Are rice krispie treats very bad?

I just looked them up and was suprised they were so low calorie, but I was curious if they had any "mystery ingredients" like the beef fat that just happens to come up in hostess stuff? Or, as far as treats go, are they that bad?

They are extremely high in sugar but as an occasional treat, they won't kill you.  I don't have any in front of me so I can't tell you the ingredients -- sorry

The only thing to watch out for is gelatin if you're vegetarian, I know I used to be veggie (and fat!) and ate them all the time until I realized they had gelatin (which is made of horse hooves!) but like the person above me said, they are probably fine if you eat them every once in a while! i saw pink barbie ones at the store yesterday, i was so tempted to buy them, haha! and they still had 90 cals like the regular ones!

As I recall, the only ingredients are about 2 tablespoons of butter, a gob of marshmallows, and about 6 or 8 cups of Rice Krispies.  So, no, nothing really healthy in there, but for an occasional treat (assuming you don't eat the entire pan, which can be SOOOOO tempting), then probably ok if you can fit in the calories and have the self-control (I don't when it comes to these, so I don't make them anymore).  ;-)

The only "mystery ingredient" is partially hydrogenated oils...(trans fat)

Looking at an individually packaged bar now (1 serving = 74g), the bar is approx. 7 inches by 1.5 inches.  It says 0 trans fat in the 8g of total fat (2.5 saturated).  310 calories for the whole bar.  Cholesterol = 0.  High in sugar (28g) and sodium (350 mg, 15% DV).  Total carbs = 57g.

 Here's the good part though:  rice krispies are fortified with some vitamins; the bar is sizeable, so even half is a "satisfying" minor-impact cheat/treat at the end of a successful dieting day where you have the calories leftover after eating nutritiously low-cal.  It's better on the diet than ice cream but almost as tasty.

How about making your own.  And use real butter, it makes the store bought taste like crap, and it only takes a few minutes, and has to be better nutritionally.  But only an once in a while snack.

does anyone make these from scratch anymore?  and that's a tough decision ... making them with butter (which has negligible trans fat from milk, and which I've read reports that state this trans fat (from animal products) may not be as bad for your cholesterol as the trans fats from hydrogenating vegetable oils), but loaded with saturated fat ... or margarine, which does have the bad trans fats! 

but really, when it comes down to it, if you have the willpower to just eat one and get your fix, how bad could either of them be at that small a portion?

Trans fat from milk? WHAT WHAT WHAT? There's no such thing as natural trans fat! Trans fat is made from partially hydrogenated oils... butter has saturated fat, sure, but no trans fat. Where did you hear this from??

What kind of Rice Krispies Squares are you guys eating?! I have one bar every day as a snack (to tie me in between breakfast and lunch).

Oh, wait! You guys are eating Rice Krispies "Treats". Here, in Canada, we have Rice Krispies Squares.

One Rice Krispies Squares bar (22g)

Check out the nutritional facts.

http://www.kelloggs.ca/cgi-bin/klog-canada/fi leBlob.pl?md5=4a565aa95addb360d398c0aca2c7970 9

It's low in sugar, has little fat, has some nutrients, and is low in calories. It's great to use as an 'energy bar', or a snack. :)

http://www.kelloggs.ca/cgi-bin/klog-canada/pr oduct.pl?product=467&company=2

http://www.kelloggs.ca/cgi-bin/klog-canada/fi leBlob.pl?md5=4a565aa95addb360d398c0aca2c7970 9

Bring one bar on the go. This way, you aren't tempted to go home for more. ;P

By the way, I'm pretty sure the American version has blown everything out of proportion. Yay, Canada, hehe. :D

rainhana - from the FDA website. (among others)

my point was not to get into a trans-fat debate, MY jury is still out on how truly bad they are as compared to all the other stuff that's out there in our foods ... I think our government (U.S.) has been overly reactionary in banning it from restaurants, etc.

my point was how bad can one Rice Krispie Treat be??

But here you go:

an excerpt:

Basically, trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil--a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing these fats.

Trans fat can be found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils. Unlike other fats, the majority of trans fat is formed when food manufacturers turn liquid oils into solid fats like shortening and hard margarine. A small amount of trans fat is found naturally, primarily in some animal-based foods.

the link:

http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/2003/503_fat s.html

another excerpt:

Trans fat can be found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, baked goods, and other processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Small amounts of naturally occurring trans fat can be found in some animal products, such as butter, milk products, cheese, beef, and lamb.

the link:

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qatrans2.html#s 2q2

 

I think it?d be fine to have them as a treat. I can?t really do it because they kick off a craving cycle for me. I don?t know why but there are some sugared foods (not all) that just make me want more food in general, and Rice Crispy treats are one of them followed closely by those little 60 cal devil?s food cookies. Now the weird thing is I can have a 70 cal peppermint patty and I?m good to go, no extra cravings.

hey, brighteyes, me too (not the Rice Krispie Treats, I guess it's easy for me to say "they're no big deal" because I never touch them - I'm not a fan of marshmallows) - but of all things, peanut butter makes me want to eat everything in the house!  I know it would be good for me, if it didn't set off a binge!