Multi-grains; multi-disappointments. .. (Hula Hoops)

Member Name: TheViolinist

Product:	Hula Hoops
Date:	18/01/08 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Healthier for you than the traditional range.

Disadvantages: Very little flavour, packaging is visually unappealing.

The Hoops:

For those of you unfamiliar with Hula Hoops, they are little crispy potato rings. I remember when I was younger I used to put the rings on my fingers then bite them off (the rings, not my fingers) great fun, and great for making a mess with too. Sadly, I've since outgrown such appeal (while in public anyway).


Taste:

Another common problem I find with many 'healthier' product choices is a lack of taste. Hula Hoops Multigrain are no exception to this rule. The variety I tried was 'Cheese and Onion', but the intended flavour was very weak and instead was overpowered by the wholegrain taste; as a result, it was more like eating burnt pieces of wholegrain bread rather than the tongue-tantalizing flavors that I had previously come to expect from Hula Hoops. While I did find them to be reasonably edible, they are an acquired taste; however, I will never know how they got away with to calling them 'cheese and onion' flavour, I've eaten pieces of cardboard with more flavour (much cheaper too).


The Claims:

Multigrain Hula Hoops are presented as the brand new 'healthier option' to a very popular and long-lived snack. They claim to be better for you than the regular variety in that they are made with 46% cereals, contain no artificial colours or flavours, contain 55% less saturated fat than the traditional range, are cooked in 100% sunflower oil, and are a source of fibre. However, I'm not convinced that such a massive drop in flavor could be worth such minimal benefits.


Packaging:

I have always wondered why companies seem to make packaging for the healthier ranges look as boring and as unattractive as possible; again, Hula Hoops Multigrain are no exception to this.
I can't really say that the packaging is very appealing, it is mainly dominated by a sickly brown color with the traditional logo in the center, then underneath is a colored bar telling you what flavor they are, and underneath that is a gaudy bright yellow bar with a list of product's claims such as 'source of fibre' and 'no artificial colours of flavours'.
The bags themselves are quite small and light (23g), so they're well suited for carrying around with you, but don't expect them to fill you up.


Price:

Due to their reasoned lack of popularity, a lot of supermarkets are selling them off quite cheaply. I was able to grab a six-pack bag from Morrisons for 52p (although even at this price I feel somewhat ripped off).


Conclusion:

It's a sad day for humanity when a bag of crisps seems more like a chore than a treat. As more and more people become health-conscious, every business wants to jump onto the healthy express, and many in my experience have failed miserably. The packaging is visually unappealing, and the product itself is no better. The purported health benefits are, in my opinion, not worth the significant reduction in quality and taste in comparison to the regular brand of Hula Hoops.

Summary: They might be better for you, but is that worth such a sacrifice?