IDAHO FALLS - Is there a difference between some of the items you and your kids eat everyday?

To find out I'm putting families just like yours to a blind taste test.

We have Amanda Rowett and her daughter Bethani. Rich Franco and his son Trevor, and Martie Jaramillo, exectutive chef of The Cellar Restaurant.

All the testers were given the food in the same exact order.

First up, nothing's better than chicken soup when you have a cold. "A" is the traditional Cambells and "B" is the generic, store brand. After trying both, let's see who wins.

Bethani: "Second."

Amanda: "First One."

Trevor: "I definitely like the first one better."

Rich: "Yeah, the first one is good."

Martie: '"B' was more salty so I'm gonna go with 'A'."

Cambell's take this one 4 to 1. Next up "A" is Spaghetti O's and "B" the generic Spaghetti Rings.

Amanda: "The second one."

Bethani: "Second."

Rich: "I like them both the same."

Trevor: "I like the first one better."

Martie: "You can taste a difference. 'A' was a little bit better but they're both Spaghetti O's."

Spaghetti O's gets the nod 3 to 2. Next, we're washing it down wish soda. "A" is the store brand, Dr. Bold and "B" is Dr. Pepper.


Bethani: "Second."

Amanda: "Probably the second one."

Rich: "Definitely one."

Trevor: "No. Definitely two."

Martie: "Yeah it was pretty close, my gut says 'A' was Dr. Pepper."

Well Martie, 'A' was the generic, but Dr. Pepper is crowned, 3 to 2.

Next up, Turkey Lunch Meat. "A" is the Foster Farms, "B", the store brand.

Bethani: "The first."

Amanda: "Second. Definitely second."

Trevor: "I like the second one."

Rich: "The first one definitely."

Martie: "For a texture for a sandwich, definitely 'A'."

The brand name takes down another knock off version 3 to 2.

After all the food, I treated my testers with a cookie. Lets see if the generic, which is "A" can take down Oreo's.

Bethani: "Second."

Amanda: "Second."

Trevor: "I like number two best."

Rich: "I kinda liked number one."

Martie: "'B' is the definite winner."

Oreos win 4 to 1 and the brand names sweep the lunch menu.

Overall, brand names were narrowly favored by the majority 6 times to 4.

Close enough to have Amanda take a closer look at the generic brands.

"Yeah, definitely going to check out I guess, prices versus brands," she says.

Rich also thinks the test will help him save.
"I think also for the kids to taste it too to see that there isn't a difference, there's only a difference in the price," explains Franco.

And our chef has some words of advise for parents.
"I think especially, like I said on the cereals and what not where you're drowning it in milk or its just a quick bite, I don't think the kids are going to notice too much. The deli meats and what not I think was a little bit easier for me to tell. But, on the simpler stuff, yeah, save the money and go with the generics where the taste is just as good."

So it looks like there definitely are some items where the name brands taste better on the lunch side, but there were also some close calls.

And as we mentioned, the breakfast test found more preferred the generic If you'd like to see part 1 of "Can you taste the difference?", you can log on to our website at kidk.com.

And the next time you're shopping, see if you can taste the difference.