By Stan

October 1, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

I think it appeals to the OCD in all of us. 100 is a nice round number and it is super easy to add them up.

I also think most of us, who are over weight, have forgotten what a proper serving looks like. I know I have. If I sit down with a bag of chips and munch I will eat till the bag is empty and the size of the bag does not matter.

Of course I’m a cheap SOB, so I try not to buy the 100 cal packs. I’d rather portion them out myself.

my $.02

By amy

October 1, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

I don’t snack. period.
I’ll have something light for breakfast-like yogurt, and then I eat two meals a day-lunch at 11:30am sharp-a hot cooked meal from the company cafeteria, and another hot cooked dinner anytime between 6-8 pm. Usually I eat the biggest portion at lunch though and try to keep it lighter at dinner. It’s not that hard to stay away from snacks, just don’t walk down that isle in the grocery store. period. And stay away from that vending machine at work. And if you say “i have kids who want those snacks” well then I say don’t buy them-it’s processed junk-instead buy them fruits cups, and vegetables-baby carrots, and cheese and nuts-(healthy snacks) The only exception is when i get a steak and cheese sandwich-i try to limit that to once or twice a month-I pile in the potato chips and texas pete on in the middle of the sandwich. MMM MMM Good.

By cdillard

October 1, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

Amy, you seem to imply that all snacks are bad. To the contrary, many studies now show that healthy snacking contributes to more stable blood-sugar levels and an increase in metabolism.

I am an avid snacker. I eat at least five times a day. I started doing this two years ago. By regulating my metabolism and avoiding ravenous eating, I was able to lose 30 pounds, maintain a healthy pregnancy, and lose my baby weight. Pre-pregnancy, my snacks typically were about 100 calories each (usually a serving/piece of fruit). As a pregnant (and now nursing) woman, my caloric needs are higher and I average closer to 150-200 calories per snack (an apple with PB, PB crackers, grapes and pretzels, etc).

I do believe Americans as a whole have lost sight of proper portions. Just look at the meals we eat at restaurants! For those people, the convenient single-serving packages are worth it. For me, I like them simply because they’re convenient.

By JYA

October 1, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

I never count calories. I eat what I want, when I want. I’ve never been overweight or fat, nor do I have any health issues. I am extremely healthy and fit. If I want a snack, then I eat it, but I don’t have snacks everyday though. I do eat vegetables and fruits everyday. I think the key is moderation.

By joey

October 1, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

I snack lightly. One large bag of pork rinds a day doesn’t weigh that much. They are “fluffy”. Also, those big bags of cheddar popcorn don’t weigh too much, so they are my light snack after the snack. Eating light helps me limit myself to just one double Whopper for lunch, but since I snack light, I splurge with the cheese and a super size french fry order. To round it out, I drink a diet Coke or two. For dinner, I choose from the light menu, a couple of healthy, light chicken sandwiches from whoever fries them right. Eating light is great, just weigh it out light.

By Joe Kennedy

October 1, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this

I have this fun trick I play on coworkers. When I hear they are trying to diet, I like to bring desserts into the office. They usually stay into their routine for a day or two, but usually give in. To add fuel to the fire, I leave little gifts of the sweets and chips they like - from their “secret santa”. They usually end up fatter than when they started.

By I always count calories

October 9, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

JYA is the kind of person we all admire (or envy) - the one who can take or leave food. Isn’t it ironic those souls who have never had a weight problem never drink diet drinks or count calories - they simply are not overly focused on food. Not keeping snack food in the house never kept me from eating something when I want it bad enough; after all I have a car and nearby grocery and convenience stores. I dislike the 100 calorie packs - to me they taste like cardboard and are absolutely unsatisfying. I’d rather enjoy a small portion of the real thing. I do count snacks in my daily calorie total - anything that goes into my mouth including beverages.

By thanks for the humor

October 9, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

Joe Kennedy cracks me up. We have several co-workers currently on Weight Watchers. To me that means more for me on birthday cake day!

By ATM

November 2, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

i am a fairly healthy person, and i exercise regularly. when i snack i eat what i want when i want. but i just cant stop myself from counting calories when i eat or drink anything. I can eat just about anything family sized to myself and when i count calories it makes me feel more comfortable with what i am eating.

i believe that regardless of what you eat if you calorie count it makes you feel more in control of what you are eating making us feel more comfortable with eating our chosen snack whether it is healthy or not