100-calorie packs can be deceiving to dieters

Judy Fortin, CNN News

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 21, 2008 at 6:38 PM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 21, 2008 at 6:38 PM EDT

(CNN) — 100-calorie snack packs are popular among people trying watching their weight. But are they really good for you?

Cookies, crackers and granola bars are now packaged in miniature, 100-calorie servings, but registered dietitian Page Love says the health benefits can be deceiving.

“Don't fall prey to the trick that the smaller cookies are really lower fat,” Love said. “They are not; it's the same product just in smaller form.”

She believes daily snacking is important to a healthy diet.

“It's almost like a mini meal and that's really what the objective of a snack should be — to give you a combination of carbohydrate and protein that holds you through your four hours until the next meal,” she explained.

Love suggests a combination of snack foods is better at satisfying hunger.

“Maybe string cheese with wheat crackers or maybe a glass of milk with a low fat cookie or maybe doing a piece of luncheon meat rolled up into a wheat tortilla,” she suggested.

When buying prepacked snacks, she recommends looking for whole grains, fruits, nuts and lower sugar content on the label and trying to avoid the temptation to eat more than one pack at a time.

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