61. Posted by Rayn Wolf on Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 5:58 pm PST

dearest a13burns...this is the biggest load of crap Ive read especially for children!!! A lifestlye change eatting little 20 g carbs and higher protein will end up killing your children as well as an adult if kept for more than a few weeks of this! You need carbs at least 120 g a day so your brain doesn't starve then theres the lil part of too much protein too many carbs leads to ketoacidosis aka kidney failure. HELLO this is the worst advise my god if you want you children to lose weight have then eat less processed and more natural whole fruits and vegetables. As to spleda...have you lost your bloody mind!?! Thats the worst stuff! Stevia as a sweetener is far better and totally natural, you can find it at most health food stores, trader joes, and mollie stones. Basically cutting the crap out of their diets and out of your house limiting sugar and calorie intake as well as uping the exercise should suffice. There will always be a few who havcve medical reasons for not being able to lose but the obesity we see in our kids is due to not enough exercise and too much sitting on their asses playing games or watching tv and eatting those fast food/processed foods. Kids are hardly going out to play anymore thanks to the technology influcence products everyone has to have. It is really sad....I myself have a child so I do know the struggle for them to eat healthy but I refuse to let him sit on his bum all day playing games or messing with a computer....

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62. Posted by kdjwedge@sbcglobal.net on Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 8:04 pm PST

I strongly dislike diet soda, but I have to say Sprite Zero is very good and has 0 calories!

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63. Posted by matt d on Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 8:14 pm PST

I like how they dont list the sugar content of each snack, which anyone with a fitness magazine can tell you makes you gain weight the fastest. Sugar is the enemy!

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64. Posted by Scott H on Wed, Dec 10, 2008, 9:17 pm PST

In response to Sandra B. There are many drinks that offer no calorie or low calorie options. The Powerade brand offers such drinks as Powerade Zero, Fuze offers a variety of fruit drinks at 50 calories a bottle. Others include Minute Maid lite, Diet Nestea, Coke Zero, etc. Hope that helps!

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65. Posted by xfreshasadaisy on Wed, Dec 24, 2008, 12:35 am PST

Chex Mix has trans fat. Enough said

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66. Posted by vegan.freak77 on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, 4:13 am PST

The only two things I would consider buying are the granola bar and the sunflower seeds. The pretzels are too salty, and are made with white flour. The potato chips are still potato chips, even though they try to disguise themselves as "healthy". The Chex Mix contains partially hydrogenated oils in them (at least they did a couple of years ago when I picked up a bag at a retreat I was at. When I read the ingredients, I dumped them in the trash. I was pregnant and my baby definitely did not need that crap. The last time I looked at a package of Fig Newtons, I saw white flour, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils and I think this was before the fruit listing and before the whole grain flour it supposedly has. (If whole grain is not the first ingredient, and it contains that other stuff, I don't buy it.) Twizzerls--- corn syrup, and/or high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, high unnatural carbs. The Nature Valley Granola bars are one of the few bars I have seen that don't contain corn syrup, HFCS, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial colors and/or flavors. (Compared to Quaker.) However, I get my fruit and grain bars and granola bars from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Them being organic is a plus, but they're cheaper. The gum is okay. I would probably buy that if I got spice happy at a meal and was headed to a meeting, interview, etc., where I needed to be professional or I just didn't want to kill somebody with my breath. The sunflower seeds are also good, provided they aren't salt happy. The protein bar, maybe, though most of them are just glorified candy bars. (Even Snickers has an energy bar. What does that tell ya?) Because I am cheap and know that real food can't always be found, I keep granola bars in my purse and dried cereal in the diaper bag (if it's not organic, then it's still devoid of the horrible ingredients).

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67. Posted by rkhsah@att.net on Thu, Jan 01, 2009, 3:41 pm PST

I read this and think it is a good idea to eat low carb and watch the sugar at first

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68. Posted by Molls on Thu, Dec 11, 2008, 4:21 am PST

Most processed foods have more sugar. Sugar turns to fat eventually. So even if they are low in fat, they might still be high in sugar. The granola bars are not a bad choice for people who work out because they do give you energy. I would suggest packing fruit or veggies to snack on . Yes they have sugar BUT they also have the nutrients your body needs, not just empty calories. They will also keep you satisfied until lunch or dinner.

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69. Posted by Poppy on Sun, Jan 04, 2009, 6:52 am PST

I believe you can anything as long as you eat small and several tims a day.However you must watch your portions. Have a Blessed Day.

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70. Posted by donovanjrl on Tue, Jan 06, 2009, 1:39 pm PST

i disagree with the first one..pretzels are not dat healthy because they have salt in them and when you eat a couple of them they are not filing so it causes one to eat to many of them and the carbs are not that good

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71. Posted by brianne h on Tue, Jan 06, 2009, 3:13 pm PST

It's not about calories! When people talk about calories, I want to scream.Like the "100 calorie packs"... JUNK! It's about carbs and fat! the extra carbs store as FAT and the fat... well.... you know what that looks like...so even though it's not AS BAD it's still JUNK! What about nutrition? When I eat junk, it's when I'm eating compulsively- and by the way, the food is out of a MACHINE...

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72. Posted by Judith K on Tue, Jan 06, 2009, 4:10 pm PST

Thank you Rayn, for saying much of what I had wanted to say in regard to the suggestions for foods for overweight children. As a nutritionist we see great challenges in families, often because the parents do not know what to feed their children. It is not because they don't want them to eat healthy...they often don't know how. Or economics plays a big part, because processed foods are often less expensive and therefore what is affordable. So we try and educate people and share ways for them to make better choices. Any kind of fruit is good....fresh, canned (in juice, preferrably or light syrup at most), frozen or dried. Same for vegetables. And PLEASE....don't try to limit your child's carb intake....they need carbs for fuel and for development. They just need "good" carbs...whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Be careful with beverages. A small amount of 100% juice is okay, but only a juice glass (4-6 oz) a day. Beyond that, 3-4 servings (8 oz) non-fat or lowfat milk and water for quenching thirst. And be sure to include some good protein each day...lean meats, beans, eggs (limit yolks, but eggs are cheap and a great source of protein!). Treats in moderation, too. If you forbid anything sweet or 'unhealthy', than it will only become more desirable. And as Rayn mentioned, exercise is VERY important. And yes, active play is exercise. Even better, play with your kids....good for all of you! Adults need to set a good example.

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73. Posted by countspeculla on Tue, Jan 06, 2009, 4:28 pm PST

I'm really kinda amazed at some of the comments on this list. I have worked in a parts warehouse loading trucks & pallets for the last three years. That's where all my weight came off at. I was a professional cook for 10 years before that & ballooned up to 245 lb. I honestly go through about 5k calories a day: meat, pasta beer (after work of course), and sweets. I occasionally just grab some of the junk out of the vending machines & it hasn't hurt me so far. I'm still 190 (at 6'3') and still can hoist 300 lb axles onto pallets all day with no trouble. The secret is not what you eat, but what ya do before and after it.

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74. Posted by sh on Tue, Jan 06, 2009, 4:51 pm PST

if you're ragging on HG for giving you the healthiER options from the vending machine, shut up. When I say healthiER I mean compared to all the other crap you could be grabbing out of it when you're on the run or are starving your butt off and a vending machine is your only option. It's the lesser of various evils. if you think it's SUCH a big deal to snack on some chex mix once a while, a) don't do it, b) your obsession with eating properly may be ridiculous.

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75. Posted by loving_angel_instant on Tue, Jan 06, 2009, 11:33 pm PST

oooh i love lay's

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76. Posted by Staci L on Fri, Jan 16, 2009, 1:27 am PST

Do not drink sodas as they are bad for you. Drink ice tea with no sugar in it, or try some ice tea with a packet of sweetner like equal or the others. They do work and no calories. You keep drinking regular sodas I will guarantee you will be come diabetic somewhere down the road even if its in your 40's. Watching what you eat and drink at a younger age is a very smart thing to do and to get rid of bad sweet habits. I wished I would of because I'm now a diabetic taking 3 pills a day. Never thought it would happen to me but it sure did!! Eat smart and drink smart. Read the labels before you buy it. Lots of calories,fats,sugars especially put it back!! Also look at sodium it is so high in so many things and that will hurt you also down the road as you get older. Just be a smarter choice maker when it comes to foods. Your body and yourself will reap the rewards. Trust me!!

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77. Posted by Babs on Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:39 am PST

OMG a13burns! Water and Splenda? Where are you? Prison?

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78. Posted by azure blue/palm trees/mj on Sat, Jan 24, 2009, 3:56 pm PST

vending machine food is o.k. for a quick fix when you have no other choice like in an airport or a hospital where choices may be very limited, or at work when you forgot your snacks from home, but try to stay away from the machines for the most part. they are expensive and how old and stale is the food in the machine. even though there are expiration dates on the items, wouldn't it be better to eat all food at its freshest. it is hard at first, but try to pack a snack bag with you before you leave the house. every day before i go to work, i decide what i would like to eat that day for a snack depending on what i will eat during my main meals of the day. i vary my snacks from yogurts, popcorn, pretzels, sea salt chips, fruits, vegetables such as celery, carrot sticks, granola bars, and a far as a drink, i take my own, such as a fruit drink or orange juice in my own bottle or plastic drink cup with a lid. tupperware has great storage containers and are colorful too. with the economy so bad right now and everyone's budget so tight, it is economical and wise to pack your own goodies and you are eating exactly what you want to eat because you packed it yourself. when you purchase from a vending machine often, you are burning a hole in your pocket financially when you know you can't afford it and you usually regret it afterwards anyway. when you take the time to plan ahead and shop for your snacks at the grocery store on your day off and package them individually the time you are going out the door, it only takes ten to fifteen minutes to do this, you not only are eating more nutritionally but also are becoming more financially savvy. we all say we don't have the time, but we do. just stop doing something you normally do all the time and make the time. it is worth it in the long run.

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79. Posted by azure blue/palm trees/mj on Sat, Jan 24, 2009, 4:29 pm PST

i left out a comment so vital to quality eating habits. there are so many food choices in this world today, there are absolutely no reasons for any one not to eat well. when i go to the chain grocery stores or even the locally owned grocery stores, how could anyone get bored with all of the food choices and food combinations/possibilities. there are absolutely no excuses for not eating nutritionally in this world today. just do it, for you.

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80. Posted by yp_geoff_great_falls on Wed, Jul 29, 2009, 8:44 pm PDT

Sunflower seeds are great HOWEVER the sodium in one tube is skyrocket.. and since salt retains water, that's what's going to temporarily gain you weight.

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