One of the questions I recommend people ask themselves before they indulge is, "is it worth the calories?". It's a simple question, and then so's the follow up to a yes - "how much do I need to be happy?".
So I couldn't help but ask myself that when looking at the advertisement for Starbuck's new "Petites".
What are "Petites"?
Think donut holes on a stick.
Really high calorie, single-bite, donut holes.
A single bite that'll buy most women 10% of their total daily calories, and just a bit less than that for men.
The most amazing part for me?
The fact that they advertise their under 200 calorie status as something brag worthy.
10% of your total daily calories in one teeny, tiny, bite isn't brag worthy!
What else is just under 200 calories?
Well in the junk food realm you could choose:
- 1.3 cans of Coca Cola
- 4 Chicken McNuggets
- 1.75 cups of Froot Loops
- 3/4 of an actual whole donut
- Almost an entire Hershey Bar
Just goes to show you that people truly don't have a clue about calories, because if they did, a sign suggesting a cloyingly sweet, bite on a stick, was under 200 calories, wouldn't help with sales.
Posts
How big are your cans of Coke? In the states they're 12 oz., 150 calories.
ReplyDelete200 calories = nearly a serving of Nutella. A Canadian product that you guys are advertising here in the States as A HEALTH FOOD. "Made with skim milk, hazelnuts and a hint of cocoa," the ad tells us. (Yeah! And 21 grams of sugar, the first ingredient listed -- more than a cup of hot cocoa.) You guys think we are really dim. (Ooops, you may be right.)
Hi DebraSY,
ReplyDeleteI believe Nutella is actually Italian in origin, but not positive.
Coke - you're right. I had used CalorieKing which for some reason had a can as 7oz. Will modify.
Y.
Seriously! I was thinking the same thing as I've been seeing those. Although I have to admit I love the idea that a lot of places are coming out with much smaller dessert options but I think it might lead to having 2-3 instead of one big piece of cake.
ReplyDeleteThey market Nutella to children and "smart" parents that what to give their children a healthy (LOL) breakfast...sad
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought a Timbit would be the healthier option? Compared to these anyway. Thanks for the info, I was attracted by their cuteness for a day or two, good to get the facts.
ReplyDeleteAs for Nutella, it is an Italian product, and their 'healthy' ad campaign is indeed ridiculous. Sadly, you would not beleive how many moms I know who claim it is healthy because it has milk in it!
What's worse is when food bloggers re-create these things, suggesting somehow because "doughnut on a stick" is homemade it's now ok.
ReplyDeleteI tried one of these "petites" the other day. Not only did it NOT satisfy my sweet tooth, it actually made me hungrier!
ReplyDeleteYoni,
ReplyDeleteyou gave examples of 5 comparable treats -
- could you give a couple of really healthy options that have similar calories, and include about 7 g's protein as you have recommended before. ..?
Depending on the brand calories of course will vary, but some examples might include:
ReplyDelete1/2 cup cottage cheese and fruit,
1oz cheese and crackers
Greek yogurt
1oz nuts
Flavoured tuna tin and crackers
1/3 cup hummus and crackers
Personally I alternate between nuts and protein bars.
Excellent! Thanks for those really healthy snacks.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think you're being a bit harsh on this one. No, this isn't something you want every day, but I enjoy the occasional treat, and it's nice to have something available other than a cookie the size of my head or a mondo piece of quadruple layer cake. I love the fact that Starbucks has these and has had the petite vanilla scones for a while. I can't imagine having more than one at a sitting, though. Harm reduction, harm reduction.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree with Anonymous on this as well. If I had a hankering for a treat and I found myself at a Starbucks, I'd rather have the little delectable option rather than having to go for a full-size serving of some confection. I'm a big fan of the notion that it's the first and last bite of food that's really enjoyable from a taste sensation/satisfaction point of view. I prefer Lindor truffles ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike! Posted mine several days ago: http://dropitandeat.blogspot.com/2011/03/calorie-counting-calorie-restricting-or.html
ReplyDeleteOh are we giving our non-guilt ridden treats?
ReplyDelete1/2 cup plain yogurt.
1/3 cup your favourite berry
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
1 Tablespoon your favourite chopped nuts.
Layer this in a little champagne flute, and that's as good as it gets.
Some people can eat just one of these as a treat.
ReplyDeleteI have realized that for me one small "sweet treat" isn't satisfying, it is a trigger for becoming even more hungry. If I eat one of these, I just get hungrier for more - and more and more.
If I stick to vegs, protein, wg bread I'm ok.
It feels like I am an alcoholic, only with sweet rich food. I can have one glass of wine, enjoy it and stop, but an alcoholic has one glass of wine and gets thirsty for more. I eat treat type food and I get hungrier and hungrier.
Is there any metabolic reason why this would happen? Are there other people like me? Or is this just a bad habit I've gotten into?
Either way, habit or metabolism, I have learned I have to avoid trigger treats.
Stop eating "treats".
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you've craving more when you eat a "treat" (sweet food eaten between meals) is because it punches your pancreas. (Apologies for medical terminology). Some people are more affected by this than others.
Eat one portion of dessert after a sit-down meal, a couple three times a week.
Dessert comes after a meal, when you have protein and other nutrients to digest. Balance.
In the olden days of your parents, or grandparents, people ate this way. They did not eat between meals. Very few people were fat.
As a health & fitness advocate, I will be the first to admit that buying ANYTHING in that awful Sbux pastries case is a bad idea (in fact, I owe the origins of my successful weight loss journey to Starbucks as you can read here: http://natashakay.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/hidden-demons/).
ReplyDeleteThat said, I won't berate them for coming out with low-calorie alternatives...even if they are still extremely bad for you! The way I see it, it's one small step in the right direction and that's progress! Now if only people would stop ordering three of them at a time... :(
But three at a time is what they are meant to do, and three petits cost more than one large one. Ka-ching.
ReplyDeleteThis is nothing more than marketing, from any perspective. The best way to beat this is not to enter a Starbucks, or Second Cup, or Good Earth or whatever. Buy beans Fair Trade beans and make a cup-to-go at home, if you think you must have one. But that's something else marketing has convinced us. Coffee (and just about anything else) on impulse.
Here's another suggestion for a healthy food, to spread with the small tuna mixes, or a boiled egg,
ReplyDeleteAny brand will do. Generally five gr. protein, 5 grams fibre, whole grain, real food, low-fat. Much better than crackers. One serving bread and alternates.
In Canada you can get it at Planet Organic, any Euro foods import store, many supermarkets in the import aisles. About a dozen different brands, all whole-grain, seed and nut. Very, very low glycemic.
http://www.eurofoodmart.com/mestemacher-vollkorn-brot-whole-rye-bread-250-g-p33305.html