We’ve been super-sized
August 29th, 2008 at 02:26pm Mike DeDoncker
I guess it had to happen — the snacks in the vending machines here at the Register Star got bigger last week.
Not surprising when you figure that the concept of what constitutes a serving size is way out of proportion to reality, but that’s another story.
And it’s not that my occasional salty chips fix now costs 75 cents a crack instead of 40 as much as it means I have to pay attention to that serving size.
Instead of something like three-fourths an ounce of deep-fried corn and salt (oh, the tragedy), it’s now one and three-fourths — translating into about 120 more calories, more total fat and more sodium, assuming I eat the whole bag.
So, if you’re like me, what can you do?
Well, barring some weird situation, no one is probably forcing you to eat the whole bag at one sitting. A rubber band around the package will keep a second serving fresh for another day.
Here are a couple of other things you could do:
Bring your snack — you control the serving size — from home and pick a healthier option unless you just h-a-v-e t-o h-a-v-e that salty snack. Either way, you’re better off.
Make sure you’re not confusing hunger with thirst. When you get the urge to hit the snack machine, first drink the biggest glass of water you can stand. Doesn’t have to be all at one gulp, but drink it all. Then wait 10 minutes.
If you’re still hungry, go eat something. If you’re not still hungry, you were only thirsty. You’ve satisfied that thirst and you haven’t ingested one single calorie.
Entry Filed under: personal fitness, healthyrockford.com
7 Comments Add your own
1. jennie pollock | August 29th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
this is precisely why i have granola bars in my desk.
jennie pollock, deputy managing editor
2. Mary Kaull | August 29th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Can’t speak to why we’re super sizing here at the News Tower, but I’ve been thinking for a while that the package-downsizing going on with food manufacturers will work to slim people down.
Because of high commodity prices, Kraft and other companies have quietly been making their products smaller and, therefore, less caloric. Will people notice and compensate elsewhere? The scales will tell the story!
3. Javan | September 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Why is a guy like you eating chips anyway? You are Mr. Health. I am shocked by this. Next thing you tell me will be that you eat at McD’s on a regular basis.
4. Mike DeDoncker | September 15th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Javan: Nobody’s perfect, and when I need to fall off the wagon chips are usually my sin of choice. The idea is moderation in everything.
As for eating at Mc Donald’s, I won’t say that I never do, but you can count the number of times per year on one hand and have a couple of fingers left over — and I don’t go for the big sandwiches with all the extra cheese and sauces. Sorry about not answering you earlier. I just got back from vacation.
5. Lawrence Gregory Clarkson | September 19th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Mike, I know this isn’t your area, but you give such good advice on exercise, I thought maybe you could help. Can you please explain to me what the heck a mortgage based security is?
6. Mike DeDoncker | September 19th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Lawrence: You’re right when you say that isn’t my area. In fact, things with too many numbers make my head hurt. I looked up information about your question, though, and I think you might get your answer — although it will take some careful reading — at www.finpipe.com/mbs.htm. Hope this helps.
7. Lawrence Gregory Clarkson | September 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 am
Mike, you rock. Thanks.
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