"snacking" news and stories

In the NY Times last week, professor Brian Wansink talked about some of his research on how people have relatively little concept of what they're eating and usually take visual cues from outside sources, rather than from their own bodies about fullness. He mentioned a test that involved giving participants stale and fresh popcorn in different-sized containers that showed people would eat more from the larger container - even if that was the stale popcorn. That is not the only experiment that he and his colleagues did to support their position, however. They have a whole repertoire of experiments that demonstrate the same results. The tests answered these questions:

• Do even educated eaters fall prey to mindless eating based on container size?
• Does a food or a wine label affect how people feel about their meal and how much they eat?
• How hard is it to correctly estimate portion size based on container size, and how can the shape of a container make you consume more?
• Does how food is described change consumption rates?
• Do visual clues help slow down mindless snacking?

The answer is "yes" to each of these questions and they way they got to that answer in each case was interesting. Re-naming peas as "power peas" got kids to eat more. Educated eaters still binged when given oversized bowls and color-coding chips so people could see exactly how much they were eating helped them to eat less. The tests don't necessarily tell us anything new, but it's always interesting to see how people react in these different situations anyway. In fact, it's sort of tempting to try them out on coworkers in the break room or, if you have a child that needs to do a science project, questions like these could be a good starting point.

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We already know all the "tips and tricks" about smart snacking. Heck, is there ever anything new about snacking? Of course not, but it's always nice to be reminded and have it all in one place. Here's a list published in the Lamar Daily News:

• Let kids help you pick out snacks at the store
  
• Keep "good snacks" in a single place that kids can get any time
  
• Buy snacks in single serving size packages (or at least, make single servings yourself with ziploc bags)
  
• Incorporate all the food groups
  
• Include some sweet snacks
• Keep regular meal schedule so snacking is regular, too
• Let kids help you plan meals
• Always eat breakfast
• Eat together as a family
• Balance the food groups in each meal
• Don't snack too close to meal time. Two hours before is a good guideline
• Don't ban anything, just teach moderation

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One reason that some people prefer to carry big bags into the movies is that they are perfect for storing extra snacks and drinks, so the lines at the concession stands, not to mention their high prices, can be avoided. We know that we're not supposed to do it, but slipping a can of Coke or a bottle of water into a handbag will save a few dollars and you can pick out a snack at the store that is something other than the standard theater offerings.

Speaking of theater offerings, another reason to consider taking your own snack is that most movie theaters are diet disasters - even if you're not actually on a diet. A large popcorn with butter can have more than 1,500 calories and 120 grams of fat. Movie sized boxes of candies usually contain multiple servings, so those calories can add up quickly if you're munching in the dark.

A snack bar or a small bag of trail mix will satisfy you better than a tub of popcorn, since it won't leave you feeling greasy and bloated from eating way too much in a short time. Hard candies and other regularly sized sweets are better options, or you could even bring a bag of sliced apples if you want to be a really healthy snacker.

Admit it: you've done it at least once. What's your favorite food to sneak into the theater?

Greetings dear reader if you're perusing this post while slumped over your desk at your day job then it's probably time for a snack to boost the old blood sugar. Of course there's a right way and a wrong way to get your munch on as a recent Forbes article points out.

Forbes "Snacking Survival Guide" notes that the junk food in that office snack machine is bad for two reasons. It's crammed full of calories and often trans-fats, but more important while it may give you a temporary lift, you're bound to feel a crash once your blood sugar falls from its peak. Better options include fruits, vegetables and nuts.

The article also includes a 10-item slide show with a suggested item for various types of snackers and the benefits of the treat. The reccomendation for athletes is pomegranate juice because it contains loads of nutrients and antioxidants. For those on the go, the suggestion is protein bars. And for the bachelor it's eggs because of their ease of preparation and high protein content. That reminds me I've been meaning to rewatch Cool Hand Luke.

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Jif has a new product on the market called Jif Peanut Butter To Go. Are you familiar with those individual containers of applesauce? This is almost the exact same thing, but with creamy peanut butter instead of applesauce. The idea behind it is that the 2.25-oz cups can be tucked into lunch boxes, picnic baskets and the backseats of cars to make a convenient dip for veggies, pretzels or anything else that tastes good with peanut butter.

You might want to limit yourself to veggies, with these though, because although peanuts in general are very good for you, they're also high in fat and calories. Each container has 390 calories and 32 grams of fat - that's 50% of the recommended daily maximum! It's a good source of fiber and quite low in carbs, but that is still a hefty snack for such a little package.