Can you spot the difference in the picture above?
MARTIN’S bets you won’t be able to taste the difference either.
MARTIN’S is Challenging you once again with the MARTIN’S Challenge and Giveaway.
What we tested:
Item 1: Crackers
Did you guess right?
MARTIN’S Own crackers were almost identical in pretty much every way. We couldn’t taste or see a difference. This is definitely a great choice to pair with chicken or tuna salad, along with your favorite soup, cheese or peanut butter. You’ll never notice the difference.
Item 2: TP
We’ve done this one before (see the full review here) but this one is a definitive win for MARTIN’S. Snobby bottoms, noses, and whatever else you might use toilet paper for prefer MARTIN’S.
Item 3. Cookies
Yes, my job is tough… if I had a personal trainer I’d tell her I ate 6 cookies for a good cause. Really, you can’t do a proper review without tasting 3 of each brand of cookie, right?
MARTIN’S won again! I like my cookies crisp, but even the soft and melty cookie lovers agreed they couldn’t find a difference between the freshly baked Pillsbury brand and MARTIN’S Own. These chocolate chip cookies make a perfect dessert or after-school-homework-sweetening snack. Save some green and go for the MARTIN’S Own Brand.
Item 4: Pizza
(Not pictured)
DiGiorno had more of a rising crust, but also had little teeeny tiny green seasoning all over it which caused one of my frozen pizza taste testers to reject his slice outright. But the taste of the DiGiorno was quite yummy, and a bit garlicy. MARTIN’S was a bit more bland which happened to be just to my kids liking. If you’re leaving a pizza for the sitter, grab the MARTIN’S Brand and the kids will be thrilled.
MARTIN’S Pizza is lower in calories than DiGiorno, at 300 calories for 1/4 of the pizza where DiGiorno has 320 Calories for 1/6 of the pizza. If you’re watching your calories on pizza movie night (or planning to have 6 cookies for dessert) go for the MARTIN’S Brand.
And there you have it!!
But, don’t take my word for it, you can pick up DiGorno, Pillsbury, Ritz and Charmin and get MARTIN’S Own Brand ABSOLUTELY FREE From October 5 – 11, 2014.
Aaaand enter to shop your favorite MARTIN’S brand foods with this $25 Gift Card.
We’ve tested MARTIN’S against the national brands over and over again on products like barbecue sauce, granola bars to toilet paper and paper towels and the results have been pretty impressive.
MARTIN’S is a sponsor of Richmondmom.com
]]>Sticking with MARTIN’S Own Brands can save you 10% – 35% on your trips to the grocery store.
Earlier this month we tried tide, pretzels, peanuts, barbecue sauce, and suntan lotion find out what we thought here.
Week 1: July 27 – August 3
Velveeta Shells & Cheese
Juicy Juice
Gold Fish Crackers
Kleenex
Here’s what we tried:
Kleenex
Side by side
They look pretty similar side by side. MARTIN’S Own Brand is slightly larger and just a little bit thinner but both are soft and strong.
Performance
We happened to get hit with a summer cold so it was a perfect time to test out our tissues. I set them both out and at the end of the week the MARTIN’S brand was actually used more than the Kleenex brand.
Verdict
It’s a win for MARTIN’S.
(Don’t forget, you’ll probably need a few boxes to send to school – Teachers are always in need of tissues)
Goldfish crackers
Side by side
Well this one was pretty obvious when it came to shape, certainly couldn’t pull the wool over anyones eyes here.
Taste Test
I suppose I should share the disclaimer that my family is staunchly loyal to Goldfish crackers — as you can tell by my 6 year old son’s hand trying to sneak the Goldfish right out of the picture. We all agreed that Goldfish had a lighter, fluffier taste than the penguins.
Verdict
A definitive win for Goldfish.
Velveeta Mac & Cheese
(aka my guilty pleasure)
Side by Side
MARTIN’S shells are slightly bigger and the cheese sauce is a little less glow-in-the-dark which I appreciated.
Taste test
MARTIN’S was slightly sweeter than its Velveeta counterpart but when I gave it to my 8 year old he really found little difference -he ate both and asked for more of “whichever”.
Verdict
A tie is always a win for MARTIN’S for the simple price factor. If you love Velveeta like I love Goldfish you’ll notice a difference but chances are, the kids will eat them both.
Week 2: August 3 – 9
Perdue Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets
Cheez-its
Kelloggs Corn Flakes
Listerine Mouthwash
Here is what we tested:
Cheeze-itz
Side by side
Not much difference here. Both are slightly toasty and crisp with Cheez-its having more visible salt.
Taste test
Side by side you might notice a slight difference but on their own you wont notice much.
Verdict
Another win for MARTIN’S. Pop these in your kids lunch or for an after school snack and they’ll never know the difference.
Corn Flakes
Side by side
No difference.
Taste test
No difference yet again.
Verdict
MARTIN’S for the win!
Don’t think you’ll be able to make it through all your challenge items? Boring corn flakes got you down? Want to try something new? Get a little pinspiration from our MARTIN’S Challenge Recipe board. We’ve pinned great recipes with MARTIN’S Challenge ingredients right here.
Click here to enter to win $25 to MARTIN’S
and take the challenge for yourself!
Check your weekly ad for more great savings from MARTIN’S
All food and gift cards provided by MARTIN’S.
All opinions are my own.
We got a whole new bunch of goodies to put to the test! We’ll tell you what we think about the National vs. MARTIN’S Own Brand and then during the weeks of June 29th and July 6th MARTIN’S will be running the promotion so you can try it out for yourself.
Laundry Detergent:
Side by Side:
Tide is primarily a white with a colored stain remover and brightener. The MARTIN’S Own brand is all blue.
Tide “Spring Meadow” had a lilac like sent where the MARTIN’S Own brand in Fresh Scent had a slightly perfume-y fresh and soapy scent.
Performance:
I normally avoid buying colored laundry detergent because it can stain clothing, but I was pleased to find that wasn’t the case. The clothing all came out clean and the fresh scent filled the laundry room.
Verdict:
I’ll still probably pick a scent free, clear colored choice, because I’m a boring girl at heart, but the MARTIN’S Own Brand did perform well. If I were a scented detergent girl I’d certainly consider saving a few bucks and keep buying it.
Pretzels:
Side by Side:
I’m not picky about how my snack food looks but Snyder’s do have a darker color and rounder shape… probably better if you were doing chocolate covered pretzels or something presentational.
Serving size is about the same, Snyder’s has 200mg less sodium than MARTIN’S so if you are carefully watching your sodium intake you may want to take note.
Taste test:
Not too much difference.
Verdict:
I’d grab the MARTIN’S brand for a party snack, and certainly for a recipe like the Old Bay Seasoned Pretzels listed here.
Peanuts:
Side by Side:
Not much difference here nutritionally or visually.
Taste:
Not much difference here either.
Verdict:
No brainer, go MARTIN’S Brand.
Barbecue Sauce:
Side by Side:
Both have a nice deep color.
Both start with high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient (eek) MARTIN’S somehow ends up with 1 less gram of sugar. All of the ingredients are the same… Sweet Baby Ray’s has a “modified “smoke flavor where as MARTIN’S has “natural” smoke flavor. I have no idea what that means.
Taste:
Sweet Baby Ray’s gives a little bit more heat, which can either be a good or a bad thing depending on your taste.
Verdict:
Like more heat? Go with Sweet Baby Ray’s, if sweet and tangy is what you’re after, you’ll be happy with MARTIN’S Own.
Sunscreen:
Side by Side:
Well, you know, they are bottles of suntan lotion. Not too much too report. Both bottles have a lock so they aren’t spraying all over the inside of your pool/beach bag. Both are broad spectrum SPF 30.
Performance:
I sprayed half my body with one Coppertone and half with the MARTIN’S brand and I couldn’t tell the difference with how they went on. Coppertone keeps its classic scent which is a little better than the MARTIN’S scent, although it was not offensive. Both dried quickly and sat on top of the skin rather than soaking in.
Verdict:
I didn’t have a favorite.
We’ll probably use these cans up and then go back to our usual lotion, although I’d certainly consider the MARTIN’S brand in a lotion. (Remember to spray on your hand before applying spray sunscreens to kids as they can inhale the sunscreen causing lung irritation.)
So there you have it! Once again MARTIN’S Stood up really well!
What are you going to do though with double the bags of pretzels, Peanuts and BBQ Sauce?
We’ve compiled a Pinterest board dedicated to putting your MARTIN’S Challenge Foods to the test!
Peruse our collection of recipes like Peanut Butter Caramel Pretzel Cookie Cups, Pretzel Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken and BBQ Strombolis for a little MARTIN’S Challenge inspiration.
$25 gift card giveaway has ended… but there might be another one coming…. Stay tuned to Richmondmom.com!
All food and gift cards provided by MARTIN’S.
All opinions are my own.
MARTIN’S Buy Ours Get Theirs Free Challenge runs two consecutive weeks (June 29 – July 5, and July 6- 12, 2014) with 4 different products to test each week.
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Ahh… the aroma of the backyard barbeque, it is the signature smell of summer and one that is certain to make your mouth water. Grilling is one of the healthiest cooking methods and often requires limited effort put into preparation, cooking and clean up, saving valuable time on a busy night! The fresh meat, seafood and produce departments are full of healthy choices perfect for any grilling occasion.
Cuts of meat that have less fat marbling, such as a sirloin or tenderloin, and chicken or turkey breasts, all win in taste and health! Marinating meat helps add flavor and moisture to lower fat cuts of meat. Read on for marinating tips.- For a “better” burger, try ground turkey or vegetable burgers as an alternative to ground meat. A 99% fat free ground turkey breast mixed with vegetables, such as green peppers, red onion and mushrooms, helps keep the burger moist plus adds more volume to make a pound of meat go further.
- Seafood and summer go hand and hand! Aim to get in salmon fillets or tuna steaks at least once a week to boost your intake of heart healthy Omega 3 fatty acids. Lean white fish like flounder, mahi mahi and tilapia are versatile and often a crowd pleaser! Add a fruit salsa for a sweet twist or brush with olive oil, top with a few shakes of your favorite seasoning, grill and then add a twist of lemon juice.
- Save room on the grill for veggies! Grill a rainbow of veggies, such as bell peppers, red onion, asparagus, squash and eggplant. Plan to have leftovers to add to wraps or salads for lunch, or an omelet the next morning.
- Going leaner doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste! Whether seasoning meat, fish or vegetables, keep it low in sodium by using fresh or dry herbs, spices, powders, or pre-made salt free seasoning blends. Make a marinade with any of these seasoning combinations and add vinegar or lemon juice, olive oil and simply whisk and toss! Depending on what you are marinating will determine how long to marinade. Meat generally needs to sit for at least an hour where fish and veggies may only need 15 to 30 minutes.
Enjoy the bounty of fresh, local produce and the delicious taste of low fat protein varieties grilled to perfection this summer!
Valerie Waters, RDN is MARTIN’S In- Store Nutritionist. Valerie is located in 3 Richmond area MARTIN’S stores and available to assist customers in their quest for healthy food choices! She has 13 years of experience as a registered dietitian nutritionist and has worked in the grocery setting for 7 years. As a working mom of two daughters, Valerie relates well to the challenges today’s moms face trying to establish and maintain healthy habits for a busy lifestyle. She is committed to offering practical advice based on up-to-date medical information to help families make sustainable healthy changes to their lifestyle. To get a plan tailored to you, call Valerie at 804-364-3644 to set up a one-on-one consultation.
This article is sponsored by Martin’s Food Markets
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But too many experiences with cardboard crackers and bad generic brands has me shy away from store brands and going for the old faithful national brands most of the time.
I love the idea of the MARTIN’S Buy Theirs, Get Ours Free Challenge.
This week you can buy your favorite brand and get the MARTIN’S brand free (that’s double the groceries!).
I ran a little test in my own house with MARTIN’S products vs. the national brand:
Item 1: 8 pack of Quaker Chewy Bars vs. 10 pack MARTIN’s Own Brands Chewy Bars:
Look: The MARTIN’S brand is slightly bigger than it’s Quaker counter part but they are mostly identical. You do get 2 more in the package so boom, you saved money right there.
Taste test: In a regular taste test my 7 year old preferred the Quaker version to the MARTIN’S brand. But then when I started replacing the Quaker with the MARTIN’S there were no complaints. The MARTIN’S bars just a little bit chewier than the Quaker.
Verdict: Close enough. If you start replacing the Quaker with MARTIN’S there won’t be any complaints. Side by side Quaker has the edge.
Item 2: Campbell’s Chunky Soup vs. MARTIN’S Own Brand Chunky Soup
Chicken Corn Chowder
Look: MARTIN’S is slightly yellower but they are pretty similar in look
Taste test: While pretty similar, MARTIN’S has more corn in the soup and slightly less other stuff. What it lacks in chunks it makes up for in bacon-y flavor. Campbells lists bacon as an ingredient but the flavor isn’t prominent and has larger chunks of carrots and celery in the soup. In my small sample bowl I had 2 pieces of chicken in the Campbells bowl vs. 1 in the MARTIN’S bowl.
Nutritional Value: MARTIN’S brand has 10 more calories per serving than it’s national counter part, but 1 less gram of saturated fat, 2 more grams of protein and 100mg less sodium. Nutritionally, MARTIN’S wins out.
Verdict: MARTIN’S Chunky Soup is a definite winner when it comes to a bacon flavor and Campbells when it comes to veggies.
Item 3 : Charmin Bath Tissue Vs. MARTIN’S Own Brand Bath Tissue
This is, ahem, a sensitive subject. There were a few people in house that said “no way no how” to testing a store brand of TP.
Look: MARTIN’S once again is slightly larger than the national brand. Not enough in this case to make a difference.
Softness: In a blind test my snobbiest family member actually chose the MARTIN’S brand. After leaving both rolls in the bathroom for a week, the MARTIN’S roll was used more often than the national counterpart.
Verdict: If you normally purchase Charmin, make the switch. MARTIN’S wins this round.
Item 4: Bounty Paper Towels vs MARTIN’S Own Brand Paper towels.
Look: Not much difference in either roll. The Bounty roll was a little bit messier where the MARTIN’s brand was more tightly rolled.
Performance: Identical.
Verdict: Make the switch. The fact that these are identical is a clear winner for MARTIN’S. This is an easy way to save a little money without making any notable changes.
Item 5: Ball Park Hotdogs vs. MARTIN’S Own Beef Hotdogs
(Sorry, no photos due to lower light)
I’m not a big hotdog eater, and 16 hotdogs seemed like a lot for one family, so I thought I’d enlist a little help from my friends with a hot dog tasting party.
Appearance: Uncooked, both looked about the same. Ball Park did plump up a little more than MARTIN’S when cooked.
Nutritional Value: I know corn syrup is in everything, but this one surprised me. Ball Park hotdogs listed corn syrup as the third ingredient (which must have accounted for the 1 gram of sugar which Ball Park had but MARTIN’S did not)! Ball Park also had 20 more calories per frank, 10 more of which were from fat.
Taste: Our taste test results pulled a perfect Tie, three people liked both the same one person preferred Ball Park and one preferred MARTIN’S.
Verdict: There will be no complaints if you pick up the MARTIN’S hotdogs for the next time you grill out.
Item 6: Coke vs MARTIN’S Own Cola
(Sorry, no photos due to lower light)
According to a GALLUP poll in 2012, nearly half of Americans drink soda daily. At $1.99 a pop (pun intended) if you purchase one two liter soda each week that’s just over $103 yearly switching to MARTIN’S could save you about $57 a year. I had my hot dog party friends give this one a test too.
In the interest of full disclosure none of us actually drink Coke, so we didn’t have a strong preference to the brand to begin with.
Look: Not much difference here.
Taste: Coke was sweeter than the MARTIN’S cola ( Coke also had that sugary coating after taste which bothers me so much)
Verdict: MARTIN’S Wins!! Two people picked the MARTIN’S brand over Coke and the rest found no difference. Not one person preferred Coke.
You can try the Buy Theirs, Get Ours Free Challenge yourself!
This contest has ended. Check back for more great contests!
March 16 – 22, 2014
Buy Ball Park Franks, Coke, Charmin, and Claritin get the MARTIN’S brand free!
March 23 – 29
Buy Bounty Paper Towels, Quaker Chewy Bars, Campbells Chunky Soup, and Ben & Jerry’s Pints get the MARTIN’S brand free!
Disclosure: No compensation was received for this article. MARTIN’S did supply me with the products tested.
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