100 Calorie Snack Packs?

[Daniella]

I'm sure most or all of us have seen the trend of 90-100 calorie snacks being marketed and sold in the stores. As with most advertised products, it appears to be a great, "sensible" option for a snack, but it just seemed too good to be true. I read the ingredients on several of the boxes, and they include enriched flour AND high fructose corn syrup.

However, they are only 100 calories and I am very tempted to try them as one of my snacks for the day. (I'm a college student and don't have much time to stop and prepare anything to eat.)

What do you think?

[72butterfly]

I buy them all of the time. I love the peanut butter, lorna doones (new), and wheat thin ones. To be honest I am not a label reader. I eat what I like in moderation and I feel that is what will help me stick to this change for life. I'm not you can't eat this and you can't eat that person. You have to do what you feel is best for you. If I "diet" I would never make it.

[Daniella]

Well it's good to know I'm not the only one interested in them. I was worried because I've come to realize that many "low-fat, low-calorie" foods aren't as healthy as they seem. I guess I'm just paranoid lol

[sarah lou smith]

i know im not in US, but i eat the light cereal bars, like alpen light (not sure if u get them over there) i think they are a good low fat snack

[72butterfly]

They have cereal bars here but they are too sweet for my taste but Daniella might be interested in those. Fruit is a great portable snack also (bananas, oranges, grapes, blackberries, raspberries, etc). I always carry a plastic spoon with me too that way I can eat yogurt, applesauce, puddings. I could go on forever about snacks because I eat 3 a day and they need to be portable because many times I am in meetings, leading programs, or on the road. Planning and preparation are extremely important.

[Joysieangel]

I used to work in a factory that made them. If you want 100 cals dont buy these. most packages are way over 100 cals. They go through a machine that weighs each package, but it isnt accurate, you end up getting more in each package then what is supposed to go in.

[mrbean]

Snack packs may not be the healthiest food choice out there, but if they will keep you satisfied and help you to reach your weight loss goals than go for it. It's not what you do some of the time that matters, it's what you do all those other times. Don't stress it.

Otherwise try to avoid processed foods that contain any of these in the first four ingredients; enriched flour, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oil, trans-fats, sugar, or white flour.

The problem with corn syrup is that it doesn't stop you form feeling hungry so you end up eating more calories. When your stomach is empty it secretes the hormone ghrelin which signals your brain to eat something. After you eat something such as an apple, the ghrelin stops being sent. Corn syrup doesn't stop ghrelin from making you hungry as it should, but it also prevents another hormone called leptin from telling your brain when you're full.

Interstingly people that diet have higher amounts of ghrelin than other people, making it even harder to stay on a diet.

Eight Ways To Improve Nutrition
http://www.realage.com/doctorCenter/...aspx?aid=10441

'You On a Diet' The 99 Second Edition http://www.realage.com/doctorCenter/...aspx?aid=10447

[doriesmith]

I think the 100 calorie packs are good for portion control and that's about it. They aren't really what you would call "diet food" but I believe they work for you if you are craving something sweet or salty once in a while. If you plan that 100 calories into your daily allotment of calories I don't see a problem with it. I know for me that there has been cases where I've eaten 2,3 or 4 bags at a sitting when I was going thru PMS. I still think I would have eaten more if I had a whole bag of the food in front of me at that time so 400 calories vs. what would have been all in that bag probably saved me some calories in the long run.

[Jules]

This is a great topic to talk about. I tried them myself (also a student -interested in easy, portion-controlled snacks) but I don't get them any more. 1) They are expensive 2)They don't add much nutrition to my day 3) I would rather have 100 cals of something else.

It's a great option I think it you are craving some crackers or chips, but after a few bags, it wasn't satisfying so I turned back to fruit which I found much more satisfying. An apple really fills me up, so do carrot sticks to munch on in front of the TV and banannas are also very portable.

I don't know. I'd rather eat the real bad for you thing, or avoid it entirely and have something healthier. The almost "imitation" cookie/chip taste didn't do it for me. I'd rather eat something that tastes better and is different than a low-cal cardboard version of what I used to eat. I know they taste better than cardboard, but let's face it there's also not many in each bag. But that's just me. Try them, and try not to become dependant on them. Maybe they'll work for you or maybe not. Keep us updated okay?

[muppet]

I've eaten them before too. I guess for some people, that portion control is a big issue. It is for me too, but I agree with Jules on this one. They are over priced. I might be more excited about them, if they were about 50 calories, or something. But you really don't get much for 100 calories, IMO.