Big Train Low Carb Products

[Low_carb_Kim]

I am familiar with the Atkins low carb way of life. Recently I stumbled across some low carb products made by Big Train. One of their products, chocolate chip cookie mix, contains some typical ingredients I've used to make low-carb cookies such as whey protein and almond flour. However, they sweeten their products with evaporated cane juice. There seems to be some controversy as to whether or not this sweetener affects the blood sugar levels the same as refined sugar. The only sweeteners I'm famliiar with for low carb diets are sugar alcohols, Splenda, or Stevia.

One serving of the chocolate chip cookies has 7 net grams of carbs, which sounds like a lot to me. I'm not sure if one serving is one cookie because the package information doesn't break it out that way. A serving size is about 18 g., and the entire package makes 17 servings.

Here is the ingredients list:
Ingredients: Almond flour, dark chocolate chips, [evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier), vanilla], oat flour, evaporated cane juice, inulin (a natural extract of chicory), whey protein concentrate, corn starch (low glycemic), bleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid),guar gum, natural flavors, salt, baking soda, lo han guo (natural fruit extract).</FONT>


What is your opinion?

[kate58]

Re: Big Train Low Carb Products

I looked this up and found this page:

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA73912

In summary, it says:

Evaporated cane juice is a type of raw sugar made from fresh sugar cane juice that is evaporated and then crystallized. ....other than some trace minerals, which aren't found in white sugar, there is no real difference between the two products. The only advantage I can see to eating foods sweetened with evaporated cane juice is that because of its stronger taste you might consume less than you would of foods made with the white stuff.

[Low_carb_Kim]

Re: Big Train Low Carb Products

In other words, it's not truly low carb?

[Einy]

Re: Big Train Low Carb Products

Interesting how manufacturers play with words.. "evaporated cane juice".. ha! This is pure sugar.. Grrrr.. I just hate how some people master the art of deception!! LOL!! Smart evil what I call it.

Kim, sugar is mainly derived out of cane or beetroot. So, this is just another fancy name for "sugar" so that the innocent consumer fall into such tricks and buy the product.

Moreover, depends on what stage of Atkins you are in right now.. If you are in induction, then most of these ingredients are induction-illegal. Even if you are in your highest rung. Still things like "corn starch" and cane juice are a no no.

I would stay away from these folks.. Besides, there are plenty of other alternatives for low carb food you can find in your local store. Just make sure that the ingredients are ok within the Atkin rung you are in.

If you are interested, ask for recipes in the recipe section or ask for a certain product and plenty of people in this forum I am sure will be able to answer.

If you are looking for a cookie in specific, there are some you can make yourself that are induction friendly, made out of flaxseed, healthy, full of fiber, tasty and on the top of all works perfectly with Atkins..

[Low_carb_Kim]

Re: Big Train Low Carb Products

How unfortunate that I bought two packages of so-called low-carb brownie mix from Big train. Each package cost $3.99. I'm trying to avoid sugar because I'm at risk for developing diabetes and am probably pre-diabetic right now (runs in the family). When I researched "evaporated cane juice," some sources said it does not affect your blood sugar the same as sugar, but that doesn't really make sense.

[julirama723]

Re: Big Train Low Carb Products

Here is the ingredients list:

Ingredients: Almond flour, dark chocolate chips, [evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier), vanilla], oat flour, evaporated cane juice, inulin (a natural extract of chicory), whey protein concentrate, corn starch (low glycemic), bleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid),guar gum, natural flavors, salt, baking soda, lo han guo (natural fruit extract).</FONT>

I would be less concerned with the evaporated cane juice and more concerned with the BLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR--that's the biggest NO-NO I see! Never consume enriched flours--that means the "good" part has been removed (like the protein and fiber) and crap has been added (enriched) to make it healthy, like vitamins and minerals. This stuff is made with WHITE FLOUR. The corn starch is also a NO-NO.

I've eaten evaporated cane juice on occasion if I've had a Bumble Bar (or something to that effect) and it really doesn't affect me the same way as other things do--heck, I'd RATHER eat evaporated cane juice that splenda, that's how bad artificial sweeteners affect me...

[Low_carb_Kim]

Re: Big Train Low Carb Products

I wondered about the flour, too. I know that is not low-carb. The corn starch says "low glycemic," though. How do they get by calling their products "low carb"??