A brown sugar pecan sticky bun from Gagne Foods costs about $5 for a package of four servings -- and you just place a tray in the oven, bake it and then turn it onto a plate. One serving has 340 calories, less than what you'd find in an equivalent product at the mall. You can get these at Whole Foods or online at www.gagnefoods.com .
Caffeine-Free Fruit Tea
The Republic of Tea has a great line of caffeine-free teas for kids in three fruity flavors -- "strawberry vanilla," "tangerine," and "apple cherry." It also has a chocolate-flavored tea for grownups.
Hydrating With Hibiscus
Pomegranate has been a popular flavor in juices, and everyone talks about its anti-oxidant properties. Now, there's hibiscus. A drink called Ooba comes in six flavors: "regular hibiscus," "hibiscus and lime," "blackberry," "pineapple" and so on. It's fizzy and refreshing. It's got antioxidants, a day's supply of vitamin C, and some are saying that hibiscus could help with hypertension and bad cholesterol -- but that's not a certainty. With 180 calories per 16 oz. bottle, the drink retails for $2.49, available at Whole Foods or online at www.oobabeverage.com.
Dressing Misters
Gourme Mist has misters for oil and vinegar. Balsamic is the new flavor. A one-second spray measures out four calories of oil and two of vinegar. If you just pour oil over a salad, you're going to get more than 100 calories. It retails from $7.99 to $8.50 for the organic olive oil. You can find it at supermarkets and health food stores in major cities, at Whole Foods, and online at www.gourmemist.com.