100 Calorie Snacks

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!).

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.

I feel strongly that vegetables have no place in desserts, be it zucchini bread or banana cupcakes. Therefore, I delegated the tasting of these Hostess 100 calorie pack carrot cakes to my husband, who declared them “the bomb-diggity.” (I tried to get him to elaborate, but that’s how he rolls.) Anyway, the cakes come three to a pack and are covered in cream cheese icing with a creamy filling. If they’re as good as the Hostess chocolate cupcakes, then they’re a definite must-eat.

Warning: Cute Food Alert. If you like cute food, you’ll squeal with delight at these tiny-but-tasty cupcakes from Hostess. And when we say tiny, we mean tiny. It’s like they got zapped with a shrink ray and ended up one and one-half inches wide. They come three to a pack, and getting them out is a bit messy, but worth the effort. They’re as moist and delicious as they are cute.

Let’s cut to the chase: These are by far the best 100 calorie snacks I’ve tasted to date. I picked up a box of Entenmann’s Little Bites at a “special” promotional price ($3 at a chain grocer) and noted that, being pastries, they would expire in a couple of weeks. Cracking open a pack, I could see why: These baked chocolate chip squares are tender and moist, with the taste of cookie dough and the texture of a soft-baked cookie. They’re also perfect when you’re running late and need to take breakfast on the go (though not filling enough for a full meal). I’ll definitely be buying these again.