Crispy, light and tasty, these oatmeal chocolate cookies are some of most healthful pre-packaged 100 calorie snacks on the market today. Leave it to Trader Joe’s to come through with a snack that packs a lot of flavor in just a few calories. If you prefer buttery cookies, you might find these a little dry. But these tiny cookies are pretty filling, and definitely a recommend.
These animal crackers confused me like a carnival trick. Nabisco makes a 100 calorie pack of Barnum’s animal crackers. And yet, here’s what must amount to two or three more creatures (say, a bear, a hippo and a broken giraffe) and they make a whole new package that’s distinctively labeled 120 calories. Far be it from me to get inside the heads of the marketing geniuses at Nabisco. All I know is, their animal crackers are tasty whether it’s a few in a 100 calorie pack, a handful in a 120 calorie pack or the specially formulated chocolate animal crackers 100 calorie packs (not as buttery or flaky), which incidentally are on clearance for $1.70 at my Target right now.
I’ve never really thought of marshallows as a snack. They’re more like an ingredient or topping. Maybe I’m biased and have post-traumatic issues from the marshmallow man in Ghostbusters. But when I found these mini packs of Kraft Jet-Puffed ChocoMallows miniature marshmallow, with the bag proclaiming they’re fat-free and “great for snacking,” I figured I’d give them a whirl. They’re tasty enough: powdery on the outside and chewy, with a light chocolate taste. And they come in at 90 calories. My 3-year-old was much more impressed, and wanted to eat an entire 1-ounce bag.
I’ve been waiting to post about this 100 calorie pack from Hostess because it’s one I’m truly passionate about. And believe me, I’m passionate about snacks. I’ve bought these Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cakes at least three times (watch for coupons; there are a lot of Hostess ones out there right now). They’re moist, they don’t skimp on the cinnamon topping and they’re perfect to grab if you’re on the way out the door to work having skipped breakfast yet again. They’re the perfect complement to morning coffee, and they’ll definitely tide you over until lunchtime. Especially if you eat two packs (just kidding!).
Keebler’s line of 100 calorie packs goes by the moniker of Right Bites. I love Cheez-Its as much of the next person (Cheese Nips are too sweet; Cheez-Its are nice and salty). I also have a problem shared by much of Cheez-It loving society: Once the box is open, handful after handful comes out. If portion control is an issue for you, these packs will help you stop at one handful. Actually, less than a handful. There aren’t a ton of Cheez-Its in the bag (I meant to count them but was so busy eating I forgot). Still, they’re Cheez-It so you know they’re gonna be good.
The battle to drive down the calorie count continues, with Quaker’s Mini Delights coming in at a mere 90 calories. Take that, 100 calorie packs. But seriously. These cinnamon streusel “light crispy multigrain cakes” look dry and bland but taste surprisingly good. The crispy base tastes like a sweet rice cake, and there’s frosting drizzled over the top. I have to be honest: I put off trying these because I didn’t think they’d be that great, but I was pleasantly surprised. I’d still take a Hostess 100 calorie pack or Entenmann’s over these any day.