100 & counting

They're so tempting -- those pre-packaged 100-calorie snacks that beckon us from store shelves with promises of convenience and healthy eating.

And bite-sized versions of our favorite junk foods are so cute. After all, who could resist tiny Pringles, miniature Hostess cupcakes and pint-sized Chips Ahoy?

The answer: Anyone interested in nutrition.

"I'm not saying that they are all bad for you, but I am saying that you've got to be cautious if you're buying 100-calorie snacks to lose weight for a healthy lifestyle," said Bridget Kindahl, a cardiac-care registered nurse at the Keller Wellcare Center in Sheffield.

Her main concern is portion control.

Advertising makes it seem as if 100-calorie snacks are healthy, but people without willpower may not stop at one 100-calorie bag, she said.

"A lot of people eat two or three bags every day. Teenagers may down five or six bags of different kinds -- cookies and crackers -- and not realize that they've taken in 500 or 600 extra calories," Kindahl said. "Those bags really add up. They're small and may not satisfy you."

Portion control is key, said Mary Martin Nordness, of Huntsville, nutrition communications director for the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association Inc.

She's a fan of the convenient packs, enjoying a mid-afternoon snack of whole-wheat crackers and reduced fat cheese.

"These sensible snacks have made portion control easy," Nordness said. "According the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, Americans do not eat enough whole grains, fruits, vegetables or low-fat dairy. For added nutrition, choose the whole grain 100-calorie snack packs and pair with fresh fruit or a serving of dairy."

Read labels of 100-calorie snacks just as closely as you would any other food, Kindahl added, especially since many are just as high in sugar and saturated fat as their full-sized counterparts.

Expense is another issue. Compared to multi-serving bags, 100-calorie packs may be priced at a third to twice as much -- or more. And they go fast.

"If you have kids around, those things are gone the next day," Kindahl said.

Of course, one 100-calorie bag of Pringles Minis, with seven grams of fat, for example, is a better choice than a 1.5-ounce Big Grab bag of Ruffles potato chips, with 240 calories and 15 grams of fat, she added.

"But maybe we should go back to the basics of eating," Kindahl said. "Portion control is so important. You can have almost anything you want if you practice portion control. If you want to have a bag of real potato chips, do it and enjoy it -- just don't do it every day. That's better than eating a bunch of 100-calorie bags every day and thinking that you're being healthy."

Mary Ann Humphres, with the Child Nutritional Program in Red Bay, agreed.

"When we go to state nutritional conferences, they tell us to read labels and make sure to eat more fruits and stick with whole grains," she said. "Any kind of fruit is good. When you eat cookies, for instance, go with more whole grains and less sugar. People need to be concerned about nutrition and not eat a lot of sweets."

Cathy Wood Myers can be reached at 740-5733 or cathy.myers@timesdaily.com.