The Truth About No-Calorie Foods
Feb
5
2020
Hi Hungry Girl,On an episode of your podcast, you mentioned that some zero-calorie foods actually contain calories and fat. How can this be, and what should I watch out for?
No-Calorie Confused
Hi No-Calorie Confused,Yup, we covered this topic in “The Food Fakers Episode” of the show! Here’s the deal: According to the FDA, if a product has less than 5 calories per serving, the label can claim it has 0 calories. That may seem minor, but the stats can really add up, especially if the serving size is unrealistically small...
No-Calorie Sweetener Packets
The average no-calorie sweetener packet actually has 4 calories. That's still a calorie bargain compared to real sugar, which has about 11 calories per packet -- particularly since it takes at least two sugar packets to equal the sweetness in one no-calorie sweetener packet. And with so many varieties on shelves these days -- including stevia-based ones and other natural picks -- there really is something for everyone.
Nonstick Cooking Spray
The labels on most sprays say 0 calories... for a 1/4-second spray. Um, what? That's practically impossible to even count. A more realistic 1-second spray has 5 to 10 calories and about half a gram of fat. Still pretty impressive! There are times when regular oil works better than the spray, so just measure it out -- a teaspoon has around 40 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. P.S. Check out this lineup of all-natural sprays!
No-Calorie Butter Spray
While a 5-spray serving has less than 5 calories, a full teaspoon (about 25 sprays) has around 20 calories and 2 grams of fat. That's actually MORE than an equal amount of light whipped butter or light buttery spread, so keep that in mind if you tend to overspray. I’ve heard from some people that they unscrew the cap and pour it over their food... PSA: The entire not-so-large bottle has over 900 calories and more than 90 grams of fat!Takeaway Tips!
If the serving size on a no-calorie product is much smaller than the amount you're using, or if you're using it often throughout the day, be aware that you're racking up calories, and keep track of them -- 4 calories per serving is a safe estimate. And if you use a lot of said product, you might want to consider low-calorie options instead, just so you have a better idea of how many calories you're actually consuming.Hope this info helps!
Weight-Loss Questions ANSWERED on The Hungry Girl Podcast!
In this cram-packed Q&A episode of Hungry Girl: Chew the Right Thing!, Lisa and friends tackle diet missteps, workplace temptations, and stress eating. Tune in for tips to help you…
⭑ rebound from a not-so-healthy food choice
⭑ tell the difference between real and fake hunger
⭑ develop strategies to outsmart stress eating
… and so much more!
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⭑ rebound from a not-so-healthy food choice
⭑ tell the difference between real and fake hunger
⭑ develop strategies to outsmart stress eating
… and so much more!
Click to listen!
And subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Chew on this:
It's February 5th, National Chocolate Fondue Day! To satisfy a craving, melt some semi-sweet chocolate chips, and drizzle over berries.
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