Counting calories can be difficult with a busy life. The need for quick, convenient meals and snacks that can be eaten on the go lead to high-calorie trips through the fast food drive-through and calorie-laden snacks eaten on the run. Low-calorie packaged foods provide a less fattening alternative to high-calorie convenience foods such as fast food, baked goods and candy bars.
Packaged Foods
Low-calorie, prepackaged foods have advantages and disadvantages. They provide a less fattening, portion-controlled and convenient alternative to other snacks eaten on the run; however, they are far from perfect. Many of the foods are highly processed. They may contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodium and other chemicals. When selecting packaged foods, read labels carefully. Don't make low-calorie, packaged foods your only source of nutrition. Include them as part of a balanced diet that contains fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein.
Snack Foods
The snack foods industry has recognized the need for low-calorie, convenient snacks. For instance, Nabisco now offers convenient 100-calorie packs of snack foods like cookies, crackers and nuts. Each pack contains small portions of snack foods with only 100 calories in each package. Other companies, such as Lays, have individual serving-sized bags of baked potato chips and Cheetos that have around 100 calories per serving. You can also purchase pudding cups that are sugar-free, fat-free and low in calories both in the refrigerator section and on grocery store shelves.
Frozen Meals
Frozen meal manufacturers offer low-calorie, single-serving, microwavable meals that can be prepared in just a few minutes. Most have between 200 and 400 calories, and many have healthful, low-fat, low-sodium, high-fiber options. One of these, Healthy Choice, has partnered with the American Heart Association to make heart-healthy food. Other low-calorie frozen foods come from Stouffer's Lean Cuisine and Weight Watchers SmartOnes. You can find all of these foods in your grocer's freezer.
Meal Replacements
Meal replacements offer a low-calorie alternative for meals on the go. Most meal replacements come in the form of shakes or bars. Some manufacturers, such as Slim Fast, offer premade, canned shakes and meal replacement bars that you can drink on the go. Special K also has protein shakes and bars that are low in calories and high in protein.
Other Foods
Some pre-packaged, low-calorie foods aren't necessarily marketed as diet foods; however, they still meet the criteria. Canned foods such as soup are usually low in calories, particularly if you select a broth-based soup such as chicken noodle or minestrone instead of cream-based soups. Healthy Choice offers dried pasta dishes that you can cook quickly in the microwave that are low in calories. You can also buy prepackaged fruits and vegetables such as sliced apples or baby carrots that have been washed and are ready to eat as a low-calorie snack.
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