“These taste healthy”

Snackin’ Mom was on the hunt for snacks we have yet to try when she came across Outstanding Cheese Balls from Outstanding Foods in the chips aisle of our local Shoprite. They are labeled gluten-free and dairy-free, and the bag tauts the protein, vitamins, minerals packed inside them, so Snackin’ Mom knew they weren’t just regular cheese balls. But would they be good?

What Are Outstanding Cheese Balls?

Outstanding Cheese Balls from Outstanding Foods are made with plant-based cheese. Since we’re not really sure if regular cheese balls are made with “real” cheese, the Snackin’ Family was not concerned that this would impact the flavor.

They look just like what you’d expect for cheese balls, except the color is more of a white to light yellow instead of the standard neon-yellow/orange of regular cheese balls. But everything else appears to be pretty much the same.

Of course, the ingredients of Outstanding Cheese Balls are very different than the ingredients of regular cheese balls. In fact, the list of vitamins on the nutritional panel is longer than the list of ingredients (or at least just as long). Plus, Outstanding Cheese Balls are free of dairy, soy, trans fat and artificial ingredients.

What Do Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda Flavor Taste Like?

Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda taste like… barbecue sauce. In fact, Snackin’ Sister said she would like them better if they were labeled barbecue because it would have set her expectations properly. Instead, she was hoping for cheddar and bacon… and got neither. (There is no bacon in the Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda. The “bacon chedda seasoning” is a combination of ingredients including pea protein.)

The barbecue flavor is strong, and it far outweighs the cheese flavor. In fact, you can hardly taste any cheese flavor at all.

Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda Flavor also taste a little bit healthy. To be clear, that isn’t a strike against them. The Snackin’ Kids didn’t ask any questions about the ingredients, but Snackin’ Dad asked if they were “one of those snacks with added protein.”

The texture of Outstanding Cheese Balls is firm. Unlike regular cheese balls that dissolve on your tongue with just the right amount of pressure, Outstanding Cheese Balls need to be chewed. Likewise, the cheese doesn’t come off on your fingers like we’ve come to expect from cheese balls. Whether these factors were good or bad was up debated across the Snackin’ Family, and we didn’t land on an answer.

All in all, the Snackin’ Family didn’t love Outstanding Cheese Balls. In fact, I’m not sure we liked them. But they are strangely addictive. Snackin’ Dad kept coming back for more. And the Snackin’ Kids kept eating them, even as they told Snackin’ Mom not to buy them again.

Also, the Snackin’ Dogs loved them.

In the end, it was very easy for us to finish the 3-ounce bag, but we won’t be buying more Outstanding Cheese Balls any time soon. We may sample another flavor, but it’s not at the top of our list.

Should You Buy Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda Flavor?

Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda flavor are okay. If you’re looking for a snackable alternative to chips or other junky foods, Outstanding Cheese Balls are a good solution. They’re also a perfect option if you’re looking for gluten-free, cheese-free snacks or food with a long list of hidden protein or vegetable sources.

But be careful that you set your expectations properly. Outstanding Cheese Balls are not regular cheese balls, which is both good and bad.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts for Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda Flavor

• Serving Size: 1 ounce
• Calories Per Serving: 130
• Total Fat: 6g / 8% DV
• Saturated Fat: 0.5g / 3% DV
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg / 0% DV
• Sodium: 170mg / 7% DV
• Total Carbohydrate: 15g / 5% DV
• Dietary Fiber: 0g / 0% DV
• Total Sugars: 0g
• Includes 0g (0% DV) Added Sugars 
• Protein: 4g / 5% DV
• Vitamin D:  2mcg / 10% DV
• Calcium: 9mg / 0% DV
• Iron: 2mg / 10% DV
• Potassium: 52mg / 2% DV
• Vitamin A: 97mcg / 10% DV
• Vitamin C: 10mg / 10% DV
• Vitamin E: 4mg / 25% DV
• Vitamin K: 13mcg / 10% DV
• Thiamin: 0.3mg / 25% DV
• Riboflavin: 0.2mg / 15% DV
• Niacin: 2mg / 15% DV
• Vitamin B6: 0.2mg / 10% DV
• Vitamin B12: 0.3mg / 15% DV
• Iodine: 16mcg / 10% DV
• Zinc: 1mg / 10% DV
• Selenium: 6mcg / 10% DV
• Copper: 0.1mg / 10% DV
• Manganese: 0.3mg / 15% DV
• Chromium: 4mcg / 10% DV
• Molybdenum: 5mcg / 10% DV

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is subject to change. Refer to product packaging for current information.

Ingredients for Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda Flavor

Rice, expeller-pressed sunflower oil, bacon chedda seasoning (pea protein, sea salt, cane sugar, tapioca solids, yeast extract, natural flavor*, nutritional yeast, lactic acid*, annatto extract, paprika extract), red lentil, pea protein, brown rice protein, nutrients from a proprietary blend (broccoli, spinach, kale, pumpkin, sweet potato, sunflower seed, cranberry, chlorella, maitake mushroom, shiitake mushroom).

*Derived from vegan sources.

Ingredients are subject to change. Refer to product packaging for current information.

Allergens for Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda Flavor

The Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda flavor bag does not list any allergens

Allergen information is subject to change. Other flavors and products may have different allergens. Refer to the Outstanding Foods website for current information

Additional Ingredient Details for Outstanding Cheese Balls in Bacon Chedda Flavor

Plant-based

Vegan

Dairy-free

Certified gluten free

Soy-free

No trans fat

Does NOT include artificial ingredients

Includes plant-based protein

Includes 20 vitamins and minerals

Good source of iron and vitamins B12, D and C

Includes 4g of protein per serving

Certified kosher

Non-GMO project certified

Additional Details for Outstanding Foods

Outstanding Foods calls themselves “the next generation food company for every generation.” Their mission is to “make it easy for everyone to eat the foods they love with the nutrients they need” so they aim to make their products addictively delicious and highly nutritious.

Charitable Programs for Outstanding Foods

The Outstanding Foods website notes that they are “deeply committed to serving the communities of [their] customers through volunteering and giving back.” They have donated food and/or funds to Snoop Special Stars, Eji, Baby2Baby, Maryland Food Bank and Three Square.

Outstanding Cheese Balls Flavors

Outstanding Cheese Balls come in the following flavors:

• Chedda
• Bacon chedda
• Jalapeno chedda
• Garlic parmesan

Additional Outstanding Products

The Outstanding Foods product line includes:

• Puffs
• Cheese Balls
• Pig Crunchies

Discounts

The Outstanding Foods website is an ecommerce site, and signing up for their email list delivers a 10% discount.

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