Make your muscles pop with Popcorners Protein! (Spotted by Marc G at Giant.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

Still waiting for Java Monster Pumpkin Spice, but I guess a Dubai Chocolate flavor will suffice for now. (Spotted by Sage G at Harris Teeter.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

My curiosity about this 7 Brew Banana Bread Espresso Breve is less about 7 Brew, a company I didn’t know existed until seeing pics of its ready-to-drink beverages, and more about BANANAS! I GO BANANAS FOR BANANAS! I LOVE BANANAS! EVERYTHING BANANA! BANANA THIS! BANANA THAT! GIVE ME A BANANA HAT!

If you read between the caps-locked lines, you’ve probably figured out that I love banana-flavored products. Although I’ve tried many, out of all of them, I can’t recall ever having a banana-flavored coffee drink.

Dunkin’ had a line of banana drinks a few months ago, but snack friend CandyHunting didn’t like it, and I trust her taste buds, so I skipped it. And for some reason, I can’t find ANY of the recent banana-flavored coffee creamers. It’s as if the Banana Gods are punishing me for not eating enough bananas.

But now I can finally say I’ve had a banana-flavored coffee drink, and I very much liked it.

If you’re clueless about 7 Brew, like I was, the Banana Bread Espresso Breve is one of the company’s 7 Originals, combining bananas, hazelnut, mocha, and espresso. This canned version features a combination of bananas with hazelnut and espresso, but no mention of mocha. However, I get a slight mocha vibe from the drink, and it pairs so well with the banana that it’s delightful. But did I mention I love bananas? So my taste buds might be influenced by that.

However, two things have me peeved about this breve. The can doesn’t say how much caffeine it has, which makes me as peeved as you should be for being deceived by me trying to get you to believe that “peeved” and “breve” actually rhymed. But it definitely has caffeine because there’s a warning on the can about it. Also, I think the “Banana Bread” name is stretching it a bit. I don’t imagine banana bread in any way, shape, or form when I consume this.

Since it’s an espresso, I’d guess it might have around 60-70 milligrams of caffeine. Also, I guess “Banana Bread” catches the eye more than just plain “Banana.” So I guess those are just minor complaints that are easily overcome by how much I enjoyed this creamy banana-flavored coffee drink.

I mean, BANANA!-flavored coffee drink.

Purchased Price: $2.98
Size: 11 fl oz can
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 210 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 30 grams of sugar (includes 21 grams of added sugar), and 7 grams of protein.

Patti’s Good Life Bananas Foster Thumbprint Cookies

Favorite Day Bakery Pumpkin Cheesecake & Apple Pie Mini Macarons

Favorite Day Bakery Cookies & Crème Cake Pops

Favorite Day Bakery Batty Bites Chocolate Cake Bites

Favorite Day Bakery Vanilla Eerie Eyes Cake Bites

Bake Shop S’mores Cookies

Member’s Mark Orange Iced, Caramel Custard Crunch, Cinnamon Powdered Sugar, Maple Crunch, and Chocolate Iced Donuts Variety Pack

Whole Foods Market Pumpkin Cream Cheese Danish

Whole Foods Market Almond Amaretti Cookie

Whole Foods Market Mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

Whole Foods Market Mini Birthday Cake Cookie

Whole Foods Market Red Velvet Cake Slice

Kirkland Signature Cherry Berry Sourdough Bread With Pecans

Sprouts Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

Safeway Pumpkin White Chocolate Mega Cookie

Safeway La Rocca Pumpkin Cake Quarter

Andronico’s Pumpkin Bread With Chocolate Chips

Bakery Bling Bling Bites Salted Caramel Iced Sugar Cookies

Bakery Bling Bling Bites Pumpkin Spice Iced Sugar Cookies

Bakery Bling Bling Bites Churro Caramel Iced Sugar Cookies

A Dirty Monster Energy Drink. There’s also a Zero Sugar version. (Spotted by Sage G at Harris Teeter.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

I recently read somewhere that with all the sports going on right now there’s a 100 percent chance a game is happening today. So every day is Gameday. Or Game Day, if you feel like the words should be separated. (Spotted by Robbie at Circle K.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

Creme Peach, Creme Orange, Creme Strawberry, and…Creme Grapefruit? (Spotted by Robert S at Meijer.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich isn’t something I have often, and I’m really not quite sure why. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t feel substantial enough for a meal, but at the same time, it feels a bit too much for a casual snack. But honestly, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a conceptually perfect treat. The sweetness of the jelly (OK, preserves if you’re doing it right) counterbalanced by the saltiness of the peanut butter, all nestled delicately between two soft slices of bread. Honestly, it’s perfect.

So does the new Reese’s Puffs peanut butter and jelly cereal invoke this same beautiful Yin Yang of culinary delight? As much as a cereal can, I suppose.

The peanut butter pieces are your standard Reese’s peanut butter puff cereal pieces. If you’ve had them, you know what to expect— crunchy, salty, slightly sweet. Perfectly peanut butter. The difference, obviously, is the inclusion of the “jelly” pieces. And you know something? They taste like jelly! There’s something beyond the general, cloying sweetness— something fruitier, perhaps. If the box didn’t announce they were strawberry jelly pieces, you’d be hard-pressed to tell if it’s grape or strawberry (or, I don’t know, Lingonberry), but it works, nonetheless. That said, when consumed in concert with the peanut butter pieces, they sort of just end up tasting like Berries from the Cap’n’s cupboard. It’s still a good thing — delightful, even — just a little less impressively complex.

While I’d assuredly buy a box again, I may not be granted the opportunity. The cold cereal industry is fickle, and things come and go rapidly. Well, and the box also says it is a limited “Superfan” edition. So if you’re a connoisseur—either of cereal or PB&Js—you may wanna get it while you can. And if you’re a real superfan, you’ll be extra delighted by the “PB&J Passion” temporary tattoo that is inexplicably included in the box. I didn’t even think cereal box inclusions were still a thing!

Purchased Price: $4.97
Size: 19.7 oz box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz/39 grams – no milk) 160 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

Pilgrim’s Flamin’ Hot Boneless Chicken Bites

Noon Honey Banana Liquid Breakfast

Noon Milk Chocolate Liquid Breakfast

Noon Creamy Vanilla Liquid Breakfast

New York Bakery Italian Herb Cheesy Focaccia

New York Bakery Pesto & Garlic Cheesy Focaccia

King’s Hawaiian Cinnamon Soft Swirl Bites

Aldi Salmon Sushi Bake

Aldi Shrimp Sushi Bake

Deutsche Kuche Blackberry Frangipane Tart

Coast To Coast Kitchen Crab Rangoon Appetizers

Coast To Coast Kitchen Sweet Chili Shrimp Empanadas

Coast To Coast Kitchen Lobster Empanadas

San Miquel Mexican Street Corn Rice

San Miguel Mexican Pollo Asado Rice

San Miguel Mexican Black Beans

San Miguel Charro Beans

Cheez-It EA Sports College Football 27 Extra Toasty Crackers

Besides being hot garlic chicken flavored, when hot water is added, the broth turns blood red. Now how about Peeps Noodles that come in a bright yellow, chicken-flavored broth. You thought I was going to type “marshmallow-flavored”? (Spotted by Tommy at Walmart.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

Coca-Cola is coming for you Olipop, Poppi, Pepsi, Cove, Wildwonder, Slice, and Bloom. Oh wait. Coca-Cola already came for y’all with Simply Pop. Okay. Coca-Cola is coming for you again Olipop, Poppi, Pepsi, Cove, Wildwonder, Slice, and Bloom. (Spotted by Marc G at Giant.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

It’s Game Day!

What? It’s not, you say?

I’m telling you that there’s a 100 percent chance a game is happening today, so any day is the right day to munch on Burger King’s new Game Day Pretzel Burger. Right now, as I’m typing this, there are the MLB Playoffs, WNBA Playoffs, NFL Regular Season, NHL Regular Season, NBA Preseason, MLS Regular Season, college football, NCAA Women’s Volleyball, NCAA Soccer, NCAA Water Polo, Jeopardy!, and Wheel of Fortune.

The burger’s highlight is a warm SuperPretzel Soft Pretzel Bun. Yup. No Auntie Anne’s or Pretzelmaker collaboration here. BK is chillin’ with the freezer aisle brand. The other ingredients include a flame-grilled quarter-pound beef patty, pickles, American cheese, bacon, crispy fried onions, and nacho cheese sauce. With that quarter-pound patty, I’m not sure why this isn’t a Whopper. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t have the sesame seed bun? That would be a weird whopper of a reason.

While it doesn’t have Whopper in its name, it’s still a whopper of a burger with a whopper of a price.

Let’s start with that SuperPretzel Soft Pretzel Bun. Look at how it glistens! I do wish the bun’s flavor shined as well, because it’s not noticeable behind all the meats and cheeses. It’s quite sturdy, though. It didn’t fall apart in my burger grip, unlike the standard Whopper sesame seed bun. The bun definitely has a nice chew like a soft pretzel. However, a pretzel bun doesn’t come to mind when I look at it. Maybe if some salt crystals were added to the top, it would look the part.

Then again, those crystals would’ve made this even saltier. The beef patty and bacon already give the burger a strong, meaty, savory flavor. The addition of the American cheese, nacho cheese sauce, and pickles, turns the burger into a salt bomb. Though being a bomb would be appropriate for games that involve hitting bombs, throwing bombs, or bombshell Final Jeopardy wagers.

Another ingredient I really wanted to taste was the nacho cheese sauce, but its cheesiness was almost completely negated by the American slice. Most of the time, I noticed the sauce not by its flavor, but by its slight spiciness. A double dose of it would’ve helped.

An ingredient that made its presence known more than the pretzel bun and nacho cheese sauce was the pickles. The four slices added some crunch, but I wish they weren’t included. Every bite had a tangy twist that distracted my taste buds from the bun and the sauce. As for the crispy onions, they were crispy, but they didn’t add any flavor.

While Burger King’s Game Day Pretzel Burger tastes fine and filled me up, I would’ve liked it more if the nacho cheese sauce and pretzel bun stood out. It’s not a burger that’s so good that it’ll distract you from the Big Game or Final Jeopardy.

Purchased Price: $10.19*Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 920 calories, 51 grams of fat, 22 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 135 milligrams of cholesterol, 1920 milligrams of sodium, 68 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 46 grams of protein.

*Because I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

Bettergoods Sweet Potato Casserole Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Bettergoods Chicken Au Jus Style Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Bettergoods Smokehouse Cheddar Loaded Mashed Potatoes

Bettergoods Korean Style BBQ Sauce

Bettergoods Gochujang Sauce

Bettergoods Orange Szechuan Style Sauce

Trader Joe’s Harvest Kale Caesar Salad

Trader Joe’s Mandarin Crunch Pasta Salad

Whole Foods Market Tomato Basil Premium Pasta Sauce

Whole Foods Market Calabrian Chile Arrabbiata Premium Pasta Sauce

Whole Foods Market Caramelized Onion & Garlic Premium Pasta Sauce

Whole Foods Market Champignon & Porcini Mushroom Premium Pasta Sauce

Giant Cream Cheese Spread with Honey and Pecans

H-E-B Jalapeno Beef Sticks

H-E-B Original Chicken Sticks

H-E-B Fajita Style Beef Sticks

H-E-B Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips Made with Avocado Oil

H-E-B White Corn Tortilla Chips Made with Avocado Oil

H-E-B Ancient Grain Tortilla Chips Made with Avocado Oil

Kool-Aid USB Wall Charger

ICEE USB Wall Charger

Mountain Dew Baja Blast USB Wall Charger

Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream USB Wall Charger

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Doritos Nacho Cheese Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Sour Patch Kids Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Where’s the Cinnamon Toast Crunch USB Charger so I can use the Cinnamon Toast Crunch USB Cable to charge a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Bluetooth Wireless Speaker? (Spotted by Robbie at Dollar Tree.)

Spotted something new? Send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

I read an interview with Costco’s CEO where he said that if he ever raised the price of the $1.50 hot dog and drink combo, the previous CEO would kill him. While I wouldn’t harm a living being — except cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes, some spiders, and all plants because I have a black thumb — if the company raised the price of its Kirkland Signature Sparkling Energy Drinks, I’d be irate and send a sternly worded letter to Costco HQ.

How cheap are these energy drinks? A 24-pack is $19.99. THAT’S 83 CENTS PER CAN! That seriously undercuts the competition in Costco’s energy drink section. Alani Nu and Celsius 18-packs at my warehouse are $26.99 and $27.99, respectively. But in other regions, a box of Kirkland Signature Sparkling Energy Drinks is $16.99. THAT’S 70 CENTS PER CAN! Whether 83 or 70 cents, dare I say that’s Costco hot dog-cheap.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s cheap, you made your point. But are they any good?”

They are good…enough.

Each box comes with three flavors — Orange, Peach, and Tropical. The first two taste exactly how you’d expect sugar-free orange and peach energy drinks sweetened with sucralose to taste. No surprises or twists here. It’s straight-up orange and straight-up peach. If you’ve had other sugar-free orange and peach energy drinks, your taste buds will be familiar with the flavors. Although, the peach one might be too artificial tasting for some. But for me, both taste equally great, but Costco isn’t revolutionizing the flavor here — just the price.

I do have an issue with the Tropical flavor. It’s not bad, but it’s not as good as the others. The can’s graphics show a pineapple, a mango, and a starfruit, which isn’t exactly a typical tropical flavor combo. Yes, starfruit is a tropical fruit, but pineapple and mango are a tried-and-true tropical flavor duo, and I feel like the starfruit addition messes with the drink, especially the pineapple, making it taste a little odd and more sour than I’d like.

Kirkland Signature Sparkling Energy Drinks have been around for several months now, but I’ve only seen them available once in the warehouse I shop at, and I took advantage of that one time. That’s why I’m only getting around to writing about them now.

Every flavor has zero sugar, seven essential vitamins, 250% of your daily value of Vitamin B12, and 200 milligrams of caffeine. But, of course, none of those numbers come close to the most impressive number here: the price. Even if it jumped to a dollar per can, I’d still buy it. But as promised, I would write that sternly worded letter to Costco HQ, and it would be written in blood.

“I think I’m done with Unwell Energy Drinks. Forever, forever ever.”

I wrote that earlier this year, and I completely forgot I did. But as you can see, I’m not done with Unwell Energy Drinks. Forever, forever ever. Forgetting about my declaration several months ago, I unknowingly picked up Unwell’s Spooky Season Sparkling Energy Drink because I was intrigued by its strawberry flavor and glow-in-the-dark can. Well, my words came rushing back in my head after a couple of sips.

Ugh. That’s right. “Forever, forever ever.”

Since I bought it, I might as well review it. And I’m glad I did.

Now at this point, you might be thinking to yourself, “I’m glad I did” most definitely means this flavor ended up being much better tasting than the previous flavors. And you’d be wrong. I’m glad I tried it because once in a while my tongue needs to experience something that my taste buds really don’t agree with so it can better appreciate the foods that do taste good.

There’s strawberry, but there’s a bit more to it because while I do notice the fruit, it’s a bit different than other strawberry-flavored drinks I’ve had. And that difference seems to be a bit of orange, which comes to mind because of a hint of citrus with a bitterness at the end that reminds me of chewable orange vitamin tablets. Maybe this should’ve been a mystery flavor because I’m not sure anyone would’ve guessed strawberry with orange vitamin bitterness. Even though I drank it all because I’m not willing to waste one iota of caffeine, I’m totally not into this flavor. It’s not awful, it’s just off.

Also an issue is the can’s claim that it glows in the dark, but like the drink itself, it’s extremely underwhelming. The only thing that glows is the big Unwell logo, and, even after charging the can in the afternoon sun, its glow was extremely low, and I needed to be in a pitch-black closet to notice it.

This Unwell Spooky Season Sparkling Energy Drink’s flavor and glow are disappointing. I certainly won’t be buying it again this spooky season or any future one. So if you’ll excuse me, I need to put up a prominent reminder to stop buying Unwell Energy Drinks. Forever, forever ever.

Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 12 fl oz can
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 3 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 20 calories, 0 grams of fat, 470 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of sugar (includes 2 grams of added sugar), 0 grams of protein, and 150 milligrams of caffeine.

Nutpods Simply Banana Bread Latte Coffee Creamer

Post Honey Bunches of Oats Protein Honey Roasted Cereal

Malk Whole Malk

Cafe Bustelo Tres Leches Ground Coffee

Scoops Original Peanut Peanut Protein Powder

Scoops Chocolate Peanut Protein Powder

Sprouts Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Made with Avocado Oil

Sprouts Lemony Tahini Za’atar Dressing Made with Avocado Oil

Sprouts Greek Vinaigrette Dressing Made with Avocado Oil

Sprouts Lemon Poppy Seed With Chia Dressing Made with Avocado Oil

Sprouts Sesame Miso Vinaigrette Dressing Made with Avocado Oil

Sprouts Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing Made with Avocado Oil

Sprouts Creamy Green Goddess Dressing Made with Avocado Oil

Sprouts Creamy Caesar Dressing Made with Avocado Oil

Last year, RYSE debuted its Little Debbie Pumpkin Spice Rolls Protein Powder. I guess it sold well enough to encourage RYSE to make ready-to-drink protein shake version. (Spotted by Amanda Y at Target.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

Warning: If you open a bag of this near me, expect all the rye chips to disappear from it. (Spotted by Van at Sam’s Club.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

MacAnnieroni & Grilled Cheese? (Spotted by Robbie at Target.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

Popeyes is one of those places I don’t go to all that often, yet whenever I’m there, I love it. That’s why I was thrilled that its new limited-edition Honey Chicken Biscuit gave me a reason to visit!

My hopes were high as I unpacked my sandwich from its cute little baggie and wrapping, though once it was in front of me, I’ll admit to a bit of a brain fart—I stared at it blankly for several minutes trying to figure out where the honey was. That’s because my sandwich looked as dry as a regular chicken biscuit… which, in fact, it was, since the honey doesn’t come already on the sandwich, but rather in two little packets that you apply yourself.

Now, I’m no diva, but I was disappointed by that spot of minor manual labor. When I order food, I generally expect that it will come with all key ingredients already assembled. Anything not already on the item strikes me as optional, so it was a little jarring for my Honey Chicken Biscuit to actually be… Chicken Biscuit Plus A Side Of Honey.

Semantics aside, after I opened the honey packets (which was surprisingly difficult) and drizzled them over my sandwich (which was unsurprisingly messy), the result was pretty tasty. The star of the show was what Popeyes does best: its juicy, zesty, crispy chicken. The chicken breast fillet was absolutely gargantuan, but thankfully the biscuit was up to the challenge of supporting it, firm enough to hold things together admirably (it did start to crack and crumble in my last bites, but before that it was a perfectly effective vessel for transporting such a heaping hunk of meat). To maintain that firmness, however, the biscuit had to be quite dry, so the honey was a nice way to offset that issue. The honey’s sweetness also provided a pleasant, novel contrast to Popeyes’ iconic seasoning.

I enjoyed my Honey Chicken Biscuit and was especially pleased that I was able to order it for dinner, since most fast-food franchises seem to relegate biscuits to the breakfast realm. Ultimately, though, I can’t get over the annoyance of having to DIY one of the three titular components. The stickiness from handling the honey packets was irritating enough sitting inside the restaurant; I shudder to think how the many customers naively opting for a quick bite on the go would fare (I don’t even want to think about honey-covered fingers scrabbling to grip a car steering wheel). While the honey was a nice addition, it felt like just that, an addition. I wanted it to be the star of the show, but it came off more like a cameo. (After all, the jingle isn’t “Love that honey from Popeyes”.) The thing that really captured my attention and my appetite was that magical chicken, and there are many other menu items that simply offer a more convenient, and therefore more desirable, way to experience it.

Purchased Price: $5.00
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 730 calories, 41 grams of fat, 18 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 65 milligrams of cholesterol, 1750 milligrams of sodium, 67 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 23 grams of protein.

Private Selection Pumpkin Harvest Sandwich Creme Cookies

Private Selection Pumpkin Harvest Pumpkin Spice Shortbread Cookies

Private Selection Pumpkin Harvest Pumpkin Pie Caramels

Private Selection Pumpkin Harvest Pumpkin Popcorn

Private Selection Pumpkin Harvest Pumpkin Spice Kettle Cooked Cashews

Favorite Day White Fudge Dipped Maple Mini Sandwich Cookies

Favorite Day Bakery Maple & Pistachio Mini Macarons

Favorite Day Bakery Pumpkin Mini Sheet Cake

Favorite Day Bakery Gluten Free Maple & Pecan Cookies

Favorite Day Bakery Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake

Favorite Day Gourmet Filled Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

H-E-B Bakery Aphrodite Pumpkin Scookie

H-E-B Twist Cranberry Orange Soda

H-E-B Spiced Orange Flavored Apple Cider

H-E-B Cinnamon Apple Herbal Tea

The Fresh Market Salted Maple Cookies

The Fresh Market Apple Cookies

These are the same price as a pouch of regular Cookie Dough Bites. So no Dubai-style chocolate tax here. (Spotted by Robbie at Target.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

Golden Oreo cookies, cake batter flavoring and rainbow sprinkles. Happy 23rd Birthday, f’real! (Spotted by Robbie at Fishers.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.

Cheesecakes small enough to eat with my hands. (Spotted by Jarred at Publix.)

If you spotted something new, send your photos to theimpulsivebuy@gmail.com.