Well, the year is almost over. But 2007 gave us soooo many new and delicious guilt-free foods to chew, we couldn't wait 'til New Year's to celebrate! Here are HG's picks for the best guilt-free foods of '07....
Standout Portion-Controlled Snack: Hostess 100 Calorie Packs in Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting
PER SERVING (1 pack, 3 mini cupcakes): 100 calories, 3g fat, 140mg sodium, 22g carbs, 5g fiber, 10g sugars, 2g protein
Hostess really upped the ante in the 100-calorie food world with these babies. Sure, they could have made one regular-sized 100-calorie cupcake. But eating THREE individually frosted cakes is way more fun. These packs also come in carrot cake and golden cake varieties, but it's the chocolate one that's earned a special place in both our hearts and kitchen cabinets. Congrats, Hostess ... you take the cake!
Most Impressive Pre-Packaged POINTS® Labeled Food: Progresso Light Soups
PER SERVING (1 cup): 60 calories, 0 - 0.5g fat, 740 - 840mg sodium, 12 - 14g carbs, 4g fiber, 2 - 4g sugars, 2 - 3g protein
Another groundbreaking product that hit shelves in '07 is Progresso's line of light soups (the first-ever nationally branded light soups on the market). These cans contain the first and only soups endorsed by Weight Watchers with a POINTS® value of 0 per serving (for those of you not familiar with the WW system, that's a very good thing!). They come in five amazing flavors -- from the minestrone-like Italian-Style Vegetable to the super-delicious Southwestern one. And they're all very filling (thanks to the 4 grams of fiber packed into each serving).
Snack Bar of the Year: Fiber One Chewy Bars
PER SERVING (1 bar): 140 - 150 calories, 4 - 4.5g fat, 90 - 105mg sodium, 28 - 29g carbs, 9g fiber, 9 - 10g sugars, 2 - 3g protein
After years of tasting the same old snack bars, we couldn't believe our tongues when we first devoured these things back in February. Not only do they taste like gooey, chewy candy bars, but they're also loaded with protein and fiber, so they leave you satisfied. The chocolate one rocks and so does the peanut butter. But we've heard rumors about a brand-new flavor on the way in 2008. Can't wait!
Best Chip Innovation: Popchips
PER SERVING (1 oz., 19 - 23 chips): 120 calories, 4 - 5g fat, 160 - 310mg sodium, 17 - 20g carbs, 1 - 2g fiber, 0 - 2g sugars, 1 - 2g protein
Baked chips can be a little bland, but these revolutionary Popchips are anything but. They come in a crazy amount of fun varieties -- there's the classic Potato Chips (in Original, Barbeque, and Parmesan Garlic), crunchy Corn Chips (in Sea Salt, Hint of Butter, Salsa, and Cheddar), and crispy Rice Chips (in Wasabi and Sea Salt). These tasty chips are literally "popped" with heat pressure, and they have half the amount of fat as regular chips. They're also all natural, and you get to chew an insane amount of them for each low-cal serving. Click here for more Popchips 411.
Most Exciting Addition to an Already Fantastic Food Line: House Foods Tofu Shirataki Angel Hair Shaped Noodle Substitute
PER SERVING (4 oz.): 20 calories, 0.5g fat, 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 2g fiber, 0g sugars, 1g protein
We've been hooked on the super-low-cal Tofu Shirataki noodles for a while now. The fettuccine and spaghetti shaped ones have inspired tons of HG recipes, but not everyone out there was convinced they were a worthy swap for actual pasta. Well these super-skinny angel hair strands are so good, they're winning over even the most diehard skeptics. Just get the ABCs down -- A) Always rinse well, B) Blot and dry the heck out of 'em, C) Cut those noodles up -- and then prepare for endless pasta-bilities! Look for 'em in the fridge section of the market with other Asian items, or click here to order online.
Fool-the-Family "Ice Cream" of the Year: Dreyer's/Edy's Loaded Frozen Dairy Dessert
PER SERVING (1/2 cup): 110 - 140 calories, 3.5 - 6g fat, 45 - 70mg sodium, 18 - 21g carbs, 1 - 2g fiber, 12 - 14g sugars, 2 - 3g protein
We swore we'd never stray too far from our favorite low-fat ice cream, Dreyer's/Edy's Slow Churned Light Ice Cream. And since this stuff is made by the same family of dairy folks, we figure we're not exactly cheating. The best part about these treat-packed frozen desserts is that they look and taste just like your average fattening ice cream -- so your kids, hubby, roommates (or whoever you share freezer space with) will never guess they're guilt-free. With flavors like Butterfinger and Chocolate Fudge Brownie, these'll win over serious candy cravers and decadent dessert fanatics. But with such low calorie and fat amounts (plus some fiber thrown in for good measure), they'll also score big with the diet-savvy crowd.
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