Do 100-Calorie Snack Packs Make Sense?

The appearance of an increasing number of portion controlled 100-calorie snack packs in recent months indicates a growing acceptance by calorie conscious consumers wishing to limit their caloric intake while still enjoying an occasional snack. When Kraft introduced 100-calorie packs of Oreos and Chips Ahoy cookies they sold over $100 million in the first year. Since then the phenomena has spread to salty snacks, such as Cheez-Its and Pringle potato chips, as well as beverages, such as the 100-calorie Coke, Sprite and Cherry Coke cans. In addition,Yoplait has introduced 100-calorie cups of Light Thick & Creamy Yogurt.

The snack packs are not always just repackaged versions of their parent brands but, in some cases, are reformulated versions which allow the same taste while keeping the calories in line and providing enough pieces to provide tactile satisfaction while eating. An example of this is the Oreo snacks, which are actually Oreo 'crisps' rather then the traditional Oreo.

There are over 40 different 100-calorie packages available and the number is growing steadily. While many are also trans-fat free the jury is still out on how effective they are as a tool in losing weight. Consumers may find for their own appetite that the quantity in a 100-calorie portion isn't particularly filling or satisfying, leading them to eat more then one pack at a time. In addition the fiber content and nutritional value is low.

Others may find the portion controlled packaging a satisfying way to have a snack but not be tempted to continuously nibble from a larger container. The packaging does help to define for people what a reasonable portion is and in that sense it is a plus. In this day of 'monster burgers' and 'super-sizing' it is often easy to lose sight of what amount of any food item constitutes 100 calories or a reasonable portion from a dietary standpoint.

The other aspect of portion-controlled snacks is the higher cost per ounce in a 100-calorie format then the standard packaging. This is often not noticed until one does some comparative shopping and makes some calculations. For example:

Sunshine Cheez-Its are 24 cents an ounce in 16-ounce box and 66 cents an ounce in 100-calorie pack

Pringles Original Potato Chips are 35 cents an ounce in 6.5-ounce can and $1.09 an ounce in 100-calorie pack

Keebler Chips Deluxe Cookies are 25 cents an ounce in15-ounce pack and 70 cents an ounce in 100-calorie pack

For those that want the benefits of 100-calorie portion controlled snack packs but don't want the added cost there are various sites online (see link) which can aid in determining of weight in ounces of 100 calories of a snack. Using this information allows you to package 100-calorie portions of snacks in your own bags.

These comparative costs may be eye opening to some that assume that a smaller quantity of a cookie, snack or soda should naturally cost less. On the other hand perhaps the cost is tolerable if indeed the 100-calorie packs do help in an individuals weight loss program. After all it has been shown that on a yearly basis we spend over $1.3 billion on dietary weight control supplements!

The advent of 100-calorie snack packs will be a benefit to some if they stick to one package and gain a greater appreciation of the portion size that constitutes 100 calories. For others the added cost per ounce of the snacks in these packages will cause them to leave the package on the store shelf and using the regular packaged products or repackaging themselves. In any case the 100-calorie packs raise the awareness of consumers on the size of 100-calorie portions. are 25 cents an ounce in15-ounce pack and 70 cents an ounce in 100-calorie pack are 35 cents an ounce in 6.5-ounce can and $1.09 an ounce in 100-calorie pack are 24 cents an ounce in 16-ounce box and 66 cents an ounce in 100-calorie pack