The Mercury News

Lightlife Veggie Fritters

- Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufactur­ers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespicky­eater@ gmail.com.

crispy, but the veggies inside lack texture and beg for more seasoning. 160 calories, 6 g fat, 230 mg sodium, 4 g protein. A 12-ounce pack of 4 is $3.99.

Those who love corn will appreciate these tender, toasty cakes made from roasted zucchini, kale, shredded carrot and corn. The flavors are a bit dull, but the texture works. 80 calories, 4.5 g fat, 147 mg sodium, 2 g protein. An 8-ounce box of 8 is $4.99 at Sprouts Market.

Trader Joe’s Lemongrass Chicken Stix

The tiny sticks in this box bake up crisp with big lemongrass flavor, but the filling is dense and too sweet. 50 calories, 2 g fat, 100 mg sodium, 2.5 g protein. An 8.8-ounce box of 10 is $3.49.

Sprouts Market Beef Flautas

These rolls are not a total fail. The tortilla has fine texture, but the beef is stringy and dry. 90 calories, 4.5 g fat, 85 mg sodium, 4 g protein. An 8-ounce box of 8 is $3.99.

Sprouts Market Spring Rolls

These rolls look great, but the filling is rubbery and sweet, lacking in flavor dimension. 50 calories, 2 g fat, 70 mg sodium, 2.5 g protein. An 8.8-ounce pack of 9 is $3.99.

Amy’s Artichoke & Parmesan Swirls

As promising as these bites sound, they just aren’t good. The flavors are way too understate­d, and the inside fails to cook evenly. 100 calories, 6 g fat, 150 mg sodium, 3 g protein. A 7.3-ounce box of six pieces is $4.49 at Raley’s.

Lucky Original Spring Rolls

The flabby, flavorless filling inside these large rolls makes these a sad pick. 50 calories, 1 g fat, 120 mg sodium, 2 g protein. An 8.5-ounce box of 4 is $4.39 at Whole Foods.

Family Loompya Lumpia Egg Rolls

Even brushed with oil, these emerge from the oven white and dry. The filling is flavor-free and the wrap tastes like paper. 55 calories, 2 g fat, 145 mg sodium, 2.5 g protein. A 15-ounce box of 10 is $6.19. (No stars)

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