“Eat candy, lose weight!” That tagline definitely peaks one’s interest, and believe it or not, it really exists. It is the idea behind Power-Pops, a lollipop that claims to “suppress your appetite, increase energy levels, and burn fat and calories in a safe and natural way.” When I saw this debut on Extra a few nights back, I knew it was a product I had to personally review.

Fun Unlimited, the company behind Power-Pops, sent me samples of both the Power-Pops and KidsPops in various flavors. KidsPops are their newest item””lollipops designed as a great-tasting treat yet packed with a “complete and balanced formula of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for children.” Guess who got to test those out? But let’s start with the Power-Pops.

The ingredients: Guarana, L-Tyrosine (amino acid), Super Citramax, Hoodia, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, corn syrup, sugar, natural color, natural flavorings, and 28 calories per pop. Noting there was no ephedra or mahuang, I felt safe giving the Power-Pops a try. It was hard to decide on a flavor, for these potent pops come in everything from Root Beer Float to Cinnamon to Green Apple to Pina Colada. Being a big Butter Pecan fan, I tested that flavor first.

I will say even though it wasn’t nearly as tasty as a butter pecan swirl cone from McDonald’s, it was still pretty dang good (and a lot healthier). It helped curb my appetite during those later afternoon munchies, but that could have been because it kept my mouth busy for a good hour. I will say it did indeed boost my energy a bit and was a great pick-me-up for getting through what I like to call “witching hour,” so I will definitely keep these on hand. As far as weight loss, I didn’t have nearly the time to test these out, but if any of you decide to give them a try, fill me in!

Now for the new KidsPops. The idea of making nutrition a treat isn’t new (think Costco-size bottles of Gummi Vites), but what I like about these is although I wouldn’t substitute them for a good children’s multivitamin, I would definitely offer these in lieu of other treats my girls might choose. KidsPops come in a variety of flavors as well, and my girls absolutely loved them! They even asked for more later, but it’s something I choose to ration around here. KidsPops do contain fructose and corn syrup, but they also contain a good 11 vitamins plus folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc, plus a few others. I doubt Tootsie Pops and Dum-Dums are vitamin packed. Keep pushing the fruits and vegetables, but now you can also let them indulge in a lollipop or two without their even knowing it’s good for them! –Emily

NOTE: Consult your physician before starting this or any other diet.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 19th, 2006 at 11:01 pm and is filed under Daily Dish. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.