292059 Fri Feb 28 17:34:27 -0800 2003 7 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1592783 I love Cheetos, the crunchy variety (and not "Flamin' Hot" or Chester-whatever, just the original) but haven't eaten them in years. Don't need the fat and calories, orange fingers, and especially the trans-fat. Well in Whole Foods market I came across a *slightly* more healthful version -- which remarkably has an even better taste than I remember from regular Cheetos. Here's the good news Whole Foods Market 365 Every Day Value Cheese Curls 0 trans-fat made with: corn meal, expeller-pressed high oleic canola oil, cheddar cheese, lactic acid, paprika and oleoresin paprika, citric acid, beta carotene, annatto color, disodium phosphate 130 calories per ounce (Cheetos 160) 6 grams total fat per ounce (Cheetos 10) 1 gram saturated fat (Cheetos 3) 210 mg sodium (290 Cheetos) Significantly less orange powder stuck to my fingers than with Cheetos. To eliminate orange-fingeredness, I've occasionally eaten these Cheese Curls with chopsticks. These 365 curls have a really good, corn and cheese flavor, and very little chemical undertones. I know Melanie has touted the Trader Joe's version -- I'll have to try those out to see how they taste in comparison to these. I swear this is a much better-tasting product than Cheetos. I never would have guessed they had a slightly-reduced fat and sodium level, until I read the blurb on the back of the bag, (as I was tossing it away, empty :) "Most cheese curls are fried and have a lot of residual oil. The Whole Foods 365 Cheese Curl uses a special baking process which helps reduce fat. To keep a rich cheese flavor we used aged cheddar cheese as an ingredient." These are really good -- if you like Cheetos, try these. Fri Feb 28 17:34:27 -0800 2003 0 Mrs. Smith 1 1592796 Thanks, Mrs. Smith. Good chopsticks practice, too, especially toward the bottom of the bag. Fri Feb 28 18:55:21 -0800 2003 1592783 0 squid-kun 2 1592797 are they any more expensive than cheetos? Fri Feb 28 20:26:39 -0800 2003 1592796 0 ironchef1125 3 1593088 I purchased a 7 oz bag yesterday for $1.19. Tried them due to this thread and think they're great! Tue Mar 04 13:10:15 -0800 2003 1592797 0 jen maiser 4 1593115 Wow! Only $1.19, what a deal! Or maybe mine was mispriced or something. I'll buy them at twice the price, though. Glad you enjoyed them too. Tue Mar 04 15:09:48 -0800 2003 1593088 0 Mrs. Smith 1 1592801 I'll have to try those next time I'm there- I'm addicted to the Barbara's Bakery Cheese Puff Bakes, which have a VERY strong cheese presence. Fri Feb 28 21:23:26 -0800 2003 1592783 0 JK Grence (the Cosmic Jester) 2 1592897 "...a strong cheese presence" and some kind of hyperaddictive chemical that makes you crave them fortnightly. I have to drive a half hour to get the Barbara's cheese puff bakes. My close by Wholefoods only has the regular (crunchy? fried?) type, not the bakes, forcing me to drive out of my way. Ben Mon Mar 03 10:31:53 -0800 2003 1592801 0 ben f 1 1592917 Another good bet for cheetos is Snyder of Berlin's Cheese Crunch / Cheese Curls. Also baked for less fat, and the most wonderful things I have ever tasted. I haven't tried the Whole Foods version though, and I may have to, since I can't find Snyder of Berlin products in NYC. Link: http://www.birdseyefoods.com/scripts/products/view.asp?product_id=265 Mon Mar 03 13:07:20 -0800 2003 1592783 0 Shelby Davis