It's 3 p.m., and your lunch is long gone. Dinner is hours off, but your stomach is telling you it just can't wait.

It's snack time.

Lose 5 Pounds Fast | Fat Fighting Foods | Diet Info

Bill Trudeau said that's when he used to hit the snack machine at work, alternating between Doritos and a Snickers bar.

"I always knew I would get hungry at the same time every day, but I wouldn't bring a bag of Doritos with me, because that would be like admitting I was going to eat crappy foods," he said, adding that the bag would probably be gone by noon if he did.

Then, grocery stores started filling shelves with snacking options that offered people a little treat -- with only a 100-calorie sacrifice.

Trudeau said he's now addicted.

"It gets me through that slump without hitting the machines," he said.

And Trudeau, 31, is saving calories each day. The candy bar he used to consume daily had 280 calories and 14 grams of fat. The Nabisco Oreo Thin Crisps he now swears by have only 2 grams of fat.

Although Trudeau is cutting calories, nutritionist Barbara Marquette said that he's not exactly eating well.

"They are not healthy foods," she said. "Just because they are in a 100-calorie sack doesn't mean they are good for you."

Self-Control

Lawrence Leung, 24, a weight lifter and self-confessed fitness junkie, said he has never eaten a 100-calorie snack pack and has no plans to.

He believes the packs work only for those with portion-control issues. But, he said, that is the majority of Americans.

"Most people don't have self-control," he said. "The problem is only getting worse."

He would never call the pre-portioned bags healthy, either. Just because they are better than eating the full-sized variety and often come baked and with less fat, Leung said, they shouldn't be considered a good choice.

"They are a tolerable alternative to a full size product," he said.

Marquette also said they might work for those with poor eating habits as a way to curb overeating.

"For someone who normally eats a whole box and is trying to get better at it, it is a step in right direction," she said. "It helps them get a visual on just how little 100 calories is."

Marquette, who teaches nutrition at the University of Bridgeport, said one of the biggest problems with the snack packs are that people don't just stop at one pack.

"People start thinking, 'It's OK; it's only 100 calories,'" she said. "All of a sudden, they are consuming 300 to 400 calories a day from these snacks."

Trudeau said he is definitely guilty of that. "One time I had four bags for dinner. I was tired and didn't feel like cooking, so I figured eating a few of those wouldn't be a bad thing, since they are low in fat," he said.

Marquette said while those foods may be low in fat, they are high in carbohydrates and sugar, often leaving you hungry for more 30 minutes later.

And stocking up on those carbs will affect your waistline even more if you are not active.

"Carbs give your body the ability to produce energy, which is great," she said. "But if you are sitting at your desk all day, that energy won't be burned off and will be stored as fat."

Make Your Own

Marquette had a few recommendations of things to eat instead of the snack packs.

They may be a little more or less than 100 calories, but Marquette said it doesn't matter.

"You don't have to stop at 100 calories for a snack if you are eating the right things," she said. "You can go over on carrots and fruit without worrying."

Besides, she said, eating these healthy snacks will keep you full longer.

Apple slices with all-natural peanut butter

Carrots, pepper slices or other veggies with hummus

A handful of almonds or other nuts

Non-fat, Greek yogurt with fresh fruit thrown in

Celery topped with goat cheese

A few whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese spread

Leung said he stocks up on fresh fruits and vegetables, and he believes snacking on an apple or banana is just as easy as the snack packs.

But Trudeau, a bachelor who works 50 hours a week normally, said he can't make that work.

"I just honestly don't have the time," he said. "When they start packing me apple slices and cucumbers that don't go bad ever, I'd consider it."

Marquette said that is no excuse. He can get small packs of almonds or buy large bags of carrots and make his own snack packs.

"I think that if people want to be healthy, they are going to have to realize they have to put in some effort," she said. "It may take only 15 minutes to make a whole week's worth of snacks."

But Trudeau said that the factory-produced snacks fit his life right now, even if they aren't the most healthy option and cost a little more.

"I really don't have the time or desire to separate any food into a 100-calorie baggie. Let me pay some Nabisco person to do it for me; I'm fine with that," he said. Blog Posts:

No Need For Willpower

Question Health Advice

Best Low-Calorie Snacks

Other Links:

Lose Weight, Save Money

Is Alcohol Healthy?

10 Weight-Loss Industry Secrets

Low-Carb For Less

How Much Does Your Diet Cost?

5 Ways To Slim Down For Less

5 Supermarket Tips

Sneaky Restaurant Tricks

Recent Health Features:

How Much Exercise Is Too Much?

Can Glycemic Index Help You Lose Weight?

Find Fresh Food From Farmers

What Is Metabolic Syndrome?

Nightly Munchies Don't Have To Bust Diet