For many of us, the focus in the days after Pesach has been the Pesach weight gain. Let’s face it, when you spend eight days eating matza and potatoes, the needle on the scale starts to move to the right. So, why am I writing about snacks? Because I have always believed that you can eat snacks, in moderation, and not gain weight. Successful weight loss is achieved through healthy eating – fruits, vegetables, grains, and some snacks. Here are some of my
choices for the times you just need something sweet:

* French Twists produced by Barry’s Bakery (OU parve). I discovered these wonderful treats when I first started on Weight Watchers. These hand made flaky treats are only one point, which means they have about 60 calories per twist. They come in great flavors – California Almond, Chocolate Chip, Wild Raspberry, Caf’ Mocha, Maple French Toast, and Original, and are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. They have no cholesterol, eggs, or yeast, are low
sodium and taste great. Make that incredibly great. You can find them in your local kosher grocery or supermarket. Barry’s Bakery also has a new line of sugar-free cookies (which are dairy) and meringues.

* Jeff’s Amazing New York Egg Cream (Egg Cream America, OU dairy). Have you ever had an egg cream? Invented by a man named Louis Auster, a Jewish candy store owner, in 1890, it is a tasty combination of seltzer, chocolate syrup and milk. There are no eggs in an egg cream – although, rumor has it that the original recipe did contain eggs. You could find egg creams almost exclusively in Brooklyn throughout the early 1900s. When I was growing up, there were still a couple of local candy store/newsstands that sold them. Nowadays you either have to make your own or take a trip to your local supermarket and pick up a bottle of Jeff’s. Jeff’s amazing egg cream sodas come in a variety of flavors: chocolate – diet and regular, vanilla – diet and regular, orange cream, berry dream, coffee dream and root beer. In our office most people enjoyed the chocolate – however, we do have a closet vanilla lover. One
reviewer compared the orange dream to a sparkling creamsicle and said she liked it best. The regular flavors are 97% fat free, and the diets have about 20 calories per bottle, low in carbs and made with Splenda. For more information on the company or the history of egg creams, visit their website at www.getcreamed.com

* Teenee Beanee (Just Born, Inc. OU parve) The history of jelly beans is not well known, but, many believe the jelly center has its origin in a Middle Eastern sweet known as Turkish Delight. In the United States, the jellybean appeared in the 19th century and was advertised as a sweet treat to send to soldiers fighting in the Civil War. While jellybeans have always come in a variety of colors, for many years the taste of each color was the same as all the others,
except for black. Today you can buy jellybeans in hundreds of flavors. Teenee Beanees are available in wonderful collections filled with great taste. There is Americana Medley with Napa Grape, Savannah Strawberry and Indian River Orange. Or the Country Retreats with Strawberry Cheesecake, Peaches and Cream and Apple Dumpling a la Mode. They are available in resealable zipper bags and a stand-up pouch. They are low in calorie and have no fat – there is most definitely – a world full of flavor in a tiny bean. Teenee Beanees can be found in your local grocery or supermarket or on the web at www.justborn.com.

* Soycrunch (Carole’s LLC, OU parve) Grown in some of the original 13 colonies, the soybean has been an American agricultural product for more than 250 years. In the late 1800’s soy milk and tofu were served at Dr. John Harvey Kellogg’s famous sanitarium called
“San.” It is only in the last five to ten years, however, that soy products have become staple items on grocery shelves and pantries.  Carole Honig (owner of Carole’s) began looking for a low-fat, healthy snack for her kids to eat. Puttering in her kitchen she came up with
Soycrunch, a soy-based snack that is low in fat and high in taste. Soycrunch is available in five flavors – Cajun Soynuts for those who want a spicy kick, Cinnamon and Raisins, Toffee Soy Bits, Coconut Chips and Original. They are wheat and gluten free, have no trans fat and are made with all natural ingredients. I have to say that while I enjoyed all the flavors, the Toffee Soy Bits were my favorite. The combination of sweet toffee, vanilla and crunchy pieces of soy
make for an excellent snack. The bag sat on my desk for a few days and I constantly found myself reaching for it. With 110 calories, 2 grams of fiber and 1.5 grams of fat for a half cup it is a treat even finicky dieters will enjoy. Soycrunch can be found in health food and
specialty stores or on the web at www.soycrunch.com.

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Magazine Editor, The Jewish Press