My Rant Against 100-Calorie Packs

Do you remember the fat-free craze? In college, I used to eat two bagels every day, thinking that I was being super healthy because they were fat-free or low-fat! And what occurred during the fat-free phenom? Everyone got fatter. Now, of course, we know that sugar converts to fat in the body if it is not used as energy. Then we had the carb-free phase. Those diets are effective but have their own set of problems, like causing the liver to go into a state of ketosis, plummeting energy, losing brain power and focus, and the fact that when you start going on carbs again (which you will...), you gain all the weight back plus some. Thankfully, those diet crazes have died down and most nutrition experts are promoting healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, and walnuts....and healthy carbs like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Even if you go by instinct alone, you know that this is better for your health because it just makes sense. Bottom line, it's the law of thermodynamics. If you burn more energy than you ingest, you will lose fat. So now people are watching their calories--a great idea for someone who wants to lose or maintain weight. But the big food companies are capitalizing on this new healthy approach to diet and exercise by advertising 100-calorie packs of cookies, chips, and other snacks as healthy options. Nabisco's new campaign, "Diet like a Diva" is downright hilarious. Here are the ingredients in their newest product, yogurt-covered pretzels:

YOGURT FLAVORED COATING (SUGAR, PALM KERNEL OIL, MILK, YOGURT POWDER [CULTURED WHEY

PROTEIN CONCENTRATE,

CULTURED SKIM MILK, YOGURT CULTURES], COLOR ADDED, SOY LECITHIN, SALT), UNBLEACHED

ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON,THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1],

RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2]], FOLIC ACID), SALT, CORN AND/OR CANOLA AND/OR COTTONSEED

AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL, CORN SYRUP, BAKING SODA, YEAST. CONTAINS: MILK, SOY, WHEAT.

You tell me--would any "diva" eat this? It is NOT FOOD. It may contain 100 calories, but it also contains 4 grams of fat, 3.5 of which are saturated, 16 grams of carbohydrates, none of the fiber, and 7 grams of sugar. You will have eaten all kinds of synthetic chemicals and unhealthy fats and oils...and it will have done nothing for you nutritionally. Chances are it won't fill you up, either. But it will spike your insulin, leaving you searching for another couple 100-calorie packs or some other carb-y sugary snack.

For about 100 calories, you could have:

1 medium apple with a teaspoon of peanut butter

1/2 cup quinoa with lemon juice

1 cup celery, 1 cup carrots, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, AND a cup of cucumber

3 slices turkey lunch meat wrapped around red pepper slices

3/4 cup lowfat cottage cheese

1/2 oz dark chocolate and 7 almonds

1 cup blueberries

These--and many more--snacks will leave you satisfied for a longer time, have great nutritional value, and are real foods.

So throw out your 100-calorie packs today, and reach for something nutritionally sound.