Hungry Girl's CRAVINGBUSTERS!

Posted Mon, Apr 09, 2007, 6:00 am PDT

Got cravings? HG's got the 411 on some guilt-free swaps!

Kick a Chocolate Craving to the Curb ...

50-Calorie Limit - For those times when you've got to have chocolate but want to keep it extra low-cal, try some diet hot cocoa like the one by Swiss Miss. In fact, at only 25 calories per packet, double up for a super-chocolaty treat! However, if you've got to chew some actual chocolate to kick that craving, try Adora, a new calcium supplement disguised as a super-creamy 30-calorie hunk of chocolate! Creme Savers Sugar Free Hard Candies, in Chocolate & Caramel Creme, offer a long-lasting chocolate craving solution. Five of those have just 45 calories. Other low-calorie HG faves: Gayle's Miracles Truffles and No-Cal Chocolate Soda.

100 Calories or Less - Rarely is a reduced-calorie creation better than the original. Well, Nabisco's 100 Calorie Packs Oreo Thin Crisps have earned that honor. These crispy cookies are chock-full of chocolate flavor. And the pre-portioned bags are completely satisfying (there are about 20 crisps per bag!). New HERSHEY'S 100 Calorie Bars are perfect for those times when nothin' but REAL chocolate will do! Dark chocolate fans will enjoy their classic Dark Chocolate ones, while their Pretzel Bars and Wafer Bars feature that creamy HERSHEY'S milk chocolate we all know and love. HG's other pick: CocoaVia bars ... THEY ROCK!

200-Calorie Budget - When you've got 200 calories to blow, there are some crazy-good chocolate options. Guiltless Gourmet's Dessert Bowls, in Black Velvet Cake with Caramel Sauce or Hot Chocolate Brownie with Fudge Sauce, are an insanely fun way to eat a baked chocolate treat. These 200-calorie, just-add-water microwavable bowls can be a bit hard to find, though, so here are some other options. Smart Ones' Brownie A La Mode and Chocolate Mousse desserts are both super-delicious. And Luna's 190-calorie Caramel Nut Brownie bar is a fudgy, choco-rific treat you can take anywhere.

Got the Urge to Crunch?

50-Calorie Limit - One of HG's latest favorites is Nature Valley Fruit Crisps in Apple Cinnamon. Each 50-calorie pouch is packed with sweet cinnamon-licious crisps that kick a chip craving at a fraction of the calories. And oh baby, are we crazy for Gerber Finger Foods Fruit & Veggie Puffs! Eighty of these crunchies have only 25 calories, and they come in fun flavors like Strawberry-Apple, Banana, and Sweet Corn. No, they're not just for kids ...

100 Calories or Less - Perhaps the best 100-calorie answer to a crunchy craving attack is a Pringles 100 Calorie Pack. The original crunchy crispy snack is served up in pre-portioned packages and is available in both Original and Sour Cream & Onion. We also love JOLLY TIME Healthy Pop Microwave Pop Corn Mini Bags, in Butter and Kettle Corn flavors. Yum!

200-Calorie Budget - Kettle Brand Bakes Pita Chips are the latest crunchy sensation to hit shelves. And at just 120 calories an ounce, you can even top 'em with your favorite low-cal dip or salsa and still stay under your 200-calorie quota! And for the ultimate crunchy snack, it's HG's Lord of the Onion Rings! Simply slice up a small onion and dip the rings in a fat-free egg substitute; then coat 'em in either breadcrumbs or ground up Fiber One cereal. Bake 'em in the oven at 375 for about 20 minutes, and you've got an incredibly crispy, crunchy cravingbuster for less than 200 calories!

Lick That Ice Cream Craving ... Pronto!

50-Calorie Limit - Fudgsicle No Sugar Added Fudge Bars are a creamy craving-killer with only 40 calories per pop. With these, you can attack your chocolate and ice cream cravings all at once -- a double whammy!

100 Calories or Less - The latest and greatest 100-calories-or-less ice cream treats are Blue Bunny's 90-calorie Peanut Butter Fudge Bars. Yum! Also HOT (and cool!) from Blue Bunny -- their Sweet Freedom White Chocolate Almond Lites bars. Those are 100 calories of creamy white-chocolate 'n almond topped vanilla ice cream fun!

200 Calorie Budget - Sink your teeth into one of Skinny Cow's fat (but not fattening!) ice cream sandwiches. They come in creative flavors like Cookies 'N Cream, Strawberry Shortcake, and even Coffee. And they have only 140 calories each! With a 200-calorie budget, you can also enjoy any of the Edy's/ Dreyer's Slow Churned Light Ice Creams. We're talkin' Rocky Road, Caramel Delight ... Chocolate Fudge Chunk!?! Pick your pleasure! In fact, with most of 'em, you'll have enough calories left to top it off with a serving of Cool Whip Free or sugar-free chocolate syrup, or to serve it up in a low-cal cone. HG's Knock Your Socks Off Pick: Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom Supremes, Raspberry Cheesecake. These incredibly decadent dark-chocolate-covered bars have chunks of cheesecake and a raspberry swirl. They taste INCREDIBLE, but they do come with a 150-calorie, 10g-of-fat price tag. We say they're worth the splurge (every once in a while).

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151 Comments

1. Posted by Deborah S on Mon, Apr 09, 2007, 8:49 pm PDT

This is an incredible article written for us that have a weight problem who have chronic illnesses which needs to be controlled by our diet. Thanks a million my hat goes off to you.
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2. Posted by redface_onbus on Tue, Apr 10, 2007, 12:24 pm PDT

skinny cow's are amazingly filling. i love the peanut butter and chocolate ones!
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3. Posted by SevenCostanza on Wed, Apr 11, 2007, 12:15 pm PDT

They may be low in calories, sure, but those things are still really bad for you. it's not ALL about calories.
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4. Posted by chtnawy2dy on Wed, Apr 11, 2007, 1:18 pm PDT

What ever happened to just eating "regular" sweets, but in moderation??
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5. Posted by Court on Wed, Apr 11, 2007, 2:27 pm PDT

I like the 100 calorie packs, the oreo and the others as well. I was always one to carry around those little single serving boxes of cereal to munch on if I get a craving for sweet or crunchy. No fat and very few calories.
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6. Posted by Linda M on Wed, Apr 11, 2007, 3:51 pm PDT

Calories count, so do carbs, sugars, fats and a number o other things.
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7. Posted by katielinusa on Wed, Apr 11, 2007, 10:14 pm PDT

I'll try it! My diet 2,000 calories! Let me try 'em. They might me good.
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8. Posted by aeronauticusfickle on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 1:20 am PDT

I hope all of you realize that these foods are all extensively processed, and thereby are actually m o r e d i f f i c u l t for the body to metabolize efficiently. Should you happen to ingest something like 'diet chocolate', it is likely [in most cases, not all], that your body will focus strictly on metabolizing the compound chemicals that it wouldn't otherwise encounter under natural circumstances. Because the body must process, find use for, and excrete these substsances, it does several nasty little things; stores them in fat cells in case, and lapses in metabolizing actual food. Not to mention, lipids tend to release endorphins related to satisfaction. Fat is necessary, fat is comforting to the body for many a reason [security of resources, etc.], but does need to be consumed in moderation. If you have special requirements for diet, try soy ice-cream. It still has fat, proteins, and sugars, but is without dairy. A good alternative to overly-refined sugards is home-made ice-cream, and you'll even burn calories turning the crank. By golly, it's fantastic!
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9. Posted by aeronauticusfickle on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 1:26 am PDT

Oh, and were you aware that the more you weigh, generally, the greater your potential is to lose undesired weight? The stress of excess weight on the body causes it to expend a considerable amount of energy [calories] when in motion. This is applicable to total calorie expenditure, which does help when a restricted-calorie diet is advised. Very few people have an actual "illness" that causes obesity, but once the condition progresses, it becomes more difficult to reverse the effects and damage.
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10. Posted by Missy S on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 4:43 am PDT

If it doesn't come from the land, DONT eat it.... even worse, from a box... processed foods are bad news!
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11. Posted by Pat C on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 5:57 am PDT

I have been looking for ways to cut calories and I think your suggestions are terrific. Thanks for making my dieting so much easier.
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12. Posted by terrythytea on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 6:08 am PDT

When in doubt, leave it out! Every 'food' mentioned is highly processed, has little or no nutritional value, and reinforces a mindset for junky treats. A month eating nothing processed in a package, can or bottle will reorient the palate towards healthy eating, which should be the objective both for weight loss and overall health. All these foods are also expensive!
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13. Posted by Not Telling ;-) on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 7:17 am PDT

Hunger and cravings are our body's way of telling us that it is in need of something particular. When you eat foods with no nutritional value, you fail to fulfill that body's particular need. Ergo, you become hungry again, much, MUCH sooner and your portion sizes become bigger and bigger and bigger.....Give the body what it actually needs, not what you "think" it needs. If you're craving sugar - eat grapes! They have an extremely low glycemic index, they're major yummy sweet, and are great for you. If you've got the crunchy cravings, then slap some low cal/low fat cream cheese on some celery - takes zero time and is still mega-healthy for you. Point is, when you think you're craving cake - figure out what about that cake is your body really wanting and supply it. You're body's not asking for cake, it doesn't want or need bleached enriched flour, partiallyhydrogenated oils, and refined sugar! Your brain is associating cake with whatever need the body is asking for. Break it down people. All of that refined sugar is going to screw up your insulin levels, mess with your emotional stability, and if nothing else break down the enamel on your teeth. There are healthy alternatives that do address those cravings.
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14. Posted by chockiemabelane on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 7:44 am PDT

Wow!!! I'm a complete chocaholic and it's not good for my health (but I eat it anyway), but after I tried these fantastic and low fat foods my teeth and health have been better since. Thanx a million
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15. Posted by hardrockergurl06 on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 7:48 am PDT

Just Try to refrain from snacking like every 30minutes eat something healthy like a protein bar or something not greasy like chips and drin k lots of water if u drink water before u eat a meal u'll be full and wont pig out on ur dinner
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16. Posted by chockie07 on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 7:54 am PDT

I need some advice about my little brother who WONT STOP EATING! He's so young and I worry that he might get heart or other related diseases. He sees food, he eats it. Help!!
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17. Posted by MsCrystal D on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 9:14 am PDT

I have a terrible sweet tooth and I am an ice cream fanatic, Dreyer's reduced fat double chruned ice cream is my savior! It does not sacrafice taste for health.
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18. Posted by Jessica C on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 12:17 pm PDT

In response to the girl worried about her little brother. The best way to help him is to make sure he's active and if he wants to eat let him. If you have a problem with him eating junk, don't bring it into your house.
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19. Posted by vthokiepokie on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 12:37 pm PDT

Jessica C's response to chockie07 gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, exercise is a great way to keep him active and burn off whatever excess food he eats. Always good advice. But the second piece of advice about controlling what type of food is brought into the house. That's not always possible. It is very likely that this young lady does not do all the grocery shopping for her household. If her parents have bad eating habits and bring home snack foods that they (and her little brother) enjoy, then there is no way for her to control what junk food he has access to. It is definitely up to the parents to set a good example for their children about eating habits. If chockie07's parents are up to the task, then they should encourage their young son to eat foods that are more filling and help him stop when he is no longer hungry. Hopefully they will also learn to limit the amount of processed and prepackaged foods they bring into their home.
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20. Posted by BlueTinBlues on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 3:50 pm PDT

The Fudgecicle's are so hard to stop at just one - willpower comes into play ;) Thanks for such great alternatives to the snack-food-blues that rear their ugly head every day! This is a great list, and when added to other things that my diet requires, will hopefully help with my weight control. Thank you yet again HG - you're a culinary lifesaver. *goes to update cookbooks*
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21. Posted by lilangel221 on Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 3:52 pm PDT

As a regular HG email receiver, let me tell you, she does NOT claim to be a nutritionist. So stop ragging on her for her non-healthy choices, that's not her bag. She just tries to figure the best ways to cut calories and still make things taste good.
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22. Posted by mightylamp on Fri, Apr 13, 2007, 12:11 pm PDT

I have found a brand of ice cream called "il dolce futuro" at my local grocery store(H-E-B). Each flavor has about 12 grams of carbohydrates, 6 of which are fibre per serving(1/2 cup). They also are lower in fat than most icecreams (between 5-8 grams). I love icecream and this brand is not only healthy but delicious.
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23. Posted by kdunny03 on Fri, Apr 13, 2007, 1:05 pm PDT

Your all nuts!!
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24. Posted by nessawpu on Fri, Apr 13, 2007, 1:10 pm PDT

This is very handy especially since I am a snacker... I live on diets... Weight Watchers works the best for me...
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25. Posted by Laramer on Fri, Apr 13, 2007, 1:51 pm PDT

HG rocks... I am a longtime fan! Of course it's better to eat fresh fruits and veggies, but these treats and snacks are more for your mental satisfaction than physical. There are times when I NEED chocolate or something crunchy or ice cream, and she gives great lower-fat, lower-calorie alternatives for those times! No one is saying these are better than organic or all natural foods, just that they are good alternatives to their higher-fat, higher-sugar brethren.
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26. Posted by najah r on Fri, Apr 13, 2007, 2:08 pm PDT

If you can't stop at one serving please Just remember lots of water to help flush that away.
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27. Posted by postiekrk on Fri, Apr 13, 2007, 2:16 pm PDT

Thanks for ideas, as I am a member of TOPS, everyone needs these snacks once in a while or you are not normal! Grizz 29
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28. Posted by sandy43935@sbcglobal.net on Sat, Apr 14, 2007, 9:09 am PDT

Craving chocolate? One of those little single sized pudding cups, the kind without sugar is about 100 calories, no fat...and yummy. Also a cold glass of low-fat chocolate milk (the kind you buy at the store, so you don't dump a ton of chocolate syrup in it) is really good and the calcium is good too.
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29. Posted by angry3hornets on Sat, Apr 14, 2007, 11:16 am PDT

xmradiomike...you're pathetic.
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30. Posted by kenji_m_r on Sun, Apr 15, 2007, 7:43 pm PDT

I love some kettle corn...3 squares of Hershey's dark chocolate small glass of milk and flavored water for snacks through the day. For me counting calories and staying under 2000(very active and a teenager) have helped me lose 15 pounds in a month. it is snacks like HG gives that have helped me do it with out being hungry , getting sick, or passing out like other diets did to me... I also love veggies that i grow with fat free ranch, apples slices with low fat caramel, graham crackers, austin crackers, bananas with sugar free chocolate syrup, and soup to gos... just more ideas
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