Mindful Eating and the Munchie Mobile
Free goodies have a cost
What was bright blue, cruised the East Coast, and gave away 70% of your daily sugar intake in one bite?
The Munchie Mobile—part of a professional campaign by The J.M. Smucker Co. to promote Hostess snacks like Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Donettes, and Ho Hos.
The bright blue truck with free snacks from Hostess Cakes cruised the East Coast recently. Great marketing, but it’s just another arm of the food industry propping up its goods. I thought this was precisely the problem the Fischer Kitchen confronts with our food choices. I write about avoiding these kinds of snacks in favor of healthier options.
The truck’s free offerings of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Donettes, and Kazbars are on my everything-I-won’t-eat list. I don’t think others should either, though a prohibition on alcohol serves as a warning that human nature is not easily thwarted. Just because I respect human nature doesn’t mean we can’t be convinced that a Munchie Mobile highlighting processed snacks may not be the best choice for a snack compared to a healthy one. Still, if you must have one, consider it a treat: nibble on it, share it, but don’t eat all of it! That’s my two cents.
Against big marketing, it’s easy for people to get swept up in the excitement of a campaign featuring a bright blue truck with cool swirls and inviting Twinkies and Cupcakes – and they were free! The truck started in NYC on April 10, traveled up and down the East Coast from April 11 to 19 on a Route 420 road trip, making stops in cities in MA, CT, MD, and NJ, and ended in Brooklyn on April 20.
However, beyond its image as a playful campaign are master marketers of the American diet are behind it. These individuals are true professionals, committed to ensuring that people engage in a long-term program to purchase these products.
They recognize that many people have fond memories of eating those snacks as kids. I saw them as a child, too, but I really don’t remember eating them since my parents didn’t usually buy those kinds of treats. At that time, I was stuck with healthier options, which was tough for me as a kid because I wasn't eating what everyone else was! How uncool is that? I had to go to my grandmother’s house to find Chips Ahoy and Social Teas.
Now, as an adult, I don’t buy processed snacks. Instead, I head to the kitchen to make my own snacks (I promise to share my energy bar and banana recipes soon!). Alternatively, I grab some nuts or a piece of fruit. I enjoy organic mandarin oranges; they’re easy to peel and sweet.
We’re ultimately discussing priorities. Maintaining your body in good shape must take precedence over consuming something that may not benefit your well-being. Therefore, examine those delectable free snacks with great care.
Having spent a significant part of my career in marketing and communications, I have a certain respect for food promotions, including mobile marketing efforts. Marketers have a job to do: sell the products they create.
But you have a responsibility as well. You must evaluate your food choices in a way that ensures you are satisfied that you’ve made the best decision for yourself. This is one area where discipline can save you a few calories and improve your overall health. Choose a healthy snack instead!
And if you choose to snack on items like those listed below, at least check the label. They’re really helpful!
Twinkies®
Serving Size: 2 cakes (77g)
Calories: 280
Total Fat: 9g (11% DV)
Saturated Fat: 3.5g (18% DV)
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 30mg (11% DV)
Sodium: 360mg (16% DV)
Total Carbohydrate: 47g (17% DV)
Dietary Fiber: 0g (0% DV)
Total Sugars: 31g
Includes Added Sugars: 31g (62% DV)
Protein: 2g
Vitamin D: 0µg (0% DV)
Calcium: 20mg (2% DV)
Iron: 1mg (6% DV)
Potassium: 50mg (2% DV)
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Source: https://www.hostesscakes.com/everyday-snacks/twinkies
Ding Dongs®
Serving Size: 2 cakes (72g)
Calories: 310
Total Fat: 16g (21% DV)
Saturated Fat: 10g (50% DV)
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
Sodium: 290mg (13% DV)
Total Carbohydrate: 42g (15% DV)
Dietary Fiber: 1g (4% DV)
Total Sugars: 31g
Includes Added Sugars: 30g (60% DV)
Protein: 2g (0% DV)
Vitamin D: 0µg (0% DV)
Calcium: 10mg (0% DV)
Iron: 1.8mg (10% DV)
Potassium: 120mg (2% DV)
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Source: https://www.hostesscakes.com/everyday-snacks/ding-dongs
Donettes® Powdered Mini Donuts
Serving Size: 3 donuts (53g)
Calories: 230
Total Fat: 12g (15% DV)
Saturated Fat: 6g (30% DV)
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 10mg (3% DV)
Sodium: 200mg (9% DV)
Total Carbohydrate: 30g (11% DV)
Dietary Fiber: 1g (4% DV)
Total Sugars: 15g
Includes Added Sugars: 14g (28% DV)
Protein: 2g
Vitamin D: 0µg (0% DV)
Calcium: 0mg (0% DV)
Iron: 0.9mg (6% DV)
Potassium: 0mg (0% DV)
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Source: https://www.hostesscakes.com/everyday-snacks/donettes-powdered
Kazbars™ Chocolate
Serving Size: 1 bar (78g)
Calories: 330
Total Fat: 15g (19% DV)
Saturated Fat: 11g (55% DV)
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
Sodium: 270mg (12% DV)
Total Carbohydrate: 48g (17% DV)
Dietary Fiber: 1g (4% DV)
Total Sugars: 36g
Includes Added Sugars: 35g (70% DV)
Protein: 2g
Vitamin D: 0µg (0% DV)
Calcium: 24mg (2% DV)
Iron: 2mg (10% DV)
Potassium: 170mg (4% DV)
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Source: https://www.hostesscakes.com/everyday-snacks/kazbars-chocolate