In theory, 100 Calorie Snack Packs are a smart idea for snackers who want instant and automatic portion control. And as a nation of perma-dieters (over half of Americans are on a diet at any given time), we’re certainly fond of them: the market reached $200 million in under three years. But the problem with the 100 Calorie Snack Packs that are on the market today is that they’re the same junky, processed, additive-pumped food products that contribute to obesity--just packaged in tiny bags. More often than not, they don’t even contain hunger-killing nutrients like fiber, protein, or healthy fats, making them little more than 100 empty calories. And they’re not even economically advantageous: snack packs are often marked up by more than three times per ounce of food. Build your own snack packs; you’ll save money and make it to your next meal without crazy cravings.
Sweet
- Almond and Blueberry Oatmeal: ⅓ cup rolled oats, 1 tsp slivered almonds, ¼ cup fresh blueberries, cinnamon to taste
- Dark chocolate covered strawberries: 5 strawberries dipped into two squares of melted dark chocolate
- Apple slices, almond butter, and cinnamon: ½ Granny Smith apple, sliced, 2 tsp almond butter, cinnamon to taste
- Nuts and berries: 20 pistachios, ½ cup raspberries
- Chocolate Chia Pudding: ¼ banana, mashed; 1 T chia seeds; ¼ cup almond milk; ½ tsp cocoa powder
- Greek yogurt and granola: ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 T granola, 2 T berries
Savory
- Carrots and hummus: ½ cup baby carrots, 2 T hummus
- Sweet potato fries: ½ sweet potato, cut into slivers and roasted; 1 T ketchup
- Eggs over greens: 1 poached egg over 1 cup arugula, salt and pepper to taste
- Shrimp cocktail: Eight medium sized shrimp, 2 T cocktail sauce
- Tabbouleh: ½ cup, made with bulgar, olive oil, tomatoes, cucumbers, mint, parsley
- Minestrone soup: ¾ cup minestrone soup with 1 T parmesan cheese
Salty
- Smoked salmon on crackers: 1 Wasa cracker, 1 ounce smoked salmon, fresh dill
- Turkey roll-ups: Roll up two ounces turkey, pickle slices, and yellow mustard in 2 romaine lettuce leaves
- Caprese salad: one ounce fresh mozzarella; ½ cup cherry tomatoes; fresh basil; drizzle of olive oil; salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan popcorn: 3 cups air-popped popcorn; 1 T parmesan cheese; 1 tsp olive oil; dash of lemon pepper
- Chips and salsa: 13 Guiltless Gourmet Spicy Black Bean Tortilla Chips, 2 T salsa
- Edamame: ½ cup in shell; dash of salt
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