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Serve food at the correct temperature with these insulated bowls

NEWS – Few things are more disappointing than working hard to prepare a delicious meal but finding the cooked veggies are cold and the salad is hot by the time everyone gets to the table.  (Yes, I know – first-world problems…)  These insulated bowls with lids from Oggi will keep your food at the right temperature throughout your meal.

The bowls are made of 100% stainless steel.  Polyurethane insulation is sandwiched between the two layers of steel to keep foods at the right serving temperature.  The double-wall construction also prevents condensation or heat transfer to your table top.  Prepare the bowls to maintain the proper temperature by filling them with hot water or by placing them in the freezer or filling with ice water before filling them with food.

Oggi offers these bowls in a 1-quart ($19.95), 2-quart ($29.95), or 3-quart ($39.95) size.  They are available for purchase at The Grommet.

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Serve food at the correct temperature with these insulated bowls originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 12, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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PlanetBox is the eco-friendly lunchbox for kids or adults

NEWS – Just like with most reusable lunch kits, taking your lunch from home will be more eco-friendly.  You will reduce waste because you won’t need plastic bags, waxed paper, or aluminum foil to package up your lunch.  You don’t have to worry if the PlanetBox lunchbox is food-safe and BPA-free.  PlanetBox says they take “non-toxic, non-leaching, safe from BPA, phthalates, and lead” very seriously.  Their lunch kit isn’t made of plastic – it’s made of high-quality stainless steel that’s warranted for 5 years.

PlanetBox lunchboxes have been thoughtfully designed after years of studying how people use lunchboxes.  They have compartments of various sizes to hold sandwiches or an entree, veggies, chips, fruit, and even some tiny compartments for dressings or even a small dessert.  The size of the compartments can guide you to pack sensible portions.  The lunch kits are dishwasher safe, and unlike plastic containers, the stainless steel doesn’t stain or hold on to odors.

The boxes are available in three sizes, so just like Goldilocks, you’ll be able to find a PlanetBox that’s just right for the way you pack lunch for your kids or yourself.  The Shuttle (small, center) holds 3.5 cups of food and is $39.95; the medium-sized Rover (left) holds 5 cups of food and is $55.95; and the large Rover (right) holds 7 cups of food and is $59.95.  You can purchase magnet kits to personalize the kits with designs from dinosaurs to galaxies, or you can have custom-printed magnets made for a truly unique kit.

PlanetBoxes are available alone or as part of kit with magnets, a carrying bag, and a drink bottle.  Other accessories, like cutlery sets, napkins, and snack containers, are also available.  Shop PlanetBox for your own eco-friendly lunchbox and accessories.  Also check out the meal planning ideas while you’re at the PlanetBox website.

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PlanetBox is the eco-friendly lunchbox for kids or adults originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 9, 2018 at 11:05 am.

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The Marshinator rice cereal treats review

REVIEW – In the past, we haven’t reviewed many food items here on The Gadgeteer but that’s about to change really quick because today I want to tell you about some delicious snacks that will make you remember a favorite treat from when you were a kid.

What is it?

The Marshinator treats are a new twist on the classic marshmallow rice cereal treats from your childhood. Or if you’re like me, you’re in your 5th decade and you still eat these treats semi-frequently because they are yummy!

As the story goes, the originator of The Marshinator treats had forgotten to buy a Valentine’s Day gift for his fiancé. He remembered that she loved rice cereal treats, so he whipped up a batch and shaped them into hearts. It melted hers and The Marshinator treats were born.

There are currently 10 different flavors of The Marshinator treats and they can be purchased in packs of 4, 6, and 12. I was sent a 4 pack of the flavors shown above. The full list of flavors available is as follows: Classic, Fruit Blast, Vanilla Almond, Cookies & Cream, Cappuccino, Peanut Butter Chocolate, S’mores, Cocoa Blast, and Matcha.

Each treat hand-made and is individually packaged in a sealed plastic wrapper with a cardboard sleeve that has The Marshinator story on the back along with the ingredients and nutritional facts.

Each treat has different ingredients in addition to the rice cereal and marshmallow and each treat will have different nutritional facts such as the calories. FYI: if you’re watching your calorie intake, it might be best to skip these treats because each 3 x 2-inch treat is considered 2 servings. For example, the Fruit Blast treat shown above is 205 calories per serving. If you eat the whole thing, you’ve just consumed 405 calories.

Note: The Marshinator website does not list the nutritional facts for each treat.

If calorie counting isn’t something you care about, then go crazy because these rice cereal treats are very good! They are crispy but not hard like some rice cereal treats. The contrast of crispiness to soft marshmallow chewiness makes for a perfect bite. They also aren’t overpoweringly sweet which I really like. I’ll admit that I have a sweet tooth, but I don’t want my treats to be a straight-up sugar bomb.

The unique flavors of these treats will make you forget that they are a treat for children because you will want to try each one.

Of the selection of samples sent to me to try, my favorite was the Cookies & Cream for the Oreo style cookie chunks and cream topping. It also had the most calories of the ones I sampled at a whopping 632 calories per treat. Yikes! I split each one with Jeanne because I do keep track of my calories. At least most of the time 😉

What I like

  • Yummy!
  • 10 unique flavors to choose from
  • Handmade

What needs to be improved

  • No discount for buying more
  • The website does not show nutritional content for each treat

Final thoughts

When it comes to rice cereal treats, I prefer the straight up old school version without any extras. But The Marshinator treats were a surprising and enjoyable upgrade to one of my all-time favorite treats. As long as you realize that they are 2 servings per treat and you don’t mind paying $4 for each one with no discount if you buy more, they will bring a smile to your face and tummy and fond memories to your mind. Now I want to try the other 6 flavors!

Price: $16/4pk, $24/6pk, $48/12pk
Where to buy: The Marshinator
Source: The sample of this product was provided by The Marshinator.

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The Marshinator rice cereal treats review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 6, 2018 at 9:05 am.

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This insulated bag doesn’t look like a lunchbox

Sometimes you need to carry along heat-sensitive items – like medicines, cosmetics, or even a snack for later.  You need to keep these items at a cool temperature, but there are times when you don’t want to look like you’re traveling with a lunchbox.  The Black Insulated Bag from Cool-It Caddy does the job of keeping things cool while looking more sophisticated.

The bag has a textured leather look, but it is made of polyurethane.  Coolant inside the bag’s structure replaces the need for those blue freezer packs.  You can keep the bag in the freezer so it’s ready when you need it.

The Cool-It Caddy insulated bag measures 8.5″ x 5.5″ x 3″, so it’s big enough to carry most anything you need.  It can keep contents cool for up to five hours.  If you are carrying medicine, you should monitor the temperature to be sure the meds aren’t getting too cold or too warm.  To ensure best performance, keep the bag out of direct sunlight, especially on really hot days.  The bag is water-resistant, so you won’t need to worry about soggy sandwiches from splashes while you’re lounging around the pool.

The Black Insulated Bag from Cool-It Caddy is $33.95 at The Grommet.

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This insulated bag doesn’t look like a lunchbox originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 25, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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The Smarterware product line means no more wasted food – finally there is an app for that!


I am sure that all of the Gadgeteer readers that have been following my news stories and reviews regularly know by now that I am a serious gadget nerd. So I am figuring that you may be initially surprised when I start chatting about food containers. After all, I don’t ever recall putting batteries in my Tupperware bowls, or somehow making food appear in the bowl with a fancy remote control, so why would I even bother to mention bottles or bowls.

Well, I just recently learned about a company call Ovie that has created a product line call Smarterware. Smarterware is being touted as the world’s first connected food storage system, and by connected, I really do mean that there is an app for it!! The concept involves smart tags that you put on all of your containers in the fridge, and the app will remind you when you are getting to the point that the food in each container will spoil. I am forever frustrated about the amount of food that gets thrown away in my house that I am so happy that there is finally an app for that.

“The Smarterware product line consists of Smart Tags, 6-cup containers, clips, and universal connectors that can attach to any container or bottle in a fridge”. Each tag has a built-in light ring that gives off a visual light to immediately let you know the status of the food in each container. Green is good, yellow is for hurry up or you will be hungry, and red is for “sorry!!” you are too late and you need to buy or cook more food because time has run out for that dish. Ovie even went one step further by integrating with Alexa and other smart home hubs, recipe apps, and grocery apps.

Ovie plans to begin shipping Smarterware in early 2019, and retail sets will start at $59.99 and will be available at the Ovie website.

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The Smarterware product line means no more wasted food – finally there is an app for that! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 4, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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