Blog Posts by Hungry-Girl

These foods are lurking in your pantry, waiting to derail your daily calorie intake. Hungry Girl's got better options for you...


That Half-Eaten Bag of Potato Chips

It's not important HOW it got there, just that it gets OUT of there. A 1-oz. serving has about 155 calories and 10g fat. And who eats 1 ounce of chips when they've got a big bag in front of them?! Maybe masters of self-control, but not us. Suddenly, you look down and the bag is half-empty. ACK! You just ate over 600 calories and 42g fat! SOOO not worth it!

Replace with... Popchips!
PER SERVING (1 oz., about 19 - 22 chips): 120 calories, 4g fat, 250 - 290mg sodium, 20g carbs, 1g fiber, 0 - 2g sugars, 1 - 2g protein

The cutback in fat is a HUUUGE improvement, but you still get to munch a bunch of yummy chips. And they come in portion-controlled packs. YES! Click here for more info...






That Leftover Halloween Candy

If you have a regular-sized candy bar, you're not too likely to grab another once it's gone. If you have

Not only is eating in a movie theater a mindless-eating trap, but the snacks at the theater are also absurdly high in calories. AMC theaters in California (where the Hungry Girl headquarters are) are posting calories counts right on their menu boards, and the numbers are horror-film scary. Brace yourself and check it out...

POPCORN
It's the most ubiquitous of movie theater snacks. You might not be hungry at all, but once you smell that popcorn... Well, there might be some weird scientific explanation for what happens, but all we know is that we WANT it. Need reasons to refrain? Um, here are a few hundred:

Large - 832 calories

Medium - 664 calories

Small - 434 calories




MORE FOODS TO AVOID
Even as a meal alternative, these are grossly over-caloried...

Movie Nachos - 1,390 calories: For stale chips and waxy cheese? Please.

Pizza - 740 - 780: Like 3 large slices of Domino's cheese pizza. At LEAST.

Hot Dog - 629 calories: Two words. BAD DOG.



DRINKS
Maybe it's that dry theater air,

Going to a Super Bowl shindig? Here are a few quick tips and awesome recipes from Hungry Girl, to get you through without fear of looking like The 'Fridge.

#1: Don't slug back beer like you're getting paid by the ounce! The calories from beer can add up quickly. We know, it's the Big Game, but if you're counting calories, keep tabs on your brewski intake. Idea: For each beer you drink, follow it with a glass of water. This will help to keep you hydrated and keep you from chugging beer just because you're thirsty.

#2: Don't mindlessly graze on the snacks. Eat with purpose. Have an actual meal (either during the festivities, if you know there will be good options, or beforehand), and don't do that zone-out-and-chow-down thing while you watch the game.

#3: Focus on something OTHER than the food. If you're not a football fan, don't let your focus become the munchies. Have a conversation. Bond with the others who couldn't care less about football. Take bets on how

Sometimes you just NEED food when you're out and about, and you find yourself at a fast food joint. No sweat. Here are Hungry Girl's guilt-free fast food finds...

Wendy's Jr. Cheeseburger

PER SERVING (1 burger): 270 calories, 11g fat, 26g carbs, 1g fiber, 15g protein

This burger is JUST RIGHT in our opinion. Get it with one of Wendy's sensible side dishes, like mandarin oranges or a side salad with light dressing, and you're good to go.

McDonald's Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait

PER SERVING (1 parfait): 160 calories, 2g fat, 31g carbs, 1g fiber, 4g protein

One of the best fast snacks available from a drive-thru. It's not really meal material, but if you just need something to hold you over 'til lunch or dinner, it's a great choice.

Taco Bell Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco

PER SERVING (1 taco): 170 calories, 4g fat, 22g carbs, 2g fiber, 12g protein

We LOVE Taco Bell's Fresco menu and the fact that you can get almost anything on the whole menu

If you do nothing else in the new year, resolve to NOT order these atrocious menu items! HG's got the 411 on some frightening foods for you...

Red Robin Royal Red Robin Burger: 1,191 calories & 83g fat!!!

This burger consists of a beef patty, bacon, mayo, TWO slices of cheese, and a fried egg. Necessary? Um, we think not. Unless it comes with a side of Lipitor. And even then... just NO.

Chili's Buffalo Chicken Fajitas (w/o tortillas OR fixings): 1,110 calories & 78g fat!!!

Buffalo chicken is pretty high in calories, being deep-fried and drenched in sauce. Factor in blue cheese, bacon bits, and ranch dressing? Even worse. Add an oily skillet of fajita veggies? Eeeeks. That gets you the calorie count you see above... and it ain't pretty. But THEN factor in all the fajita fixings and tortillas! That entire meal will total 1,720 calories and over 100g fat. AY CARAMBA!

The Cheesecake Factory Fried Macaroni and Cheese:

1,528 calories & 63g saturated fat!!!

Hope you're sitting down. These crazy-high stats might make you fall over...

Mimi's Cafe French Quarter Burger: 1,480 calories & 105g fat!!!

This horrendous sandwich has almost every fatty burger topping imaginable. A half-pound of beef layered with avocado, bacon, two slices of cheese, and Thousand Island dressing on cheesy garlicky bread. Mimi? Honey? This is overkill.

Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries: 2,200 calories & 157g fat!!!

The nutritional info says this appetizer feeds six... but how frequently do we all have a party of five others to share with? This mega humungo pile of cheese-covered spuds is a health hazard. As Men at Work (one of our favorite bands from down under) once said, "You better run, you better take cover"!

Chili's Wings Over Buffalo (w/ Blue Cheese): 1,330 calories & 116g fat!!!

This dinky appetizer may not seem all that offensive, but just check out those stats. Chomp on one wing and you're looking at fat grams in the

Got a freezer at your place of employment? Lucky you! Your lunch options just opened up considerably. (Assuming you also have access to a microwave.) Here are some great, diet-friendly options for your mid-day mealtime. Fast food? Boring bagged meals? Who needs 'em!

Lean Cuisine Wood Fire Style Bacon Alfredo Pizza

One pizza = 320 calories, 9g fat, 42g carbs, 2g fiber, 17g protein

What's better than guilt-free pizza? If you said "guilt-free pizza with bacon on top," you're right -- and in luck. This stuff is REALLY delicious. And luckily, it's portion-controlled. Go, LC!

Cedarlane Low Fat Beans, Rice & Cheese Style Burrito

One burrito = 260 calories, 1g fat, 48g carbs, 7g fiber, 13g protein

People with a weakness for frozen burritos (we know you're out there), check out these
babies. Other frozen bean 'n cheese burritos typically have at least ten grams of fat. If
you can, stash some salsa or hot sauce in the break-room fridge -- those

Eating lunch at work is an eternal dilemma. Sandwiches every day? BO-RING! Running out to grab fast food on your break? DANGEROUS (to your diet)! Going out to a sit-down place for a nice meal? EXPENSIVE! Keeping a couple of quick canned meals at your desk can be a GREAT option! (Just remember to stash a can-opener with 'em.) Check out some of our favorites, here at Hungry Girl...

Progresso High Fiber Soups

Each "serving" of this stuff has 28% the DV of fiber. Which means that when you eat the entire can (as we do), that's about half your fiber for the day! There's Chicken Tuscany, Creamy Tomato Basil, Hearty Vegetable and Noodles, and Homestyle Minestrone. Mmmmm! Or try out any of Progresso's Light varieties. Also awesome.

Health Valley Organic Vegetarian Chili Black Bean Mole

1 cup = 200 calories, 3g fat, 36g carbs, 7g fiber, and 11g protein

Alright, anyone bored with canned chili