We’ve all seen them, those boxes of 100-calorie snacklets that are taking the country by storm. Forced portion control for a high mark-up. In the past three years $20 million-per-year of the countries snack food market revenue has come from these pre-portioned packages. What do I think of this phenomenon? I’m torn. I think of these little packages of pre-portioned overly processed snack foods the same way I think of all overly processed snack foods. They’re a bit gross, but a sometimes necessary evil of being American and being hungry. That having been said, the real question I pose is: Is it worth it to pay more for less?
We could all buy a box of Triscuits ® divide its contents up into 100-calorie portions and place them in sandwich bags, and have 2-3 times more for relatively the same price. That’s my obvious problem with the 100-calorie pack phenomenon. But in defense of the wee little snack bags, we’re a nation of convenience, effort is not something we dole out lightly and if a short cut is able to be taken, well then, we’ll pay an extra $1.99 to take advantage of it. We are also a nation that has for the past 20 years been exposed to gigantic portions. Portion control is a relatively new concept in regard to our culture of eating. This is where I wholly support the concept of over-priced resource-wasting pre-packaged (enough hyphenated terms for you?) foods. I think that we, as a culture of abundance are still on a learning curve. We’re on the right track, and we’re trying to figure out what normal means, but until the masses can look at a palm full of nuts and be satiated with an actual serving size then perhaps this idea of single serving snacks is heaven sent.
The market for 100-calorie snack packs is such a cash-cow that food manufacturers all over are buying into the fad. Now, not only can you purchase your favorite Oreo® or Chips Ahoy! ® products in miniature form, but Hershey’s ® is doling out 100-calorie bags of Twizzlers ® and chocolate bars, Frito-Lay ® has even started selling 100-calorie Beef Jerkey. Can I say that again: BEEF JERKY! Will the time come when everything we eat will come vacuum sealed and in 100-calorie increments? Will a typical 2,000 calorie a day diet consist of 20 clearly marked 100-calorie packages of our favorite foods? I hope not, but I can’t say that I’d be at all surprised.
We could all buy a box of Triscuits ® divide its contents up into 100-calorie portions and place them in sandwich bags, and have 2-3 times more for relatively the same price. That’s my obvious problem with the 100-calorie pack phenomenon. But in defense of the wee little snack bags, we’re a nation of convenience, effort is not something we dole out lightly and if a short cut is able to be taken, well then, we’ll pay an extra $1.99 to take advantage of it. We are also a nation that has for the past 20 years been exposed to gigantic portions. Portion control is a relatively new concept in regard to our culture of eating. This is where I wholly support the concept of over-priced resource-wasting pre-packaged (enough hyphenated terms for you?) foods. I think that we, as a culture of abundance are still on a learning curve. We’re on the right track, and we’re trying to figure out what normal means, but until the masses can look at a palm full of nuts and be satiated with an actual serving size then perhaps this idea of single serving snacks is heaven sent.
The market for 100-calorie snack packs is such a cash-cow that food manufacturers all over are buying into the fad. Now, not only can you purchase your favorite Oreo® or Chips Ahoy! ® products in miniature form, but Hershey’s ® is doling out 100-calorie bags of Twizzlers ® and chocolate bars, Frito-Lay ® has even started selling 100-calorie Beef Jerkey. Can I say that again: BEEF JERKY! Will the time come when everything we eat will come vacuum sealed and in 100-calorie increments? Will a typical 2,000 calorie a day diet consist of 20 clearly marked 100-calorie packages of our favorite foods? I hope not, but I can’t say that I’d be at all surprised.
