100 Calorie packs
 

Are these a bad idea?

I have a major sweet tooth and that has been my biggest obstacle. I have done really good with my eating, but when I get a craving for something sweet I can't think of anything else. So I bought myself the 100 cal snack packs. I limit myself to one a day. It helps me get through the day, but they are soo good that I feel guilty about having one. Should I?

My husband and I have made this a new lifestyle for us. We ate terribly before. I didn't realize how terrible until I started trying to have us eat right. We are making sure that we are getting fruits and vegetables -- probably not all that we should, but we are incorporating them into our diet. So I don't know why I feel guilty when I eat one of these packs. Now, if I sat down and ate the whole box, that would be good reason. But one 100 calorie snack a day? I do incorporate other snacks as well. Healthy ones, bananas, apples, pretzels, etc, but I gotta have a little chocolate in my day. Am I still going to be able to lose the 50 pounds I need to?

I think it's perfectly ok. That's why I chose to calorie count instead of a more restrictive diet that I'll give up on anyways because I feel like a failure by cheating! Though I've tried those packs and I don't really like any yet. I'd rather have one bite of the real stuff instead of a bunch of diet snacks.

OK, on this same topic, what are some good snack ideas? Here are some I have come up with (they're very original I know :). Apple with peanut butter, banana, laughing cow light cheese wedge (the 30 calorie ones) and spread them on a pretzel chip, and the 100 calorie snack packs, the weight watchers personal ice cream cups, the sweet tooth you know. I need some good healthy ideas aside from the sweet ones.

I find that 100 calorie packs are just 100 calories worth of garbage, but it seems you already knew that ;) If you really like them and can limit yourself to one a day I don't think it's the worst thing in the world, but as you keep eating healthier you may find that processed junk doesn't have the same appeal it once did. When I want my chocolate fix, I just have a couple squares of good quality dark chocolate and savor them slowly. Less than 100 cal and scratches my chocolate "itch". :)

ETA: For non-sweet snacking, hummus with raw veggies (carrots, snap peas, pepper strips, celery, etc) or whole wheat pita is one of my favorites. Or salsa with low-fat baked corn chips.

Oh yeah, I like salsa with the baked chips. I have done that too. And yep, I know they are just garbage, but it's a way for me to soothe my sweet tooth - and when the bag is gone, I have to stop. I have changed so many of my ways in the last few weeks so I think I'm doing pretty good if this is the one thing I can't quite change yet. Maybe as I go along I won't need that sweet anymore. I don't care for hummus. But I have done some fat free veggie dip and can handle that with carrots and celery.

I really like the 100 calorie packs. Sometimes I just really want something to "snack" on. A chunk of dark chocolate just won't do for me because my body still doesn't fully understand eating slowly and savoring. So, the 100 calorie packs are good for tossing in my purse to take to the movies or a quick snack while I'm shopping or something...

Other favorites (most aren't as portable as the 100 calorie packs) are the 100 calorie pieces of cheese (from Borden, I believe...in all sorts of flavors, including pepperjack, my favorite!), single-serving bags of popcorn, an apple cut into wedges and sprinkled with cinnamon, strawberries with chocolate jello pudding, a toasted 100-calorie english muffin with some sugar-free preserves, yogurt (100 cal or less) with 1/2 cup of Fiber One stirred in... I guess most of my snacks gravitate towards my sweet tooth...

Oh yes, popcorn is another weakness of mine. I really like it popped in oil and smothered in butter, but I did breakdown and buy an air popper and I put a few sprays of butter on it and supplement the rest with butter flavored sprinkles on the top. That should be ok shouldn't it? I still have so many questions about if I'm doing it right or not. I guess only time will tell.

They are a waste of time, they are a waste of packaging and they are a waste of money. Buy your favorite snack and portion it out yourself.

Originally Posted by kimmieone:
They are a waste of time, they are a waste of packaging and they are a waste of money. Buy your favorite snack and portion it out yourself.

Yes, but that's where I run into the problem. I say I'm going to portion it out, and then I don't. So for me, it's easier to have that empty bag and then I know it's time to stop. I guess I just need that reminder.

As far as for a sweet tooth, Skinny Cow has amazingly good low fat ice cream bars, cone and sandwiches. The sandwiches with vanilla or chocolate ice cream are delicious and only have 140 calories. They are full size too, not just less calories b/c they are small. I keep a pack in the freezer for whenever I have a real chocolate craving. The best thing is I don't have to feel guilty after I eat one! My boyfriend still doesn't know they are low fat/ low calorie!!!
I bring low fat string cheese with Kellogg All Bran Garlic Herb crackers (18 for 120 cals) to work to snack on together. I also bring 1 serving of cottage cheese with fruit sometimes. Or an apple with a slice of cheese.

On average I am not a fan of 100 calorie packs. If you rely on them too much then you really are not focusing on eating healthy foods.

That being said, they can have their place. There are some foods that you might crave and very much enjoy but don't trust yourself with. Let's say potato chips. 100 calories packs are a good way to incorporate those foods (not always but on occasion) and still maintain control over the portion.

For me the only 100 calorie item that I tend to keep in my house is the 100 calorie ice cream bars.

Lori

Personally I like them for when I am craving certain things... LOL however I do agree with the choc itch :D

For sweet but healthy, freeze a banana - it's creamy and sweet like ice cream! And the less ripe it is when you freeze it, the more it will taste like vanilla instead of banana (basically the flavor is just less intense when it's less ripe).

Originally Posted by marie8674:
Yes, but that's where I run into the problem. I say I'm going to portion it out, and then I don't. So for me, it's easier to have that empty bag and then I know it's time to stop. I guess I just need that reminder.

Baby steps! I bet there will come a time when you will portion them out yourselves or not eat it at all. There's no reason for you to feel guilty about eating a 100 cal pack. You're staying on-plan right?

Dieting isn't punishment! Do what works for you and what keeps you within your calorie range.


My snacks are usually:
- grapefruit
- some sort of cottage cheese concoction - like avocado + cc or grape tomatoes + cc, or sugar free jello with cottage cheese added
- 2 wasa crackers with a wedge of laughing cow cheese
- large green apple - takes awhile to eat those... and depending on how big - 100 - 150 cals
- 1 oz almonds (160 cals)
- sugar free, fat free chocolate pudding sometimes with a sliced banana, sometimes without
- homemade cappucino using 1/4 to 1/2 cup skim milk and some daVinci sugar free vanilla syrup

There are soooo many things! Keep trying different things and you may run across a healthier alternative that you like even better than the 100 cal packs ;)

I love the 100 calorie packs, for me they are a treat when I'm on the run. I always have a pack in my purse, so that if I get hungry and I'm not at home I won't cheat.

I use the 100 cal Ritz snack mix. When I crave crackers or salt, it works and I don't have to worry about portions. Skinny Cow ice cream sandwichs are great for a sweet tooth. Usually when I am looking for a snack I will have a serving of veggies (I prepare in advance and keep in the frig) and then see if I still want something. Most of the time thats enough.

My snack cabinet is full of the 100 calorie snacks. I love them. I'm able to keep track of the "snack" calories I'm taking in. I'm still losing weight eating them. I also do limit myself to one a day (strong will power i guess). I love snacking especially when depressed. I also love grapefruits.

I just realized something kind of funny. After all of this. I didn't have any snack packs at all yesterday. I obviously didn't miss it. Even after talking about them all day yesterday here, I didn't think about actually eating one! That seems a little odd to me. So maybe my brain is reprogramming itself already. They say it takes 21 days to create a new habit. I know this is true because I see my habits changing constantly lately and it's bee about 4 weeks now. Maybe I'm not as dependent on chocolate as I think I am. I even made chocolate chip cookies yesterday for my dc kids and didn't even have a desire to touch one. Oh, wait, I did have a smart ones cookie dough ice cream sundae, that's right I forgot about that. But it's not a snack pack so I guess it still counts as not eating a snack pack right?? And I still get credit for not even touching the cookies too. :)

I don't believe the hype that all these "Whole Foods" advocates say... yes, I understand that it's healthier to use all fresh natural healthy foods. But guess what? Sprinkling cocoa powder on a head of broccoli doesn't quite work, does it?

I belive that snacks in MODERATION are *essential* to successful dieting. If you say you can no longer have anything with chocolate in it, you WILL FAIL. Of course!

If it's 100 calories and you can limit it to 1 bag, then do it!! Whose to say those 100 calories are any worse than 100 calories in an english muffin or a hardboiled egg? A calorie is a calorie--- as long as you're getting nutrition in your day from other meals, who CARES if there's no "real" nutrition in your one little bag of treats? Get it other places and you're good. The problem happens when people subsist on a low calorie diet ENTIRELY from lean cuisines, snack packs, etc etc etc.... you need fruits and veggies and real proteins. BUT one snack bag isn't going to do you harm.

As for snacks... I find that when I go to parties (even pre-diet) that I would gravitate towards the veggie tray with the Hidden Valley Ranch Dip... and INHALE it. So I figure, hey, I like it and it's got super healthy veggies in it! So now I cut up my fav veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, celery, carrots) and use LIGHT sour cream and a pack of the ranch mix. 2 tbsp of dip and all the veggies you can eat until the dip is gone makes for a MIGHTY filling snack that's really good for you (I personally go by the weight watchers belief that a non-starchy veggie is so low in calories and so good for you that it basically doesn't count) It's like 50 calories in 2 tbsp of dip if you use light sour cream (I personally don't like the fat free... the light already tastes kinda "off" but the fat free is VERY off in my opinion)

I also LOVE the Jello Pudding Snacks Sugar Free (it's only 60 calories). I have a MAJOR sweet tooth and am a chocoholic and would rather have many spoonfulls of this than 2 tiny squares of dark chocolate.

I also like the Frigo Cheeseheads Light string cheese (only 60 calories each).

When I NEED a really bad for you snack, I portion out a serving or two of brownie mix and make it with WAY less oil and half cook it in a mini cupcake pan in my toaster oven--- eating it half-cooked means I don't notice how the oil affected the rising... and I can ONLY eat the one serving b/c there's no more to shove in my mouth. And it's like eating hot fudge AND a brownie...yummmmm...

Originally Posted by BrandNewJen:
When I NEED a really bad for you snack, I portion out a serving or two of brownie mix and make it with WAY less oil and half cook it in a mini cupcake pan in my toaster oven--- eating it half-cooked means I don't notice how the oil affected the rising... and I can ONLY eat the one serving b/c there's no more to shove in my mouth. And it's like eating hot fudge AND a brownie...yummmmm...

Jen, Have you tried replacing the oil with canned pumpkin (just brownie mix and pumpkin)? To me, it tastes like a fudge-y brownie. After baking, they freeze pretty well too. I usually make a batch, give half to my friend, take the other half and freeze individual portions. Then, you can microwave them, and they're warm and tasty. Plus, I'm less likely to binge on something that has some sort of preparation step. Like, if there was a pan of warm brownies in front of me, I'd eat the whole thing. If they're frozen individually and I have to take the time to heat them up, I'll think before binging.

Hmmmmm.... very interesting! Thanks scgirl!

I'm glad to meet someone else on here who admits to still going to old favorites (but making a healthy switch, which is nice!)

Do you buy regular old canned pumpkin, or unsweetened? (I've never personally seen it unsweetened, but apparently a lot of people on here use it for other stuff)

That's a clever idea and good to know it freezes well, too. I would be MUCH more inclined to take out the single serving (like a hostess cupcake! lol) and nuke it and eat instead of a granola bar or something like that.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by BrandNewJen:
Do you buy regular old canned pumpkin, or unsweetened? (I've never personally seen it unsweetened, but apparently a lot of people on here use it for other stuff)

I just use regular canned pumpkin. I didn't know there was such as thing as sweetened vs. unsweetened. To be honest, the stuff I use doesn't taste sweetened to me (I like to eat it like pudding, but I always add Splenda and cinnamon). Anyways, I just use one box of fudge brownie mix and one can of pumpkin. Mix it together and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. I usually cut it up into about 20-24 pieces. They're really rich, so a little bit heated up with some SF Cool Whip and sliced strawberries is insanely good!!!

Applesauce is also a good fat substitute in baking. You sub it 1:1 for oil or butter. You lose a little in the texture, but save big time in the calories.

Btw, dark chocolate is a "whole food". :)

Myself I won't eat things like 100 calorie packs. I eat very little in the way of processed foods. I honestly do not trust the government to police the companies making this stuff. But my reasons for this are strictly health based and not weight loss based. Plus, they are mine reasons, not yours.

You need to find what is going to work for you. If you are eating healthy food the rest of the day I don't think having a 100 calorie pack is terrible. I really like the idea of 90% healthy food and 10% discretionary food. I'm in awe that you didn't want a home made cookie! That is usually what I end up having as my treat (when I make them.)

BTW, I'm going to agree with everyone that 100 calories of high quality dark chocolate is so much more satisfying to me then most treats! Not to mention that studies are starting to show just how healthy pure dark chocolate is.

100 calorie packs were kind of training wheels for me. I started off with one a day, sometimes more- especially for my sweet tooth after lunch. Now, I don't even enjoy most of them (too processed for my palate)

For sweet treats- I love apples, they're filling and just right, one or two small pieces of chocolate, one "real" cookie or brownie, or homemade chocolate mousse, lazy style. Mix sugar free pudding mix with coolwhip and just a touch of cocoa powder. Quite yummy. Or, I'll bake some frozen peaches with brown sugar, splenda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and just an eensy eensy bit (like 1/8 tbsp) butter. Or, cut a banana inhalf, brush it with a really light dusting of rum (I heart coconut) and a bit of cinnamon. Broil it just until the top carmelizes.

I say if having a 100 calorie pack keeps you from splurging on higher calorie desserts, go for it! The whole point to me of calorie counting is finding a way to eat healthier that you're going to be able to stick with. So, if that keeps you in check, than go for it! better to eat a few processed snacks but overall be eating the good stuff than to not be able to eat healthy at all. the snacks I tend to eat are the quaker oats rice cakes (in white cheddar which tastes like smart food popcorn, or the caramel one, which reminds me of cracker jacks) they're 45-50 calories or so. sugar free jello packs are 10 calories. I also like the kashi pumpkin spice granola bars, its 190 calories a serving but its so dense that I find it fills me up pretty well for just a snack. I also second the skinny cow products, thats a great low calorie snack for when you really just need an ice cream. sugar free popsicles are low calorie as well (offhand I can't remember what the calorie content is, but its less than 100 a popsicle).

i got sugar free fudgesicles that are 90 calories each...those are good

100 calorie cheezits have been a great thing to stop me from eating the whole box. The other non weight related nice thing about 100 cal packs is that they always stay fresh since they are individually wrapped :D

I guess I think about them the way SouthLake does--they are like training wheels. I see no harm in using them, unless you find yourself eating more than one... At which point you'll know they aren't helping! :yikes:

Once you get used to eating things that aren't as sweet or as junky, you may find, as you mentioned in your earlier post, that you don't think of them! And that is a bonus right there.

I haven't used 100 cal packs, but I have been known to divide foods up into serving sizes and package them myself.

Jay

I'm not crazy about the taste but 100 calorie snacks is a good idea if you like them. Way better than a little debbie brownie (my weakness) I stopped eating doritos and started eating pretzels and my boyfriend and I are doing the same thing you are. It is amazing how bad we were eating. But theres nothing wrong with those snacks and kudos to you for only eating one a day!

100 calorie packs wont fill you up at all, they're pretty much empty calories

I personally hate feeling hungry so I try to use my calories on things that fill me up. So if I want a treat I try and make sure it's at least filling, some of my favorites are.

*fiber one chewy bars (in chocolate or peanutbutter) they are 150 calories and have 10 grams of fiber so that they fill you up.
*nonfat yogurt
*jello 60 calorie pudding cups in mocchachino (some milk protien so it's not a total waste
*a box of rasins or a pineapple cup in juice (so sweet)

Originally Posted by Catherine999:
100 calorie packs wont fill you up at all, they're pretty much empty calories

I personally hate feeling hungry so I try to use my calories on things that fill me up. So if I want a treat I try and make sure it's at least filling, some of my favorites are.

*fiber one chewy bars (in chocolate or peanutbutter) they are 150 calories and have 10 grams of fiber so that they fill you up.
*nonfat yogurt
*jello 60 calorie pudding cups in mocchachino (some milk protien so it's not a total waste
*a box of rasins or a pineapple cup in juice (so sweet)

I know they won't fill me up. I use them as a crutch mostly, to satisfy my sweet tooth. I love fudge stripe cookies and so the 100 cal packs satisfy my craving for them. I get that they are empty calories, but I don't really care either. It's only 100 calories out of my 1200 for the day. These are a very minimal part of my intake. Like maybe 2-4 a week. Definitely no more than 1 a day. If I was trying to exist soley on 100 cal packs, then I might be more concerned, but I am just not willing to give up a little bit of garbage. That's why I have chosen to calorie count. So that I can indulge once in a great while.

I like the 100 cal popcorn's... I know how much I'm eating and it's my weakness.

I really really like LUNA bars. The one that I had today was Nutz over Chocolate. It has 10g of protein, 3g of fiber and is 70% organic. At 180 calories it was worth it. It was delicious, chocolatey and nutty and tasty. MmMmMmMm

Ok, I have discovered the quaker mini delights caramel drizzle. They are like eating little caramel covered cookies! They are wonderful. I haven't had a 100 cal pack in several days. But these, I could do every day. And they are just 90 calories and there's quite a few in a pack. Yummy!

I've tried the 100 calorie Keebler grasshopper cookies and as much of a delight as there were (I love chocolate mint), I will not be buyingthem again any time soon. What a waste of packaging material!!!! If they made bulk packages, I'd probably get them, but not the way they are packaged now. I understand that they are packaged that way for a reason - for those who overindulge if left to a big package, but it is terrible for the environment. I like the fact that the are tiny little cookies, because I eat them slower and savor them more than I would a larger cookie. But, well... until they offer something similar with less packaging, no more for me.

I like the idea of portioning them out myself, but if using snack bags or something, it adds to the waste. If I was at home all the time no biggie, but I am not. I work full time. Any ideas?

You can reuse ziplock bags--we wash them out after every use and put them back in the drawer for reuse. They give out eventually, but you can get many uses out of each bag. Saves on waste a little bit.

Originally Posted by :
I say if having a 100 calorie pack keeps you from splurging on higher calorie desserts, go for it! The whole point to me of calorie counting is finding a way to eat healthier that you're going to be able to stick with. So, if that keeps you in check, than go for it! better to eat a few processed snacks but overall be eating the good stuff than to not be able to eat healthy at all.

I agree.
The 100-calorie packs work fine for me. They have their place. If I get a craving for a salty snack or something sweet, it's nice to have. The portion control is nice, especially if that's something you're struggling with or are unsure of. Obviously, the purpose would be defeated if you ate 6 baggies all at once or whatever. But if the one bag keeps you from craving more, it's done what you needed it to do, I think. That being said, they are more expensive and if you can manage buying a regular size box and portioning it out yourself, at least you save some money.
I agree about Skinny Cow. I just "discovered" those a couple of weeks ago. Those round no-sugar ice cream sandwiches made with Splenda are de-lish!
I've also been eating more fruit (particularly oranges, bananas, grapes) so sometimes those are my snacks.
I'm definitely eating better than I was before. The junk food has a place but it's not as big a place as before. ;)

I'll have to try washing the baggies - never gave it a thought. Maybe some of those little ziploc containers might be worth a try too - more bulky, but I'd imagine they'd be easier to wash