Are my “smart” snacks packing on pounds? In an effort to lose my 35 post-baby pounds, I started eating more low-cal foods. And when it comes to snacks and cookies, I stick to those 100-calorie packs. But after a month, I gained another 5 pounds! Why?
New research may tell us: Women who categorize these 100-calorie mini packs as “diet food” actually overindulge in them, according to a study in the Journal of Consumer Research. The tiny snacks made dieters feel so deprived, they subconsciously ate up to 700 extra calories daily. Yet when faced with normal-size cookies in larger packaging, 96 percent of the same people did not overeat. To get the portion-control benefits without the sensation of deprivation that sabotages slimming, I recommend filling several baggies with two regular-size cookies apiece (or the amount that equals 100 calories) and stashing the baggies in a cookie jar. The simple stall that’s involved in going back to the jar for a second baggie will give you time to assess whether you are actually hungry. Or, for the speediest weight loss, trade processed snacks for natural 100-calorie treats, like two apples, a banana, 10 almonds or 1/2 oz. of dark chocolate.
