Homemade 100 (or whatever) cal packs

I know it is not anything new for anyone here but I just wanted to share my way of snacking. Maybe some will find it helpful.

I cannot "just eat one" of a lot of stuff, and buying 100 cal packs is pricey (I am a student). So I make my own whatever calorie packs. I buys regular stuff (cookies, chips, crackers, etc), and snack baggies, and then bag 1 serving ONLY in a baggie. A baggie can be worth less than 100 cal, or more, depends on food but it is 1 serving only.

Then I put bags back in the box and when I am up for something GOOD (but bad for me) I reach for ONE baggie out of the box and eat only one. That way I know exactly how much I consumed, it is easier to log in, keep track of calories and not eat much.

I  do that with everything when I bring it from the store: nuts, grapes (my weakness, because I can eat a whole bag or boxx in one seating!). Even carrots or other veggies (grape tomatoes, etc). That way I will more likely to grab a baggie on my way to school or put it in my lunch box.

Let me know if for anyone it is a revelation LOL

Good idea. It is extremely helpful as I have a family of five and have to budget. Thanks a bunch, Tia

Original Post by tiajuanna:

Good idea. It is extremely helpful as I have a family of five and have to budget. Thanks a bunch, Tia

 Yeah! and you can even make it a family activity - packing snacks. It is gonna be fun for the kids (well, unless they are teens and they usually don't like much of anything, LOL)

thats a wonderful idea!! plus it saves time later when youre trying to get out of the door and pack lunch!I pack alot of portions for traveling! mostly do I don't have to carry a whole box of something around...plus the "i cant overeat" thing helps too....plus once the kashi is gone, its gone haha

The last time I bought pretzels I sat down and counted the sticks into individual 65-calorie servings because I wanted to be able to have a baggie of pretzels and a laughing cow light cheese wedge for 100 calories. Like you said, it's so easy to log that way. It took a while to count them out, but it gave me something to do while watching TV.

I LOVE this idea! I'm a student too, so I'm always on campus, in the car, or otherwise. I can't afford those 100 calorie packs, so I grab a bag/box of whatever and tend to eat to the bottom when I'm studying or working.

I'll turn it into a game, ritual or group activity (a lot of my friends are watching their weigh too!).

I do this too!  I use little one-cup plastic containers that I found in the infant department.  They're perfect for one serving of my favorite snack foods, especially because then they can't get smashed in a baggie!  My faves are pretzels and Kix cereal.

I love this idea! and the one-cup plastic containers are a great idea too... Thanks :)

What a great idea, im finding it hard to restrict myself with nuts so this may be the way to go.  Just wondering, how many 'snack bags' do you eat a day?  Im worried im having to many snacks. 

I really love that idea! And am going to put it into action as of today. (have to go shopping after work)

 

reasons why I think this idea is great for me

a) it will be really easy to grab my snacks for work and the gym in the morning and will save me time and I can pack

b) It is economical

c) I can make bags out of what I like- so I can have salty, sweet and veggie snacks

d) It will help me eat enough I can take 3 different snack packs to work for throughout the day and it will remind me to eat my snacks!

e) It's good for the enviroment because I can reuse the little containers  I use for my snacks

I do this too! I bought a huge bag of nuts from sam's club (economy sized, but soo fresh and so delicious, and thus so worth it!) and i went through the entire bag with my food scale and made 1 serving bags. Otherwise it's so easy to eat a trillion calories of nuts!

I do the same with the laughing cow cheese wedges and crackers. I put half a serving of wheat thins (75 calories) in with one swiss light (35 cals) for a 110 calorie snack that i put in the fridge and just grab when i'm hungry. Pretzels I count out (I love the thin sour dough ones, 110 calories per five, and I bag them up.

When i'm packing a lunch for work or whatever, it's easy to just grab and that way i know how many calories I'm eating where and when! it's slightly exciting to me! haha :-p

Original Post by eskimo_em:

What a great idea, im finding it hard to restrict myself with nuts so this may be the way to go.  Just wondering, how many 'snack bags' do you eat a day?  Im worried im having to many snacks. 

 I seriously just have one. I mean one of carrots, one of grapes, one of crackers, etc, I also log them all in the evening for the next day, that way I know what I am eating and how much it is worth. And I do not overeat that way.

Awesome idea!