100 Calorie Packs
Newsletters
As food manufacturers jump on the bandwagon of the latest diet fad, 100 calorie packs are popping up all over the supermarket. You'll find a list of 100 calorie packs from 18 different manufacturers at the bottom of the Food Calculator.
100 calorie packs are being marketed as a great way to lose weight. In reality, most of them are junk food containing only "empty calories." Empty calories come from foods that supply us with calories and little else. They are also lacking in health-promoting nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.
The problem with eating such heavily processed junk foods is that they typically leave you feeling unsatisfied and hungry only a short time after eating them. And this can lead to overeating and weight gain.
There are a few good products, like VitaMuffins, which are packaged as 100 calorie packs. But for the most part, leave them on the store shelves. Take only the concept of a low calorie snack, and make it a healthy one that will also help to satisfy your hunger.
Here are some examples of snacks that will provide nutrition and help you feel more satisfied:
- Medium sized fruit such as banana, apple, peach, or pear
- 1 cup of fresh grapes (try them frozen for a refreshing change)
- 8 oz latte made with non-fat or 1% milk (sorry, no whip cream!)
- 6 oz of low fat or non-fat yogurt
- 3 Triscuit crackers with lean meat (enough to cover the crackers)
- About 3 cups of low fat or non-fat popcorn
If the incredibly small serving size of most of the 100 calorie packs doesn't appeal to you, you can always get your 100 calories by munching on 5 cups of fresh vegetables. No fooling. Five cups!
Eating healthy snacks between meals is an important part of any weight loss program. They help sustain your metabolism, and keep you from becoming overly hungry between meals. But to be successful at weight loss, you must choose your snacks wisely.
Healthy regards,
Megan Porter, RD
