Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 77: Good Snacks Come In Small Packages
As many of you know, I have gone cold turkey on 100 calorie snack packs. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean my cravings for the occasional sweet or chocolate have gone away. Let's face it, serious diet or no serious diet, sometimes you need the spiritual, emotional, and physical boost only a piece of something chocolate-covered or nutty can provide. I find that is true any time of the year, even now, when I have been eating locally grown strawberries, cherries, peaches, and blueberries with great pleasure. Stone fruit and berries are amazing gifts from nature, but once or twice a week I need something a little more decadent.
Given my weight, my body type, and my ability to metabolize such treats, I have set a limit of 200 calories for them. So twice a week, once on a weekday, once on the weekend, I treat myself to one of the following.
The list, after the jump.
Paul Newman Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups: I have extolled their virtues previously on the site. They come three to a pack, and they're 60 calories apiece, so you can even have one mid-morning, one mid-afternoon, and one in the early evening. You get three times the pleasure without having to portion the treat out yourself.
Kind Bars: I've been meaning to share my passion for Kind Bars for awhile, and while this is not the appropriate post to do so, they are a great treat for people watching their weight. Kind Bars are less than 200 calories; they're big, so it takes awhile to eat one; and they're made with fruit and nuts and other reasonably healthy things. I like the macadamia and mango and the cranberry almond varieties they sell at Starbucks. In fact, Kind Bars may be the best food they sell at Starbucks.
I just discovered two small 200-calorie mini-treats at Pret A Manger. The handmade Love Bite, created by famed British chef Sally Clarke (think the English Alice Waters), is made with dark chocolate, coconut, walnuts, almonds, chopped dates, granola, raisins, butter, and graham cracker crumbs. A fudgy, blessedly unsweet chocolate brownie contains only bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, sugar, eggs, butter, flour, and salt.
The Weigh-In
It's been a rough week, with a couple of review meals and lots of good food arriving at Serious Eats World Headquarters. I've been reasonably careful, but sometimes reasonably careful doesn't cut it. Here we go: 215. Damn. Too many tastes of too many seriously delicious things. When I eat too much, small treats don't make much of a difference. Next week will be better.
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7 Comments:
Don't get discouraged. Each day is a new day, and a chance for a fresh start. Don't let a little backslide or slow-down throw you off track. It's never too late to make a good choice.
juliebugsmama at 9:31AM on 07/24/09
No worries continue to reflect on how far you have come and ALWAYS keep those old pants around!!!!!!!!!!!!! My healthy decadent snack is Cacao Berry Clarity Chocolate from Power Organics, I know it is more raw foodie than gourmet but I LOVE them but they are not cheap and it has blue green algae, goji berries, cacao, mesquite powder and himalayan salt.
Jbout at 9:57AM on 07/24/09
I love the mini-bites at Pret. Perfectly small and satisfying.
dbdtron at 10:39AM on 07/24/09
Counting calories is the way to go. I have been doing it since Jan. 1st and I've lost about 16-17 pounds, sloooowly. The result is, I feel great and don't feel like I'm dieting any more. I jot down what I eat and the approx. calories throughout the day (but not on weekends). I can't believe it took me so long, kicking and screaming, to get around to calorie counting. It is really liberating because you can eat anything, even carbs, even chocolates, as long as your calories stay within range. It's like sticking to a budget-- you give yourself a certain amount to "spend." That's all there is to it. I like those little Ghiradelli dark choc squares they sell by the register at my local Korean produce market. I buy one with my fruit and veggies, and I'm happy all day.
Trilby at 10:54AM on 07/24/09
I've been dealing with my chocolate cravings with no sugar added fudgsicles -- only 40 calories each, and deliciously creamy and chocolatey -- I can even have 2 a day and not blow my diet!
gbania at 10:55AM on 07/24/09
that love bite sounds ridiculously good!
ed, i don't know if you were able to check out this article that was apart of "the day's stray links", but it's applicable to your issues:
http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2009/07/the_neuroscience_of_mcgriddles.php
it doesn't offer a solution per se, but maybe it'll make you feel less guilty about hungering for calories?
i know this is a food site, but what about the exercise portion of your diet?
you'll never lose weight without it.
gastronomeg at 11:32AM on 07/24/09
I just want to say, Ed, that your hard work and perseverance with this diet has really inspired me - I've been following your "just a taste" lead and enjoying many of the same foods but in more reasonable quantities with great results. I'm almost down 20 pounds, and it's partly thanks to your great example. Thank you!
dithie at 1:01PM on 07/25/09