My Favorite Diet Products of the Past Decade

by Judy Weitzman, Diet Coach

When we flip the calendar from 2015 to 2016, I will be celebrating 10 years in business as a ‘Diet Coach.’

Throughout the years I have been introduced to a variety of products that have become a part of my repertoire of favorite prepared foods to this day. Some are not eaten as often as they were when first introduced, but still sit on my list of favorites.

It is important that I note, my preference is to see my clients eat ‘real food’ and have half their plate filled with veggies. And use fruit as their ‘fast food’ but life gets in the way and these products are user-friendly.

Here they are, in no particular order, and the reasons why they made my list:

La Tortilla Factory Low Carb Wraps

These rock because they are low carb and low calorie. They come in two sizes, the larger ones are only 70 calories and the small ones are 50 calories. They are flavorful, versatile and very filling. They fill you up because they have 9 grams of fiber and less than a gram of sugar.

Egg Whites in the Carton

These are a staple in my home. I live for egg white omelets.

They are easy to make and you can mix up the add-ons to make them different every time and delicious.

The best way to take them up a notch is to add a couple tablespoons of cottage cheese to the egg whites and it melts when cooked giving the most amazing flavor.

Adding lots of veggies is also a good way to add color and flavor. You can still make egg white omelets the ‘old school’ way by separating your eggs from the shell but this is so much more user-friendly and easy.

Vitatops

These 100 calorie muffin tops are packed with fiber and taste oh so good!

You can find them in the freezer section at the grocery store or order them online.

They are great for snacks or for a breakfast on the run.

They come in lots of flavors but my favorites are the chocolate ones.

‘Just for One’ by Green Giant

These little trays are a great treat! So cheesy! They are good when eaten alone but also great to put on top of a baked potato or to put in an egg white omelet.

Like I said before, I am obsessed with egg white omelets – so easy, healthy and delicious.

Rotisserie Chicken

They sell these at most every grocery store and also at Costco where they are cheaper and bigger! Making a chicken at home is always preferred so there isn’t as much salt added. However, for convenience, these rock!

My favorite tool in the kitchen is wearing surgical gloves. They are great if you like cooking with your hands. And the bonus is that you are less likely to lick your fingers because the latex does not taste so great.

When I bring it home, while it is still warm, put on your gloves and strip off all of the skin and pitch it. Then pull off all of the meat and put it in containers of light and dark meat.

You can usually pull the breast off whole. This way you have meat ready to go for salads, wraps, sandwiches or a quick snack. Yum.

Brownberry ‘Healthful Nuts and Seeds’ Bread

This is a newer product that I love!!! The flavor and texture is amazing and each slice is only 80 calories with 5 grams of fiber!

Jif Whips

I am a huge peanut butter lover. And this product rocks!

It is lower in calories because it is whipped and it only has 2 grams of sugar. I love how it spreads so easily.

One of my favorite places to add a little peanut butter is in my morning oatmeal.

Simply add a teaspoon into the oatmeal when it is hot and stir. The nutty flavor is off the charts.

Fat-Free Reddi-Whip

I am usually not a fan of anything ‘fat free’ because it tastes awful.

But this is the exception.

It is only 5 calories for two tablespoons and tastes great!

It is obviously light and very airy and the perfect topping to most anything including your finger. Ha-ha!

Shaved Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are a love/hate food.

You either love them immensely or can’t stand them.

I love them and this bag is so easy to use.

I like sautéing the whole bag and keeping them in the fridge to add to salads or to eat as a side with a meal.

Emerald Cocoa Almonds

These 100 calorie packs are the best and they only have one gram of sugar.

A great treat in the afternoon and very satisfying.

They also come in plain almonds and other types of nuts as well.

The reason these are so great is because they are portion controlled.

They are very portable and good in emergencies.

KIND and Quest Bars

I will preface this by saying I am not a big fan of having bars but I realize they are a necessary evil.

It is always better to eat ‘real food.’ However, in an emergency, I would rather you have one of these bars over driving thru the local fast food joint.

The Kind Bars are absolutely delicious and the Quest bars are incredibly filling with 20 grams of protein and 17 grams of fiber!

I highly recommend you only eat half if you want a snack since they are 160-200 calories each.

Save the other half for later or the next day.

But having a whole Quest bar in lieu of lunch is okay if that is your best option.

Trader Joe’s Roasted Seaweed

This is a weird treat with an interesting texture.

The best part is that it is only 60 calories for the whole package!

If you want to snack on something and you like these, they have a salty taste and very low sodium – go figure!!!

Tootsie Roll Pops and See’s Suckers

When going to a sporting event, movie or theater, these are a great treat to carry with you. Instead of indulging in the over-priced, high calorie foods they have at the concession stands, these little treats last a long time and keep your sweet tooth happy for only 60-80 calories each.

Frozen Cherries

My stepdaughter turned me onto these and I am loving them most every night. They are found in the freezer section at all grocery stores and they are a healthy and delicious treat. They are already pitted which is awesome.

You can find them in the freezer section and most stores have their own brand. They even have a jumbo bag at Costco.

One cup is about 90 calories and eaten frozen, it is like having a yummy ice cream treat.

Frozen grapes are another fruit to enjoy frozen. The best part about either of these is that you cannot eat them too quickly or you will get ‘brain freeze.’

Brownie Brittle

I was recently introduced to this ridiculously delicious treat. Apparently it has been around for a while.

You should seriously pre-bag these into individual servings so you are not tempted to eat the whole bag!

Thanks to my client who introduced me to these. They are so flavorful.

Brownie brittle comes in a variety of flavors and you only need a little bit to be satisfied. I found out they also carry them in quantity at Costco. (Gotta love a deal!)

And the Trader Joe’s version of this product is ‘gluten free.’

Thomas’ Light Multi-Grain English Muffins

These are tasty and packed with fiber and only 100 calories per muffin. They are great for breakfast or lunch as your bread of choice and also a good snack.

Kedem Tea Biscuits

These are only 16 calories per cookie and they are not too sweet so you will be able to control the portions more easily. For a good crunch and not too many calories these little tea biscuits are a great treat.

They are also very inexpensive usually a package is only 79 cents and they go on sale two for a dollar. Again, I always love a deal!

They are usually in the kosher section of the grocery store.

Sargento Ultra-Thin Cheeses

This product is brilliant!!! Whoever thought of this deserves an award.

They are ‘real’ cheese slices cut very, very thin.

It is the perfect amount to add flavor to any dish for only 40-45 calories per slice.

Pop Chips

These are a cross between a chip and a cracker. I love the crunch factor and the taste is awesome.

My favorite flavor is the BBQ but there are many other flavors to choose from. The ‘original’ flavor is also very good.

The best part is that they are only 6 calories each so you can have 20 for 120 calories. What is a great deal!!!

One of my go-to lazy dinners is to put a dollop of low fat tuna fish salad on each popchip and have a plate full … so yummy and very satisfying.

Babybel Cheese

These little cheeses are so cute and very filling. I love the little blue ones since they are only 50 calories each.

They are a perfect snack. I like to eat them with grape tomatoes.

Love the mixture of textures and flavors. Plus you have to earn them.

They take a minute or two to open. Love that!

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No doubt there are products that I failed to mention or you might have some that you love that did not make this list.

Please contact me with your favorites.

In the meantime, remember to eat healthy and keep those portions little!

(published September 23, 2015)

Judy Weitzman, known as “Diet Coach Judy,” has experience in the weight loss industry that spans more than 30 years. She is the author of How to Eat When Life Gets in the Way. Besides her professional experience, she lost 50 pounds nearly 30 years ago and has maintained her lower weight. Judy has successfully helped her clients lose weight and keep it off by helping them change their behaviors. Each program is individualized and the daily support she offers helps ensure her clients’ success. To learn more about Judy, visit her website at www.dietcoachjudy.com.