DIY Life

It is important for all of us to watch what we eat -- for our health and our waistlines. Studies have shown that an intake of less calories helps us live longer and the less that goes in, the less that stays on.

The big snack companies are capitalizing on this and packaging their snacks in 100 calorie bags. Convenient? Yes. Healthy? Debatable. A pretty cool idea? Sure. But if you do it yourself, you'll do it better than the big companies, for a slew of reasons.

1. You can make perishable snacks, thereby using fresh foods that are healthier.
2. By packing your snacks in reusable containers, you'll be saving waste and helping the environment.
3. Choosing your favorite snacks and counting them out into 100 calorie portions is an eye-opener: it really helps us think about what a portion should look like and how much we as a society really do overeat.

What do you mean you don't want to take out the time to count out the calories of your favorite snacks? Join me after the break as I do that part for you!



OK, maybe these will be my favorite snacks, but they might give you some new snack ideas and also help you monitor your own snacks easier. Be sure to check the gallery to see what some of these snacks look like. You may be surprised by the ample portions.

The 100-Calorie Healthy Snacks

• 7 baby carrots (five calories each)
• 2 tsp. all-natural almond butter or peanut butter (about 66 calories)

• 1/2 c. strawberries (25 calories)
• 1/2 c. plain whole milk yogurt (75 calories)

• small fruit salad
• 1 TB slivered almonds (33 calories)

• 2 TB hummus (50 calories)
• 5 baby carrots
• as many cucumber and celery sticks as you'd like

• 1 medium apple (75 calories)
• 1 TB cheese chunks or slices (25 calories)

• 1/2 medium banana (55 calories)
  
• 1-2 TB shredded coconut (for dipping!) (30 calories)

• 1 TB grain-sweetened chocolate chips (35 calories)
• 10 spelt pretzels (60 calories)

Hey, how'd that snack get in there? Well, I guess it is semi-healthy.

• 1 rice cake (35 calories)
• 2 tsp. almond butter

• nearly unlimited veggies sticks if they are green (cucumbers, peppers, celery)
• 1 TB Goddess dressing for dipping (basically Italian dressing with lemon and tahini)

I used Calorie Count to get the approximate amount of calories for these foods when I didn't have a package label to check. Don't forget to package these snacks in reusable containers instead of disposable plastic bags. You've now saved some money, saved the environment, and saved yourself a larger waistline. Go, DIY-ers!

If you share your 100-calorie snacks with us, we'll have more snacks to create ourselves, so add your faves to the comments.