EXPOSED: 100 Cal Snack Cookies and Healthy Alternatives

Now, we all know that these 100 calorie snacks are filled with preservatives and artificial ingredients but this one takes the cake. I literally could not find one "real" ingredient on this entire list.

100 calories
8 grams of sugar
3 g of saturated fat (claiming no saturated fats and polyunsaturated/monounsaturated fats)
80 grams of sodium

Trans-Fats: even if the label says 0, there is still a marginal amount of trans-fat in this product. Consumption of food containing trans-fat has equivocally shown to increase the risk of heart disease. There is an FDA loophole that allows manufacturers to round down to 0, even when there are 0-.49 gram of trans-fats in the food.

TBHQ: tertiary butylhdroquoinone) is used to keep oils from going rancid since it is a petroleum derivative. Yummy right?

Enriched Flour: white flour

Sugar

Hyrdogenated/Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil- partially hydrogenated oils containing saturated and trans fasts raise cholesterol levels

High Fructose Corn Syrup-Corn syrup is a sweetener that is chemically similar to table sugar. However, too much added sugar can contribute unwanted calories that are linked to health problems, such as weight gain, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and high triglyceride levels. All of these boost your risk of heart disease

Soy Lecithin- Lecithins are oily substances that occur naturally in plants (soybeans) and animals (egg yolks). Soy lecithin possess emulsification properties-meaning it helps keeps things together.

In conclusion: You get all this "fluff" for only about 6 mini cookies...literally they are tiny enough to fit into the palm of your hand. While you may think you are getting a good deal by enjoying a lower calorie version of your favorite snack, the small portion will leave you feeling dissatisfied. Similar 100 calorie snack packs offers short-term satisfaction and 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. If you want low calorie snack alternatives, try some suggestions from below:

-a 1/4 cup of almonds
-fresh fruit (whole banana, whole apple, whole grapefruit)
-chopped fresh veggies (baby carrots, sliced cucumbers)
-1 cup of natural yogurt/natural Greek yogurt. I have found that the thicker the consistency of the yogurt, the healthier it is for you (more nutrient dense than their creamy counterparts)
-milk and peanut butter-- trust me, just enjoy a heaping spoonful of this crunchy (or creamy) goodness with a cup of your favorite milk or milk product

-Eating Clean in College