Found ‘em! The results of the cookie-diets taste test! (Individual results may vary)

Earlier today, Booster Shots offered up a recent Health section analysis of cookie diets and their potential effectiveness, lamenting that the results of a related taste test were no longer available online. But kudos to Karen Ravn! She was the writer of that piece and apparently maintains her own rather remarkable archives. Thanks to her, those results now live once more.

Without further ado ...

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COOKIE-DIET COOKIES GET A TASTE TEST

(Reviewed: Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet, Hollywood Cookie Diet, Smart for Life, Soypal Cookie Diet cookies)

Putting them to the taste test Tempted to try a cookie diet? You have several to choose from, all designed to replace one -- or, more likely, two -- meals a day with cookies. Still, these aren’t exactly cookie-cutter plans. Here are some vital statistics on each, plus comments on texture and taste from a panel of four unbiased cookie-loving consumers during an unscientific test of the cookie-eating experience. One caveat: None of our panelists was overweight and eagerly searching for a new diet to try.

DR. SIEGAL’S COOKIE DIET
Daily plan: Instead of breakfast and lunch, eat six cookies and then have a reasonable dinner. The cookies contain a secret blend of amino acids that are supposed to curb hunger.

Flavors: oatmeal raisin, chocolate, blueberry, banana and coconut.

Nutrition: Per one 24-gram cookie: 90 calories, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fat.

Comments: Texture: “Moist and spongy.” “Sort of like a scouring pad.”

Taste of nonchocolate cookies: “No flavor whatsoever.” “Sawdust comes to mind.”

Taste of chocolate cookies: “This actually smells chocolaty.” “I like this one.”

HOLLYWOOD COOKIE DIET
Daily plan: Instead of breakfast and lunch, eat four cookies and then have a sensible dinner. It’s recommended to space out the cookies -- breakfast, midmorning snack, lunch, midafternoon snack. Suggestions for dinner recipes are given.

Flavors: chocolate chip, lemon, oatmeal raisin, variety pack.

Nutrition: Per one 40-gram cookie: 150 calories, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams of protein and 4.5 grams of fat.

Comments: Texture: “Chewy.” “This has the texture of a Fig Newton.”

Taste of chocolate chip cookies (the only ones provided for the test): “I like this best.” “This could pass for a regular cookie!” “Hands down, this has the most flavor.” “It’s quite chocolaty. Nonetheless, it doesn’t taste good.”

SMART FOR LIFE
Daily plan: Instead of breakfast and lunch, eat six cookies and then have a balanced dinner. It’s recommended to eat one cookie every two to three hours. With 60% of the ingredients organic, the cookies contain omega-3 fatty acids and no preservatives. A patent is pending on the company’s blend of amino acids, fiber and complex sugars intended to curb hunger.

Flavors: chocolate chip, piña colada, Boca banana, Maine blueberry, cinnamon oatmeal raisin, garden pizza.

Nutrition: Per one 34-gram cookie: 105 calories, 1.5 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fat.

Comments: Texture: “Spongy.” “More sponge-like than spongy.” “Rubbery really.” “Not rubbery, slightly crumbly.”

Taste of nonchocolate chip cookies: “Sort of a chemical taste.” “The taste isn’t good, and it stays with you.”

Taste of chocolate chip cookies: “This actually has real chocolate chips, or real-enough-for-me chocolate chips, and some sweet.” “Pretty good.”

SOYPAL COOKIE DIET
Daily plan: Replace one meal -- preferably your highest-calorie meal -- with a packet of seven cookies. Made in Japan, the cookies are hard-baked and contain no preservatives.

Flavors: original, sesame, chocolate.

Nutrition: Per one serving of seven cookies: 33 grams total: 150 calories, 6 grams of dietary fiber, 4 grams of protein and 4 grams of fat.

Texture: “Crisp.” “Like a cracker.”

Taste of nonchocolate cookies: “My overall impression is a total lack of flavor.” “This tastes exactly like Zweiback, and I love Zweiback.”

Taste of chocolate cookies: “I’m so grateful for the chocolate, albeit so faint.” “This tastes like a chocolate Zweiback.”

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As someone who tasted these cookies but didn’t participate in the actual test, I’d like to point out that some of the reviewers were kind. And none was overly harsh. (There are better ways to get chocolate, folks.)

Here’s the earlier cookie blog post and the reason we seem to be belaboring this.

-- Tami Dennis