Healthy Twinkies?

Hostess Twinkies has become the latest product repackaged into 100-calorie "snack packs." The maker of the iconic yellow cake launched "Twinkie Bites" in stores nationwide on November 3. The new packaging contains three miniature, round versions of the traditionally oblong snack, each complete with "crème" filling.

I hate to be the unwelcome voice of a reality check, but this trend toward repackaging awful snack foods into 100-calorie packs in the name of dieting and health is simply wrong on every level:

• It encourages people to eat more than one pack, on the premise that each pack is relatively low in calories.
• It creates excessive packaging waste.
• "Snack Pack" versions tend to cost more per ounce than the full-size equivalent.

But worst, I suspect that the self-deception it encourages may delay the real change that overweight or otherwise unhealthy people need to make: replacing high-calorie, high-glycemic-load, artificial-ingredient-laden "foods" such as Twinkies with healthy, whole foods like the ones featured in the anti-inflammatory diet. With regard to sweets, fruit and an occasional piece of dark chocolate are far better ways to satisfy an occasional craving than Twinkies of any size.