# "Good for you" versions of food that actually taste better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156 "2006-02-19T02:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/21 "2006-02-19T20:42:36Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Do brown rice and whole wheat bread count? They’re not perfect for all purposes, but in general I prefer the rich nutty flavor of the whole grain to the blandness of the stripped grain. > > Daniel Along the same lines, natural peanut butter (Ingredients: Peanuts, salt.) kicks the ass of homogenized, chemically enhanced Jif, Skippy, et. all. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/22 "2006-02-19T21:31:59Z")
Edy’s Slow Churned line of ice creams is lower calories and fat, and just as yummy as can be. It’s whipped with more air, I suppose. I’ve always loved sugar-free Kool-Aid, and still do. Can’t stand the sugar kind. When I was doing low-carb, I discovered that romaine lettuce used as a hummus scoop was even better than pita bread or chips. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/23 "2006-02-19T21:54:42Z")
> [@Podkayne](#): > > Along the same lines, natural peanut butter (Ingredients: Peanuts, salt.) kicks the ass of homogenized, chemically enhanced Jif, Skippy, et. all. Absolutely! Once in awhile there’s nothing that beats a Skippy PB&J on white bread, but for the most part, the real stuff is so much better. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/24 "2006-02-19T23:19:25Z")
I like the reduced fat version of CheeseIts much better than the regular. They’re crispier/crunchier. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/25 "2006-02-19T23:46:11Z")
Wheat germ on top of anything. Mmmmmm! ---
**Author:** ![caveat\_lector](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@caveat\_lector](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveat_lector)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/26 "2006-02-20T00:37:51Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’ve found that Jif Reduced Fat Peanut Butter tastes better than the high-test version. > [@Podkayne](#): > > Along the same lines, natural peanut butter (Ingredients: Peanuts, salt.) kicks the ass of homogenized, chemically enhanced Jif, Skippy, et. all. > [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Once in awhile there’s nothing that beats a Skippy PB&J on white bread, but for the most part, the real stuff is so much better. Mmmmmmmm. Peanut butter. :: Shameless Plug :: > **[Does anyone eat more peanut butter than me?!?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=359413)** > > Mmmmmmm. Peanut butter. I eat a lot – three to four 16oz jars a week. Crunchy. 🙂 I used to eat commercial low-fat extra crunchy. I ate too much. Too many carbs. Now I just do natural. I first used to think mixing the oil into it was a pain;... I agree with reduced fat Jif. After trying it, I could not go back to the original. Of course, that’s before I went to natural peanut butter and stirring the oil. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/27 "2006-02-20T01:12:03Z")
I assume you’re only talking about processed foods. Lots of good substitutions can be made when cooking that are healthier and taste the same or better. I much prefer Diet Pepsi or Coke Zero to sugary colas. St. Urbain whole wheat flax seed flatbread kick the ass of most other breads, at a fraction of the “weight” and calories. I’m not sure if they still make “Mr. Skinny” ramen noodles, but they were as good as the fat laden original I ate as a poor student, with 80% less fat. Paul Newman’s low fat Sesame Thai salad dressing is very tasty, but I don’t know if a fattier version exists. I almost always prefer thin crust pizza to a thicker crust. President’s Choice (in Canada) makes tasty Thai Shrimp and Red Curry Chicken frozen dinners, Chocalate Sherbert and Thin Crust Wood Oven Baked Chicken and Pepper Pizzas which are all excellent. I prefer whole wheat bread and spaghetti to the white versions. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/28 "2006-02-20T01:15:48Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I can’t stand the taste of real sugar sodas, the cloying syrupy sweetness is gag inducing, I much prefer the diet versions. Me too. Regular soda feels like I’m drinking a liquified cake or something. I much prefer diet soda. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/29 "2006-02-20T13:13:00Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Edy’s No Sugar Added fruit sorbets are fat-free on top of everything else, they contain Splenda (sucralose) instead of sugar, and I think sorbet in general tastes better than most ice cream. I love those things. > > . When I was working for US Foodservice the vendor brought over chocolate splenda sweetened Tofutti [ice cream substitute] Low fat, No sugar, moderate calories … That stuff was orgasmic, just the right amount of sweetness, the chocolate level was perfect and the tofu ‘ice cream’ was the perfect mouthfeel. _sob_ It never made it into the market [at least around here] But those sorbets are fantastic=) ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/30 "2006-02-20T13:42:29Z")
I liked Fresca long before I knew it was a diet soda. Then somebody broke the news to me. “You’re drinking Fresca? That’s _diet_ soda!” “Eww”, I said as I held the bottle out at arm’s length and looked at it disapprovingly. Then I thought about it, brought the bottle close and did the sniff test as if I was re-discovering the product for the first time, and went right back to drinking it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/31 "2006-02-20T15:41:54Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Do brown rice and whole wheat bread count? They’re not perfect for all purposes, but in general I prefer the rich nutty flavor of the whole grain to the blandness of the stripped grain. > > Daniel No, this just means you lost your kiddie taste buds and your adult ones came in. Isn’t growing up fun. 😃 I’ll say Hood’s[sup]tm[/sup] fat free, low carb milk is the best milk on the planet. (Then comes skim milk) ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/32 "2006-02-20T17:27:50Z")
Crystal Light lemonade actually tastes better than most of the canned or powdered stuff, especially after it’s been allowed to get cold. If I’m drinking straight water, I don’t drink that much, so I prefer to have a bit of lemonade or somesuch on hand if I’m sick or dehydrated, and that’s about the best I’ve tasted. Then again, I’m a junk food junkie with no palate, so please factor that in. CJ ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/33 "2006-02-20T19:41:48Z")
> [@Siege](#): > > with no palate Well, you _were_ born English… _runs, quickly_ ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/34 "2006-02-20T21:04:28Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Silk soymilk tastes much better than cow milk! This is a joke right? There is nothing fouler than taking a nice big gulp of milk and it turning out to be that chalkly crap they try to pass off as a milk substitute. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/35 "2006-02-20T23:05:05Z")
You haven’t tried Silk, have you? Silk is _goooood_. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/36 "2006-02-21T03:18:59Z")
I second the Silk milk too, especially the chocolate… ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/37 "2006-02-21T04:24:44Z")
Vanilla soymilk beats regular milk hands down if you want to adulture your coffee ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/38 "2006-02-21T07:40:36Z")
There’s no such thing as soy milk. It’s soy juice. Know how come I know there’s no such thing as soy milk? Because there’s no soy titty, is there? CMC (channeling Lewis Black) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/39 "2006-02-21T08:01:59Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > This is a joke right? There is nothing fouler than taking a nice big gulp of milk and it turning out to be that chalkly crap they try to pass off as a milk substitute. To each his own, but I find that there’s nothing more disgusting than taking a big gulp of any liquid secreted from the tits of a beast. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156/40 "2006-02-21T14:50:05Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > To each his own, but I find that there’s nothing more disgusting than taking a big gulp of any liquid secreted from the tits of a beast. On behalf of myself and the other breastfeeding moms out there, may I say: “HEY!” 😃 (Yep, it tastes like melted ice cream. Vanilla.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-for-you-versions-of-food-that-actually-taste-better-than-the-original/345156.md?page=3)