Kid-friendly snack rates as 'bargain'
Kid-friendly snack rates as 'bargain'

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By Charles Stuart Platkin

Published: January 22, 2008

Here are a few of my latest Calorie Bargain findings — foods, drinks, products and services that help you live a healthier life.

Do you have a Calorie Bargain? E-mail it to me at info@dietdetective.com. If I use it, you will get a free copy of "The Diet Detective's Calorie Bargain Bible.”

• Funky Monkey Snacks — Carnaval Mix

Why: A survey published in April 2007 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that 72 percent of Americans do not meet the government's guidelines for fruit consumption. And it's not easy to get kids to eat healthy. That's why we really like these Funky Monkey Snacks. They have a great name and kid-attractive packaging (and a great Web site). To create the unusual flavors, Funky Monkey uses a proprietary process to freeze-dry whole slices and large pieces of fruit.

Health bonus: 2 grams of fiber and loads of vitamin C (34 percent of your daily needs).

What we liked best: No added sugar and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. They're 100 percent natural and 100 percent delicious.

What we liked least: They're available online but not in supermarkets, except on the West Coast.

What it replaces: Dried fruit, potato, pita and veggie chips.

Price: $1.99 to $2.49 for a 1-ounce bag.

Other offerings: Bananamon (banana and cinnamon), Jivealime (pineapple and lime juice), and Purple Funk (banana and acai — pronounced ah-sigh-EE).

Where to buy: www.amazon.com.

Nutritional information: (one package, 1 ounce) 110 calories, 0 g fat, 26 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 5 mg sodium, 1 g protein.

Ingredients: Carnaval Mix: freeze-dried banana, pineapple, apple, papaya and raisins.

• Smart Ones Anytime Selections from Weight Watchers — Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla

Why: I served these to a few friends who claimed they would never eat anything labeled "Weight Watchers” — and they loved them. Honestly, these taste great, and they're reasonably low in calories. They're made with grilled white meat chicken, a three-cheese blend, peppers and onions folded into a crispy flour tortilla.

Health bonus: A serving has 5 grams of fiber, 20 percent of your daily calcium needs and 6 percent of your daily iron needs.

What we liked best: The taste.

What we liked least: Wish they were 50 calories less so we could have two for lunch, and that Weight Watchers would make an organic version. The ingredients list is a bit too long.

What it replaces: Taco Bell.

Price: $3.19.

Other offerings: Fiesta Quesadilla.

Where to buy: Supermarkets nationwide.

Nutritional information: 220 calories, 7 g fat, 26 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 620 mg sodium, 12 g protein.

Ingredients: Too long to list. Check online at www.dietdetective.com/content/view/2937/65.

• Barbara's Bakery Snackimals — Chocolate Chip (Made with Organic Grains)

Why: Children love cookies (and so do adults), and with the latest research ( www.dietdetective.com/content/view/2633/82) showing that artificial food colorings and additives commonly found in children's food exacerbate hyperactivity in children at least up to middle childhood, it's a good thing that these are available. The crunchy, animal-shaped cookies are made with organic wheat flour and real chocolate chips, and they have no trans fats, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. And 1-ounce, portion-controlled bags are available.

Health bonus: 16 grams of whole grains.

What we liked best: Organic, no additives, and the calories per 10 cookies are not too bad.

What we liked least: They're still cookies, so they need to be eaten sparingly.

What it replaces: Chips Ahoy, Pepperidge Farm and other additive-packed chocolate chip cookies.

Price: $4.49 for a 6-ounce tray (six 1-ounce bags).

Other offerings: Snackimals Snickerdoodle, Vanilla and Wheat Free Oatmeal (all made with organic grains).

Where to buy: Amazon.com, Barbarasbakery.com, Whole Foods.

Nutritional information: (serving size: 10 cookies) 120 calories, 4 g fat, 19 g carbs, 80 mg sodium, 1 g protein.

Ingredients: Organic wheat flour, organic dehydrated cane juice, organic expeller-pressed canola oil, chocolate chips (dehydrated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), unsulphured molasses, natural flavors, baking soda, soy lecithin, aluminum-free baking powder.

• Mr. Krispers Tasty Snack Crackers / Toasted Sesame Snack Crackers

Why: Nice crisp taste, relatively low in calories and decent ingredients.

Health bonus: 23 grams whole grain per serving.

What we liked best: You get 30 tasty crackers for 120 calories, compared with about 10 chips.

What we liked least: They're sold in 4- to 5-ounce bags. Portion-controlled bags would make this a healthier snack. Also, the company has a strange Web address (http://69.11.245.5), and it's not updated to include all their offerings.

What it replaces: Chips and pretzels.

Price: $29.53 for a package of 12 (5-ounce) bags.

Other offerings: Sea Salt and Pepper Baked Rice Krisps, Barbecue Baked Rice Krisps, Sour Cream and Onion Baked Rice Krisps, Nacho Baked Rice Krisps, Sun Dried Tomato and Basil Baked Rice Krisps, White Cheddar and Herb Baked Rice Krisps, Original 4 Seed Multi-Seed Chips, Toasted Almond Baked Nut Chips.

Where to buy: mrkrispers.elsstore.com.

Nutritional information: (30 crackers) 120 calories, 2.5 g fat, 22 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 105 mg sodium, 2 g protein.

Ingredients: Brown rice flour, sesame seeds, potato starch, safflower oil, tamari soy sauce powder (tamari soy sauce [soybeans, salt], maltodextrin [corn]), salt and garlic powder.

Charles Stuart Platkin is a nutrition and public health advocate and founder of Integrated Wellness Solutions.