Rule No. 6: Choose Baked Kettle Chips instead of Pringles
"Kettle chips are your better option because they are made from actual potatoes," says Koff. Most other potato chips, like Pringles and Cheetos, aren't made from whole potatoes and have a laundry list of added ingredients and flavoring. "You want to see potatoes, salt, and oil -- and that's it -- in your chips," says Koff.
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Rule No. 7: Go for Greek yogurt instead of Yoplait
Greek yogurt, like the Chobani strawberry variety, has 140 calories, 20 grams of carbs, and a whopping 14 grams of protein. Compare that to Yoplait Original, which has 170 calories, 33 grams of carbs, and a measly 5 grams of protein. Because it's a great balance of healthy carbs, fat, and protein, Koff calls Greek yogurt a great "all encompassing mini meal."
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Rule No. 8: Reach for foods that take work
It's a simple concept that's very effective: The longer it takes you to eat something, the less you'll end up eating. So rather than the bag of pretzels or M&Ms that are all too easy to shovel in, opt for snacks like pistachios in the shell or string cheese. You'll have more time to savor your food and end up eating fewer calories in the long run.
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Rule No. 9: Steer clear of diet drinks
Diet soda seems like a better option than regular, doesn't it? All the sweetness with none of the calories? Too bad it doesn't really work like that. Koff explains why:
"If you drink a Diet Coke and get all that sweet in your mouth -- but your body doesn't get any energy from it -- you've signaled your body that nutrients are coming, but then you don't deliver," says Koff. "Then you wonder how you ended up stopping and buying a small pizza for yourself two hours later."
If you're thirsty, get something that tastes a little sweet, gives you some nutrients, but doesn't break the calorie bank. Coconut water is a great option, as is the FRS drink mentioned earlier.
Oh thank heaven for 7-Eleven. It's fast. It's convenient. It makes any road trip with screaming kids somewhat bearable.
Unfortunately, if you don't have the willpower to avoid the chip and candy aisles -- and of course, that delicious Slurpee machine -- those quickie mart pit stops could cause you to pack on some serious pounds.
To help make eating on the go a little less diet wrecking, we asked Ashley Koff, RD, a celebrity dietitian and author of "Mom Energy," to go shopping with us at our local 7-Eleven. She happily accepted the challenge.
And trust us, it was quite a challenge. Because convenience stores are, to put it bluntly, fat traps. With their "freshly baked" donuts, hot dogs, and endless amounts of pre-packaged snacks, it's hard to find something remotely healthy to choose when you're looking for a quick bite. Until now.
To avoid the common pitfalls dietiers -- or anyone trying to eat healthy -- will face at quick-stop shops like this, read on. Luckily, when you're armed with Koff's sneaky tricks, you can pull up without packing on any unwanted pounds.
