Q: Will snacking sabotage my figure? Got any tips to keep it girlish?
Liz B., Benton, Arkansas

A: Modern wisdom says snacking is the way to go. Our bodies are engines and food is our fuel. Eating several small, healthy meals a day keeps the engine full and has us operating at optimum condition. Anyone trying to lose weight can quote one simple fact: It's the calories that count. Use these handy lists to compare the portions and calories in many of your favorite foods, and perhaps find a few new favorites for snack time or mealtime. We'll break the following tasty snacks down by "calorie club."

THE 50 calorie CLUB
9 ounces of low-calorie cranberry juice cocktail, 1 snack-size Nestle crunch bar, 1 fat-free cookie, 20 cheddar Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers, 5 mini Quaker apple cinnamon rice cakes, 1/2 cup mashed butternut squash, 2 small raw tomatoes, or 1 cup mixed frozen vegetables.

The 100 calorie CLUB
1 cup Kellogg's Corn Flakes, 2/3 Lender's Original plain bagel, 1 1/4 fresh apples, 3 plums, 1 medium banana, 1/2 plain baked potato with skin, 4 1/3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, 2 ounces roasted tip round beef, 3 ounces baked or broiled haddock , 1/4 cup hummus, or 1/2 cup vanilla soft-serve frozen yogurt.

The 200 calorie Club
22 thin pretzel sticks, 1 1/2 slices French toast, 2 1/4 buttermilk pancakes, 1 ounce Kix cereal with 1 cup skim milk, 2 ounces Alpine Lace cheddar-flavored cheese, 2 whole-wheat matzo crackers, 8 ounces flounder fillet, unbreaded 3 ounces broiled pork center loin, 7.5 ounces Chef Boyardee cheese ravioli with meat sauce, 1 cup cooked long-grain white rice, 1 ounce dried walnuts, or 3 navel oranges.