Before You Bite: A Closer Look at Snack Packs as Twinkies Join the 100 Calorie Brigade
By: Stepfanie Romine,
SparkPeople Blogger
11/7/2008 1:20 PM
: 209 comments
From rice cakes to cupcakes, crackers to chips, and everything in between, 100 calorie packs are the hottest trend on the snack shelves.
So what's the latest product to come in a 100 calorie pack?
The Twinkie.
Yes, your favorite sponge cake with creamy filling now comes in 100 calorie form.
The snack packs, called "Twinkie Bites," hit stores Monday, joining their 15 million pint-size Hostess brethren (cupcakes, muffins and coffee cakes) sold each year.
The three Twinkie Bites in each package look, smell and taste just like regular 150-calorie per cake Twinkies.
Which brings up an interesting point: If you shrink a Twinkie, it's still a Twinkie. It's not magically any healthier for you just because it's in a smaller package. You're only saving 50 calories and 2 grams of fat.
According to a SparkPeople poll, 64 percent of us buy 100-calorie packs at least occasionally. Why are we so enamored of snack packs?
Sure, they provide you with automatic portion control, which is so hard for many people. You could do the same thing at home by buying a regular bag or box and measuring out portions into sandwich bags or plastic containers.
The snacks produced in 100-calorie packs typically lack hunger-controlling nutrients (fiber, protein and healthy fats). This means that they won’t control your hunger for long and may lead to further snacking and higher calorie consumption over the course of the day. They're typically filled with preservatives, fillers and other empty calories.
And, they're expensive! For example, a box of six 100-calorie packs of chips weighs only 95 total grams but costs around $3.00. That's about the same price as a full-size bag of chips, which contains three times as much food. According to industry statistics, the 100 calorie snack packs garner $400 million a year! (The suggested retail price for the Twinkie Bites are $3.99 for a six-pack box, the same price as a box of Twinkies, which contain 10 individual cakes. That's 39 cents a serving versus 67 cents for the Twinkie Bites, a 67 percent markup.)
Snack packs do take the guesswork out of snacking. If you pick up a 100-calorie pack, there's little chance you'll be eating more than 100 calories if you only eat that one pouch of treats. However, there are plenty of other snacks that have 100 calories or so.
Here are a few snacks to get you started:
1/4 cup of low-fat vanilla yogurt with 1/2 a cup of blueberries and raspberries: 90 calories
1 2" diameter homemade chocolate chip cookie: 60 calories
An ounce of low-fat mozzarella cheese and 6 fresh basil leaves, with a cup of cherry tomatoes: 100 calories
5 ribs of celery with one tablespoon of peanut butter: 100 calories
Half a medium apple with a 1-ounce slice of low-fat extra sharp cheddar cheese: 90 calories
10 baby carrots and 2 tablespoons hummus: 100 calories
1 1/2 large rectangles of graham crackers: 90 calories
Tell us what you think: 100-calorie packs. Love 'em or leave 'em?
So what's the latest product to come in a 100 calorie pack?
The Twinkie.
Yes, your favorite sponge cake with creamy filling now comes in 100 calorie form.
The snack packs, called "Twinkie Bites," hit stores Monday, joining their 15 million pint-size Hostess brethren (cupcakes, muffins and coffee cakes) sold each year.
The three Twinkie Bites in each package look, smell and taste just like regular 150-calorie per cake Twinkies.
Which brings up an interesting point: If you shrink a Twinkie, it's still a Twinkie. It's not magically any healthier for you just because it's in a smaller package. You're only saving 50 calories and 2 grams of fat.
According to a SparkPeople poll, 64 percent of us buy 100-calorie packs at least occasionally. Why are we so enamored of snack packs?
Sure, they provide you with automatic portion control, which is so hard for many people. You could do the same thing at home by buying a regular bag or box and measuring out portions into sandwich bags or plastic containers.
The snacks produced in 100-calorie packs typically lack hunger-controlling nutrients (fiber, protein and healthy fats). This means that they won’t control your hunger for long and may lead to further snacking and higher calorie consumption over the course of the day. They're typically filled with preservatives, fillers and other empty calories.
And, they're expensive! For example, a box of six 100-calorie packs of chips weighs only 95 total grams but costs around $3.00. That's about the same price as a full-size bag of chips, which contains three times as much food. According to industry statistics, the 100 calorie snack packs garner $400 million a year! (The suggested retail price for the Twinkie Bites are $3.99 for a six-pack box, the same price as a box of Twinkies, which contain 10 individual cakes. That's 39 cents a serving versus 67 cents for the Twinkie Bites, a 67 percent markup.)
Snack packs do take the guesswork out of snacking. If you pick up a 100-calorie pack, there's little chance you'll be eating more than 100 calories if you only eat that one pouch of treats. However, there are plenty of other snacks that have 100 calories or so.
Here are a few snacks to get you started:
1/4 cup of low-fat vanilla yogurt with 1/2 a cup of blueberries and raspberries: 90 calories
1 2" diameter homemade chocolate chip cookie: 60 calories
An ounce of low-fat mozzarella cheese and 6 fresh basil leaves, with a cup of cherry tomatoes: 100 calories
5 ribs of celery with one tablespoon of peanut butter: 100 calories
Half a medium apple with a 1-ounce slice of low-fat extra sharp cheddar cheese: 90 calories
10 baby carrots and 2 tablespoons hummus: 100 calories
1 1/2 large rectangles of graham crackers: 90 calories
Tell us what you think: 100-calorie packs. Love 'em or leave 'em?
 You will earn 3 SparkPoints |
NEXT ENTRY > Habits of Fit People: Develop a Plan B
Comments
Even though it may fit into your 'suggested calorie limit,' it's still a twinkie, which is a processed piece of junk.
If you're really trying to make a lifestyle change, why not grab something a little more substantial that still fulfills your sweet tooth? greek yogurt with berries, peanut butter on whole grain crackers or bread, frozen fruit (bananas and grapes are the best!), or homemade baked goods made with apple sauce instead of oil or shortening. There are so many options out there if you just take a little bit of time to prepare them!
If you think that thinking ahead is too hard, you're probably unfortunately not going to get very far in your weight loss goals! You gotta put the time and effort in to see results! - 8/16/2011 7:02:41 PM
The food companies are catering to a niche market and can charge premium prices for these goods as long as there is a need for them. Many of us know someone (including ourselves) that justify our food choices because "it's only 100 calories". I would say that the people on this site are one step ahead of by focusing on the importance of portion control and making wise food choices. - 11/1/2009 11:39:37 AM
but this is me, a person who doesn't eat packaged snack food! i love the ideas for snacks that give more nutrition, taste better, and help your body! eat some carrots if you want crunch, eat a serving of fresh fruit if you want sweet, and eat some seeds/nuts if you want salty. we're all on this site to be health conscious aren't we? don't shortchange yourself (literally) by wasting your money on these marketing schemes! - 6/4/2009 10:46:25 PM
- 4/7/2009 3:29:00 PM
I spent my life with children (all grown now) and always counted every dollar. Now it is just me and because of my hectic business travel, I pay for convenience. It's a lot better than eating the box (and sometimes 2) of my favorite snack. - 2/6/2009 9:22:05 PM
Here's what I do, because I am a mom and responsible for packing lunches in my household.... I buy the "snack sized" zipper bags at my local discount store, and then split up the snackies into single serving bags that way. I can use a food scale for chips etc or count out a serving of cookies etc. It may sound anal retentive, but it works and it keeps my family my wallet within a healthy balance. - 11/13/2008 12:22:14 PM
Yes, I could have yogurt or fruit, but then you have to have the containers for them. Much more convenient to have everything packaged and not have to worry about refrigeration. My favorite pack right now is dried apples and peaches (single serving is actually less than 50 calories). - 11/12/2008 10:59:02 AM
My favorite 100 calorie snack is five dried prunes--like candy, but with fiber and potassium! - 11/11/2008 12:19:12 PM
I despise 100 calorie packs, I think they are a crutch and keep a lot of people from actually making good decisions because they think "100 calories" is synonymous for "healthy". When used sparingly or as emergency snacks they might be okay for some, but most people that I've seen with them still aren't making healthy decisions. I guess now that fat-free has been busted and just because its fat-free doesn't mean its calorie free, this is the new fad... Just makes you wonder what will be next! - 11/10/2008 7:21:17 PM
Something else to give up to have a healthier life....I think the overall benefits make it worth it. - 11/10/2008 9:14:21 AM
I buy these only for my 12-year-old son's bagged lunches. I never eat them personally. If I am going to snack I want something that is worth snacking on. I like the convenience of these small bags and the low calories they have compared to the other convenient greasy bagged items I can stick in his lunches. He enjoys the variety they now have. Each week he picks a new box whereas the Frito-lay has had the same greasy variety pack for decades.
Me, I'd rather have an apple or a yogurt. That is just me. - 11/10/2008 6:59:04 AM
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