachusetts, where more than 1,000 sold to curious and risk-taking fair-goers.

While the version of the donut burger that is making headlines is made with bacon, beef, cheese and of course donuts, the original gut-busting burger that Ms. Deen whipped up on her show called for the addition of a few fried eggs atop the heap of cardiac-arresting ingredients.

The nutrition facts that follow are only for those who have never eaten the donut burger. And since ignorance is bliss, for those of you who have chowed down on this monstrosity, we ask that you stop reading right now.

Calories: 1,500

Fat grams: 45-70 (will vary depending upon ingredients and inclusion of fried eggs)

Percentage of calories from fat: 50-65 percent

Estimated calories per bite: 100

Here is a clip from Good Morning America as the co-hosts braved a bite of the Donut Burger.

And here’s Paula preparing the concoction herself:

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The 1,500 Calorie Donut Burger

Only 8 has a tart flavor like Pinkberry, thanks to its active yogurt cultures. Its wide selection of flavors like peanut butter, caramel and about 30 others allow ice cream shop owners to keep their customers returning for new tastes.

One half-cup serving supposedly contains 32 calories, zero fat, zero cholesterol and four live active yogurt cultures. The “supposed” remark refers only to calories and serves as a gentle caution that the eight calorie per ounce labeling might be skewed depending upon how much syrup was added to the mix and the actual weight of the serving cup.

To assuage your fears, simply ask your ice cream server to weigh your Only 8 dish so that you can accurately determine whether your six-ounce cup is really six ounces or more like nine. Even though the ice cream is placed in a container that can hold a set amount of weight, most soft-serve and hand-packed ice cream shops are a bit more generous in their servings, and that equates to more calories for you.

And even if you suspect that more syrup has been added to your tasty treat, mentally bump up the calories to ten per ounce rather than the claimed eight, recalculate and dig in.

Only 8 contains water, fructose, kosher whey, whey protein concentrate, maltodextrin, natural flavorings and stabilizers, calcium and four live active yogurt cultures. Just in case your missed it, Only 8 does not contain any artificial sugars which can cause serious tummy distress. In addition, it is safe for most diabetics, for those who are lactose intolerant, and it’s gluten-free.

Check with your local independent ice cream shops to see if they carry Only 8 frozen yogurt. If they don’t, encourage them do so as lines for this low-cal tasty treat have been rumored to extend out the door.

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Food Find: Only 8 Frozen Yogurt

Just this past month, they added three new yummy and healthy snacks: Apple-Cinnamon Nut Clusters, Citrus Burst Nut Clusters and Almond-Cranberry Nut Crisps. TrueNorth provided us with a few samples of their latest natural eats and here’s what we thought:

Apple-Cinnamon Nut Clusters: With roasted almonds and peanuts combined with chunks of chewy dried apple chunks and a sprinkling of earthy cinnamon, these crunchy clusters packed a delish combination of sweet and salty. One, one-ounce serving (about five clusters) has 170 calories, 12 grams of fat, three grams of fiber, five grams of protein and a nice dose of Vitamin E and magnesium.

Citrus Burst Clusters: A more vibrant take on the usual almond nut cluster, these chunks contain a mixture of roasted nuts, dried cranberries and orange peels. The tangy chewiness of the dried fruits compliment the crunchiness of the peanuts and almonds making each square is a fusion of textures. One, one-ounce serving (about five clusters) has 170 calories, 11 grams of fat, three grams of fiber, five grams of protein and a nice dose of Vitamin E and magnesium.

While we LOVED these new nut clusters, we do have one strong comment of caution: You can’t just eat one serving. In fact, we tore threw one entire bag in just a few minutes. Five squares for 170 calories is a pretty decent snack, calorically-speaking, but in terms of quantity, you really need to ration out your serving size and stick to it, or else you’ll be grabbing for nut fragments, some 850 calories later.

The Almond Cranberry Crisps: These crackers on the other hand were yummy: Light, crispy, kind of sweet, kind of chewy and at 130 calories per 15 crisp serving, we felt much less anxious about eating a second serving.

Look for these new TrueNorth products in the snack and nut aisles of your grocery store. Each one costs about $3.29 per bag. And don’t forget to print off a coupon from the company’s website for extra savings.

Happy Snacking!

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Food Find: TrueNorth’s New Nut Clusters and Nut Crisps

Therefore, when on a recent trip to Whole Foods, I discovered Rachel’s Wickedly Delicious single-servings of cottage cheese, I knew I had found a gem of a food find.

That is why, this week, We Love Rachel’s Cottage Cheese.

The dairy lovers at Rachel’s took plain ole cottage cheese and jazzed it up with sun-dried tomatoes, cranberries, dill, cucumbers and all sort of other tantalizing seasonings, including fruits and veggies. So rather than you adding a bit of this and a bit of that to your cottage cheese, Rachel’s does it for you. Trust us food-lovers, here at DietsInReview, this is no ordinary cottage cheese; This is as gourmet as cottage cheese can get.

You can choose among six different scrumptious flavors: Cucumber Dill, Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, Lemon Verbena Berry, Pear Mangosteen, Pomegranate Orange Cranberry and Roasted Red Pepper.

Each flavor contains 110 to 140 calories, 14 grams of protein and 20 percent of your calcium needs.

Great for an on-the-go snack, a flavorful addition to your lunch or a new twist on your breakfast, look for Rachel’s Wickedly Delicious Cottage Cheese containers at Whole Foods and other mass retail grocery stores.

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We Love Rachel’s Cottage Cheese

The popsicles come in a slew of different yummy flavors: Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Peach Iced Tea, Classic Orange, Cherry Pomegranate and more. Each refreshing treat has only 15 calories and no sugar. (Compare that to a 360-calorie ice cream drumstick or a 500-calorie hand-dipped waffle cone.)

Whether you’re poolside, at the beach or just lounging in an air-conditioned room, enjoy one or four of this completely guilt-free cool treat on a hot summer day. And if you’re following Weight Watchers, a diabetic eating plan or any low-carb, low-sugar program, you can’t go wrong with these icy pops.

Definitely make some room in your freezer. We are sure you are going to love Crystal Light’s new Frozen Pops.

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We Love Crystal Light’s Frozen Pops