If you like those 100 calorie snack packs – stop buying them...

Those individual snack packs are a rip-off...

They made the new Reader’s Digest list of things you should never buy again. That’s because the recent trend to package small quantities into 100-calorie snack packs is just a way for food-makers to get more money from unsuspecting consumers. The price 'per unit' cost of these items is a lot more than if you just buy one big box of your favorite munchies - and then parcel out into single serving storage bags. Here are a few more “don’t-buy” items on the list:

• Microwave sandwiches: You’re really just paying for its elaborate packaging — plus a whole lot of salt, fat, and unnecessary additives. For the average cost of one of these babies, you could make a bigger, better, and more nutritious version yourself.

• 'Snack' or 'lunch' packs: These 'all-inclusive' food trays might seem reasonably priced but you're actually paying for the highly designed label, wrapper, and specially molded tray. The actual edible ingredients are worth just pennies and are filled with salt.

• Pre-formed meat patties: Frozen burgers are more expensive than buying the ground meat in bulk and making patties yourself. It takes less than 10 seconds to form a flat circle and throw it on the grill! Also, there's evidence that pre-formed meat patties might contain more e. coli than regular ground meat – most of the recent beef recalls have involved pre-made frozen beef patties. Fresh is definitely better!

• Tomato-based pasta sauces: A jar of spaghetti sauce typically runs $2 to $6. The equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1. Make your own sauces from canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes. Stir in some wine or wine vinegar, a little sugar, your favorite herbs, and whatever chopped vegetables you like in your sauce.