100 Calorie Packs

Does anyone else see a major flaw in all of the 100 calorie packs that overrun the snack aisle? In theory, they are great. You can fulfill your snacking desires with only 100 calories. And there are so many possibilities. I can eat chocolate for only 100 calories? Count me in!

So you throw a few boxes in your cart, speed through the rest of the aisles, and rush home so you can dive into your new snacking friend. You put away the cold groceries so they don't melt and/or rot. You dig through the bags to find the 100 calorie packs.

And then you open the bag.

Is this some kind of sick joke? Did someone with willpower to spare think up the 100 calorie packs to torture the rest of us?

I bought the chocolate covered pretzels. I adore chocolate covered pretzels. And I adored the ones in the 100 calorie pack. All 10 of them. Tiny ones too. Not a full sized pretzel. If I had the willpower to eat 10 chocolate covered pretzels would I be buying 100 calorie packs? Would I be trying to lose 50 pounds?

I can eat one of my 100 calorie packs but I'm not satisfied. All I can think about is eating another one. I want more of those chocolaty, yummy pretzels. I could easily polish off the entire box in one sitting. Suddenly, I'm eating a 600 calorie pack, not a 100 calorie pack. (I haven't actually done this. But I did have 2 bags in one sitting.) I'm better off not buying them because once I start with the chocolate I don't want to stop. If I avoid it altogether, I'm much better off.

My theory is that the 100 calorie packs are a gimmick. If you ate such a small amount of most snacks you would probably only consume around 100 calories. These companies are using the health food/dieting/weight loss craze to their advantage to make money. But then again, I suppose every company who sells anything preys upon some weakness in its target audience.

From now on, I'm sticking to my Skinny Cow (or as Hubs calls them, Happy Cow... at least he didn't call me a happy cow!) ice cream treats. At least I can enjoy a full sized treat for 3 WW points!

6 comments:

Christy said...

I totally agree - that's exactly why I can't buy them anymore. Because I could and have eaten a whole box at once. Same with Snackwells fudge cookies. ARGH!

jen@odbt said...

How disappointing...I think that would make me eat another pack or two or three. Skinny Cow rocks!

Rebecca said...

I used to eat the oreo cookie ones (they were nothing like real oreos) and to tell you the truth, they did the job but I worried about what they had to put in there to get them to be 100 calories. So I stopped eating them.

I think the good old eat-less move-more theory is the best.

amy lou. said...

you must check out the vitamuffins 100 calorie muffins (the muffin tops are good too, but not quite as satisfying). SO much better than the 100 calorie packs AND more filling (AND CHOCOLATE!!)

Brandi said...

I haven't ever bought the 100 calorie packs...for the sake of my sanity. I def. think i would eat more than one at a sitting.

2Wired2Tired said...

This is so true! I don't buy them either because I know I would never be able to eat just one. I do like the tips on Biggest Loser about making your own 100 calorie packs but getting the tiny ziplock bags and fill them with what you like. Than you actually eating what you want and not an imitation, so you feel a bit more satisfied anyway.
I like your blog and look forward to reading more!