Svelte Snacks Part 2: More Healthy Treats Under 250 calories!

By: Finance Foodie

Whoo hoo!! I made it another week! Another 5 work days without the help of Mr. Joe Starbucks getting me through the day!! And you know what? I actually feel much more energized and “clean” (after the initial caffeine withdraw symptoms, natch). I have to admit, I did feel the temptation to cheat some days (especially during meetings where everyone had a Starbucks mug…), but I STAYED STRONG. Ok, so I was totally helped out by my visit to the Natural Products Expo, where the healthy and organic snacks samples helped fill my drawers with fun (yet good-for-you) snacks during the week! My snacks last week as follows after the jump...

Day 1: 230 calories
One serving sized bag of Food Should Taste Good Blue Corn chips (210 calories) and 2 tbsp picante sauce (20 calories)

You already know that I can eat picante sauce with everything, but I love it best on chips – specifically these blue corn chips. I’ve been a fan of Food Should Taste Good’s wholesome products for a long time now (I usually get their Multigrain chips from au bon pain for lunch) so I was glad to test drive their new Blue Corn offering. Why? Because all food should taste good, duh!

Day 2: 190 calories
One Think Thin Chocolate Covered Strawberry nutrition bar (200 calories for the bar – but I only ate half) and one can of Izze Sparkling Apple Juice (90 calories)

So I admit it, I wanted to try these Think Thin bars because Gwyneth Paltrow is a huge fan and has raved about them on her GOOP.com site. Lesson learned: never trust a (super skinnnnny) Hollywood actress for food advice. This bar tasted nothing like a chocolate covered strawberry – the consistency was slightly cardboard-ish and there was a strong medicinal after taste. I could barely eat half (and I remember being really hungry this day). Luckily, I had my Izze drink to wash that hot mess down. This all natural fizzy apple drink really “perked” up my afternoon – hello happy hour in my cubicle!

Day 3: 210 calories
½ cup Roba Dolce Pistachio Gelato (210 calories)

Once again, not technically “healthy” but a great substitution for the more fattening ice creams out in the market with the awkwardly green food coloring (please, no need to remind us pistachios are green)! The large and generously sprinkled pistachios are also a real treat for a nice crunch in every bite.

Day 4: 240 calories
1/2 cup Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal (160 calories) and 1 cup Earth Balance Unsweetened Soy Milk (80 calories)

This lightly sweetened red headed step child of the original Fiber One (which tastes like rabbit pellets) was super tasty and a great way for me to get my daily fiber intake (because its really important to be regular). The only qualm I have is that this cereal is sweetened with corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup – but like I always say, moderation is the key!

Day 5: 250 calories
One box of O.N.E. Fruit Punch coconut water (60 calories), Pirate Booty’s homestyle bbq flavored potato flyers (90 calories), and one Clif Kids Strawberry fruit twist (70 calories)

Healthy yet yummy versions of kid friendly favorites! Man I wish I had these in my lunchbox as a kid…

Do you think I can make it another week? Taking bets now : -)

****Giveaway****

Congrats #28! - Chief Family Officer

Fiber One wants one of my lucky readers a prize pack consisting of VIP coupons good for one free box of Fiber One cereal and one free box of Fiber One bars, and a $25 Safeway gift card (also valid at Dominick’s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, and Genuardi’s).

There are THREE ways to enter:
1. In my comments section, tell me if you think I can stay on my no coffee regimen for another week (I need your support!)
2. Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter (leave separate comment telling me this)
3. Reblog / Retweet this giveaway (leave separate comment telling me this)

Contest ends November 1, 2010 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards that night!

Fiber One provided me with the cereal to review and the products for the giveaway through MyBlogSpark