{Scene from the Jazz game we went to last Thursday, December 29th., 2016}

I was just reading a recipe for “Skinny Raspberry Shortbread Bars” on Pinterest.

They looked amazing! The recipe called for a low calorie sugar  alternative. This made sense because the calorie reduction had to come from somewhere. Usually a few different ingredients have to be reduced or substituted to obtain a substantial calorie reduction.

But, as I continued to scan the recipe, I saw butter, flour, chocolate chips, and raspberry preserves (not sugar free).

I started thinking to myself, “how the hell can these bars be under 200 calories each?”

So I scaned to the recipe directions. It called for an 8×8 inch baking pan. It also said the recipe serves 18!

Really? An 8×8 inch pan of something divided 18 ways!

Normally, if a recipe calls for an 8×8 inch pan it will serve 9 or 12 (tops!).

If I make something in an 8×8 inch pan I cut it into four pieces.

So, here is the breakdown:

18 bars @ ~189 calories each

12 bars @ ~284 calories each

9 bars @ ~378 calories each

or

4 bars @ ~851 calories each 

This is incredibly irritating!

If you cut these bars into 1×1 inch pieces you would only get 16 bars. This recipe says 18! That means the bars are less than 1×1 inches each. That’s not a bar! That’s a bite! A small bite!!!

Ugh! 

If you have a weight loss or health related goal in the new year start reading your food labels. Make sure you understand what a “serving” actually is for the food you are going to eat. Recipes and industry food labels can be deceiving especially if they’re trying to sell you on their product or recipe.