Happy Calories

Every diet is different.  The Yoplait diet encourages you to cut out all "Snacks, Potatoes, and Corn".  Add MORE dairy.

Slim Fast doesn't encourage real food at all.  Drink your meals or eat a meal bar.

SELF Magazine is promoting a new "DROP 10" diet program.  They have a specific diet plan for you to follow for every single day (recipes included), as well as exercise suggestions and other diet tips.  One of their dieting tips is a thing called "HAPPY CALORIES".

Now as a person that has been attempting to watch calorie intake **with success and failure both** I can't imagine a "Happy Calorie".  For me, there really isn't much happy about them.

According to Self, you should dedicate 250 calories a day to something you are craving.  So you can continue to stay on track, but don't completely fall off the wagon.  Here is a list of the typical foods you crave and how many "Happy Calories" they mean to you.

SMALL McD's French Fries=230cal
Chocolate Chip Cookie=52
1 oz of Chips (usually about 12)=150
1 slice of CHEESE pizza=272
3/4 Cup Ice Cream=195
2" Square of brownie=128

As I was reading this all I could think is: "Yikes.  I guess that poptart I ate this morning was my happy calories for the day!"   I guess in reality I shouldn't try and justify a Strawberry Poptart as a fruit and a grain.

For more information about Happy Foods and their nutritional content go to   NutritionData.Self.com