Can you believe I have never ever tried Puffins before? Can I even call myself a real cereal addict? A real carb lover? A real person?
I noticed that the reviews for the new Puffins were not very good. It seemed like most people missed the old recipe. Well, knowing this left me with no other choice than to buy a box of the old version. You know, before they disappear forever! I only had one choice of flavor: Cinnamon. (I know PB is better but I’m allergic to PB).
Now, this was a big step for me. As a recovering cereal addict it’s hard for me to live under the same roof as a box of cereal, not to mention one that gets rave reviews from everyone! Although seeing as how the Quinoa Banana Bread Granola has lasted a few days, I think I’m making great progress with my recovery program 
.
Well?
Hmm I don’t get the hype. I imagined the texture to be similar to Captain Crunch but instead it was sort of rough and cardboard-ish. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high?
This is actually relatively good news for me because I like it alright but I’m not reaching into the box every 2 minutes! Ya know what I mean?
This morning, I used the Puffins to make an LLE classic–a Greek yogurt and Kefir Bowl <–click for the tutorial.
Topped with an apricot, cinnamon Puffins, sunflower seeds, and Quinoa Banana Bread Granola.
72% Decaf
One good thing about the cereal’s toughness was that it didn’t get soggy while I took photos. You’d be surprised how long it takes for me to photograph a silly little bowl of cereal.
We spent the majority of the day packing, moving, and running errands. However, we stopped by a local festival and walked around for about an hour or so.
My dad was immediately drawn to a stand selling fresh squeezed sugar cane juice. I had a couple sips–not bad!
I swear, my dad can eat hot noodle soup no matter what the temperature is.
Pad Thai. Had a couple bites–just meh.
***
Before the festival, I made another beet kale smoothie with the leftover beets from last night.
In the bullet:
- 1 cup kale, steamed
- 1 beet
- 1/2 apricot
- 1/2 scoop wheatgrass
- 3/4 cup kefir
- stevia ‘n’ ice
This tasted E-A-R-T-H-Y! I used an entire beet today (vs. 1/2 yesterday). Warning: if you’re not into the flavor of beets, start with 1/4-1/2 of a beet. A little goes a long way, in taste and color!
Now for some random photos…
Donut peaches.
So frickin’ cute.
Corn
A coconut Dum Dum! (from the bank haha)
Emergency Barney Butter (squeezed straight into my mouth)–it saved my stomach today!
We picked up 2 Hami Melons from Wegman’s. If Cantaloupe and Honey Dew got married and had a child, it would taste something like a Hami Melon.
We ate some while chopping.
Pureed some in the MB.
Mixed the puree with yogurt….
….to make Melon Tart Frozen Yogurt!
Toppings included melon chunks, cinnamon Puffins and toasted pecans.
I had a couple handfuls of Puffins throughout the day and I think they’re sort of growing on me now…?
***
We’re watching the Legg Mason Tennis Tournament in DC all day tomorrow! It should be a fun time. I hope Mr. Andy Roddick is there…although he usually doesn’t arrive until later in the week. Remember when I saw him play last year? It was a dream come true! Except this year, I’ll have my gigantic camera with me .
Tell me: Are you a Puffin lover? What’s your favorite cereal?
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve never tried Puffins before. I’ve seen the box at the store and contemplated buying several times but never went through with it. Kinda glad now after your review. I think I’ll stick to my Life, haha. So good.
I like the new (?) placemat – purdy! My current cereal crush is on Nature’s Path Oaty Bites
PB Puffins are majorly addictive! If I didn’t have any self control I could probably polish off a box in 2-3 days. I am not to be trusted around cereals or any other snack of the crunchy carb variety for that matter so I try to not buy them often or I’ll get the less tastey stuff so I won’t eat it all. Now I only buy Kashi Heart to Heart because I can eat a serving without wanting to go back for anymore.
I think I LOVE all cereals. I don’t think I’ve met a cereal I didn’t like. At my sorority, our cook always ordered the most random cereals but the ones that I literally was addicted to in college were Oh’s and Cracklin’ Oats. We always joked that the Cracklin’ Oats must have crack in them b/c they are just that good.
Love your blog btw. I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago and really look forward to new posts. I love all your photos too!
I never tried puffins, they do not exist here
) It’s the best before bed snack
I adore cereal, I’m a real addict
I hate it when you look forward to trying something and it’s not as good as you thought it was going to be – so disappointing.
The rest of the day looks like it more than made up for it though!
I’ve only ever had puffins once before, and I wasn’t crazy about them eaither. I much prefer Quaker Corn Brans, and their ingredient list is just as good. My favourite cereal right now is Cruncy Corn made by President’s Choice (I’m Canadian) because it tases just like Corn Pops:) Other favourites include Honey Nut Cheerios and Mini Wheats!
<3 Tat
I have never ever had Puffin cereal – I’d never even heard of it before this post! That’s what living alone and isolated from the world in England does to you :p
I am so insanely jealous of your ice cream maker thing too!! How long does it take to make the frozen yogurt?
I definitely think the PB Puffins are completely different than the cinnamon. You’re right the cinnamon kinda taste like cardboard but the PB….OMG!!! Too bad you are allergic because these are definitely worth the hype!
i LOVE puffins!!!! cinnamon are my favorite! i love their crunchy-ness and loaded with fiber without that fiber ick taste..you will find yourself buying more boxes in the future..very near future that is
I currently have cinnamon puffins in my pantry and am not their biggest fan either! They are too “light and airy” for me. I need a serious cereal that I can crunch into! Barbara’s Original shredded wheat square things are soo much better. Oh and I just ordered a Magic Bullet and this post made me so excited for it to come!
The cinnamon ones are actually a different texture from the PB ones, and I agree are kind of cardboard-y!
I’ve always wanted to try PB Puffins! All the goodies from the festival look great… donut peaches!
BTW: I always thought hami melon WAS cantaloupe? It’s called ha mi gua (gua just means melon) in Chinese, and I’ve always thought that it was cantaloupe… Hmm. Strange.
Wei-Wei
I’ve never tried Puffins! I have to be really careful about eating stuff that may contain traces of nuts, so I’m not sure if I could eat Puffins since there is a PB flavour that might be made in the same factory… My favourite cereal is definitely Kashi Honey Almond Flax Crunch. I’ve been loyal to it for almost two years.
I still have a while till I’ll be buying another box of cereal. I have to make good and sure I’m well enough involved in the love of other food before I get any, to make sure I won’t eat the cereal for every meal and snack. Puffins are delish, though!
I don’t get the Puffin hype, either. I had the PB ones, and they were pretty tasty, but they were basically just Captain Crunch. Plus, they weren’t very filling – the few times I had them for breakfast, I was hungry an hour later. I think I ate most of them as snacks in handfuls straight from the box!
I’m not a huge fan of the cinnamon Puffins either, they’re way too cinnamony lol. But PB Puffins- that’s where its at!!!! They’re not too strong on the PB flavor, but they’re huge and super fun to eat.
My favorite cereals are all the junky sugary ones: Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles and Count Chocula. Lets just say I cannot but cereal anymore because I can easily eat an entire box in one sitting.
I like puffins — I like how they don’t get soggy, and yet the middle of them will soak up milk and when you bit into one the milk kind of explodes in your mouth. I’ve never tried the PB kind, only the cinnamon for me!
I just bought my first box of puffins, too! I think you described the carboard captain crunch texture prefectly haha.
And I really need to try these Kale smoothies you keep making. They’re so colorful!
I haven’t had puffins for ever. I need to give them a try again.
Nothing will ever beat Oatmeal Squares. That stuff is just wrong. I can polish off an entire box in half a day! E.g. last friday
authentic thai noodle soup!! YES YES YES please
i love this market set up! i can smell the cooking from here…almost! hehe
xoxo <3
Yuuuum – I never heard of that Hami melon!
But as I love both cantaloupe and honeydew melon, I suppose it tastes pretty lovely…
Peanut butter puffins are my favorite kind of cereal! Aside from cinnamon toast crunch of course….
How can you not like Puffins! >:{
Just kidding.
They weren’t my thing at first either but they really did grow on me. They’re a good cereal because they aren’t overly sweet and are light and puffy. I wonder what the new Puffins will be like!
Watch out, girl, that’s just how it started for me! Puffins are definitely an adoration now. The more you eat them, the more you’ll like them. Thanks for the heads up on the new recipe and bad reviews. While it makes me sad, maybe it’s a good thing because it will help me get over my puffin addiction (the only cereal I eat anymore). Have a lovely day!
xox
P.S. Your fro yo parfait looks SO pretty! Great photography (and it was probably delish, too!)
Ohh I’ve never had puffins.. but they probably aren’t GF
Maybe I’ll get them for my husband and live vicariously through him hehe. Your dad looks so cute getting his soup, hehe. And your peaches look so cute too!! 
I really love Puffins, mostly because it’s easy to pack as a snack (very grab-able). I’ve never tried the cinnamon flavor though–I highly recommend the peanut butter and original flavors!
My all-time fave cereal is GoLean;)
I am a puffin lover! I love the PB
hey, i would loooove a little bit of advice…..i finally get to travel somewhere with a trader joes (there are none even close to where i live) and i was wondering what your favorite TJ’s finds are?? I remember a few from your previous posts but would love some additional suggestions. I plan to stock up!
Thanks!
I actually LOVE puffins although I do wish they would soften a little once they have been in milk!! But I’m still a big fan! Love the cinnamon flavor.
Katie–
Puffins are actually wheat free. I’m not sure if wheat free and gluten free are interchangeable?
Chelsea–
The box says they are made in a peanut free facility.
I had cane juice this weekend too! And I’m definitely a Puffins fan, but I’ve only tried the PB kind
I do like Puffins but the cost of them (over $4 a box here) makes me shy away. I did not know they were changing the recipe, though! So far it doesn’t sound like it’s going over well. Maybe they’ll revert back if they get a bad rap…..
Peanut Butter Puffins are so GOOD! I got Cinnamon for the first time and don’t care for them either. I wouldn’t buy them again, I’ll stick with my PB.
I’m definitely kind of “meh” about Puffins too! For one thing, they don’t really pack much of a nutritional punch. They don’t fill me up at all either… but those peanut butter ones are tasty!
My fave cereal is honey nut O’s!
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