18 replies to this topic

[mojoamy]

I am completing week 4 now, and am quite pleased so far. I stopped the anytime bars and replaced them with Pria bars. Now when I go for WI and my food tomorrow, I am thinking of not getting snacks and doing them on my own. Has anyone done that yet? any good suggestions?

[tinyrah]

I stopped w/ snacks about week 3 when I found out what I was paying for a tiny bag of popcorn. I buy Pirates Booty, Special K crackers & pretzels for the salty snacks (just portion out same calorie portion) and for the sweet, which I rarely do, I've had Smart Ones desserts, 100-calorie packs, etc.It's simple to swap the snacks

[mojoamy]

tinyrah, on 29 January 2012 - 05:02 PM, said:

I stopped w/ snacks about week 3 when I found out what I was paying for a tiny bag of popcorn. I buy Pirates Booty, Special K crackers & pretzels for the salty snacks (just portion out same calorie portion) and for the sweet, which I rarely do, I've had Smart Ones desserts, 100-calorie packs, etc.It's simple to swap the snacks

Thanks, that is what I was thinking of doing...100 calorie packs and such, good to know it worked. Thanks!

[dijarm]

all kinds of 100 calorie snack pack in the grocery store, go for it!

[StillTrying2get2Goal]

I do not buy any of the breakfast foods except for the Oatmeal Square Bar and I buy NO snacks. It is ridiciulous what they charge for one handful of white cheddar popcorn & cheese curls. I buy the Cheetos Baked Cheese Curls. I was buying the Anytime Bars as I like them, but when they went up to $11.00...I said that was it & use Fiber One & other bars. I have not found Pria Bars? Where can you find them?? in the diet section?? I have Kroger, Sam's & Walmart stores where I live. Thanks!

[BelugaBabe]

There are tons of snacks out there that can be swapped for JC snacks. Funny thing is, when I asked my JCC if I could swap a JC snack for a fruit serving she told me, firmly, "NO." Something about how the JC snacks are an essential part of the program. And then she said that they are basically "empty calories" that are meant to be a treat and fruit is not an appropriate sub.
Alrighty.
I posted this list long ago but since you asked, here it is again:

Snack subs that are very similar in nutritional value to JC snacks:

PopChips---BBQ or plain. Individual bags from Costco, box of 18 for about $10 (only 100 calories)

Pirate Booty---White Cheddar Cheese. Individual bags, pack of 6 for about $5. 130 calories per individual bag. They also have a "Veggie" version that's good too.

Veggie Straws or Chips---Sea Salt, Rosemary and Olive Oil. Individual bags, Costco, box of 24 for about $11. 130 calories.

Pringles 100 Calorie Chips---Sour Cream and Chive, Cheddar Cheese, Original. Variety pack of 18 for about $9 at my local Safeway store.

Annie's All-Natural Variety Snack Pack---Cheddar Bunnies Crackers, Honey Bunny Grahams, Chocolate Chip Bunny Grahams, Chocolate Bunny Grahams. Variety Pack of 36 individual packages, about $12 at Costco. 120-140 calories per individual bag.

Pepperidge Farm Chessmen 100 Calorie Packs---OMG these are like putting a pat of butter in your mouth. Perfect tiny little cookies, and not a lot of them, but wonderful for those who crave butter/shortbread! Box of five packs, less than $3 at Walmart.

And according to a post on the "Ask the Dietician" forum a 100 calorie pack of cookies or crackers is equal to one JC starch exchange.

[mindymdc]

Thanks for this topic! I have been searching high and low for a snack equivalent to the JC cheddar popcorn. I eat that every afternoon and at this rate I'm not going to be able to send my kids to college.

I'm having a hard time finding something, though, because I'm comparing fiber, protein, and sodium in addition to calories. The best I've come up with so far is 94% plain microwave popcorn and a sprinkle of Kernel Seasons, which makes popcorn seasonings you can find in the popcorn section.

I don't crave sweets, so I stopped getting those JC snacks after my first week. I like a few of the other salty snacks but the popcorn seemed to offer the best volume. I pour it into a bowl and snack on it while I get dinner together. I'd love to find some equivalent alternatives.

[I Called Jenny]

StillTrying2get2Goal, on 30 January 2012 - 05:19 PM, said:

I do not buy any of the breakfast foods except for the Oatmeal Square Bar and I buy NO snacks. It is ridiciulous what they charge for one handful of white cheddar popcorn & cheese curls. I buy the Cheetos Baked Cheese Curls. I was buying the Anytime Bars as I like them, but when they went up to $11.00...I said that was it & use Fiber One & other bars. I have not found Pria Bars? Where can you find them?? in the diet section?? I have Kroger, Sam's & Walmart stores where I live. Thanks!

Pria Bars are usually availabe at health food stores but I understand you can find some really good deals on them in bulk if you buy them online as well.

And I also buy the Cheetos baked cheese curls. I actually like those better than the JC ones.

I also get the 100 calorie popcorn and while the sodium is higher in general, I just up my water intake to counteract it.

[CMECRZN]

I Called Jenny, on 31 January 2012 - 05:26 AM, said:

And I also buy the Cheetos baked cheese curls. I actually like those better than the JC ones.

Yes indeed.... those Cheetos cheese curls are the BOMB!!!! Thanks Phyllis!!

[squeenthin43]

I'm more if a cake person so I found Sara lee has her pound cake pre sliced and that's what I do because it's already portioned

[I Called Jenny]

CMECRZN, on 31 January 2012 - 07:33 AM, said:

Yes indeed.... those Cheetos cheese curls are the BOMB!!!! Thanks Phyllis!!

Ah, you're welcome, Deb! Just glad you enjoyed your snacks.

[BelugaBabe]

If you know someone who goes to Weight Watchers see if they can pick up some WW Roasted Salsa Multigrain Crisps for you. They come six packs to a box for about $6. When you open a pack it smells just like chili! Not too hot but very nicely spiced. The crisps are small and very crispy and you get quite a nice pile of them in each pack. 110 calories per pack and only 140mg of sodium, if that's a concern.
Great with cottage cheese and salsa.

[manthony72]

This is a great topic! Thanks for sharing. I went ahead with another planned month of food b/c I am doing so well on it but I know that after this second month I am going to start incorporating different alternatives and hopefully start adding in my own meal. I am just heavily relying on the JC food at this point. I don't want to have to think about it and think about exercise and think, think, think, this last semester in college, lol. I am learning so much from all of you!!!!

[mindymdc]

manthony72 - you are doing the right thing following JC strictly to start. Get those basics down, girl!!! Portions, fresh fruits & veggies, healthy snacks, occasional treats, water, water, water, exercise! Relying heavily on JC right now will help all that become second nature. And that's the bottom line - you're not on a diet now, you are learning and practicing skills that you'll be using for the rest of your life!

I loved your "The Oh No Moment" comment on your photo. LOL!!!

[manthony72]

mindymdc---aw....thanks for the encouragement! Yes, I am learning.........and it certainly does feel like that too; If I learn new ways to eat, it will become secondhand....eventually! Thanks!

[Joni Gentry]

WOW!!! Thank you for this topic!! I know that my next order there will be NO SNACKS!! There's a health food store right down the road from where I go to church and there's a lot of 100 Cal. snacks at Wal-mark and the small serving bags of popcorn that I can get!
one thing that i'm learning on this diet is eating healthier and smaller amounts. So far i've lost 10 pound the first month on JC.

[manthony72]

Joni Gentry, on 06 February 2012 - 12:45 PM, said:

WOW!!! Thank you for this topic!! I know that my next order there will be NO SNACKS!! There's a health food store right down the road from where I go to church and there's a lot of 100 Cal. snacks at Wal-mark and the small serving bags of popcorn that I can get!
one thing that i'm learning on this diet is eating healthier and smaller amounts. So far i've lost 10 pound the first month on JC.

10 # your first month!!! Woo hoo! Congrats! That is super! I go for WI - 4 tomorrow, so I will know my tally! Keep up the good work all! And, I am staying on the JC snacks for now, I'm scared to change anything yet, but love knowing that others are doing well changing things out, so keep it coming!

[ocmimi]

Joni Gentry, on 06 February 2012 - 12:45 PM, said:

WOW!!! Thank you for this topic!! I know that my next order there will be NO SNACKS!! There's a health food store right down the road from where I go to church and there's a lot of 100 Cal. snacks at Wal-mark and the small serving bags of popcorn that I can get!
one thing that i'm learning on this diet is eating healthier and smaller amounts. So far i've lost 10 pound the first month on JC.

Joni, those are great results for your first month. Keep up the good work.

[mojoamy]

Well, doing snacks on my own didn't slow me up at all. Even though I "misbehaved" over the weekend, girls night out Saturday and Superbowl on Sunday, I still lost 1.8 lbs for the week, bringing me to 18.2 lbs down in 5 weeks! So far, my favorite substition is Jolly Time popcorn healthy pop 100 calorie bags.