Subtitles section Play video
-
We're all told to eat healthy, and be aware of our calorie intake through the day.
-
But have you ever stopped to think about what those calories look like?
-
For example, this is 200 calories worth of apple
-
On the other hand, if we take 200 calories worth of cheese, it doesn't look quite the same in terms of volume
-
throw 200 calories of wine into the mix for a nice wine and cheese
-
And you have three very different looking versions of 200 calories
-
Now compare that wine to beer or rum, and you have three very different party nights for your stomach
-
Or how about the eggs you had for breakfast
-
Compare that to 200 calories of sweet cereal you had the other day, or even some oatmeal
-
And they're bound to seem a bit different
-
But if you had gotten a sausage and egg breakfast sandwich, You'd be looking at even less
-
Broccoli? You may be surprised by the amount you can eat before you hit 200 calories
-
Not to mention this stuff is packed with nutrients and a great source of fiber
-
A slice of pizza? Less than a slice if it has pepperoni on it
-
And what about the classic Big Mac? Try a 200 calorie 'Small Mac'
-
And since calories are simply units of energy, with the calories of 217 Big Macs
-
You can drive your car 35 Kilometres
-
So, wait. What is a calorie?
-
Specifically, a calorie is the amount of energy, or heat it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water
-
By one degree celsius
-
We need energy to survive, and we get it from food
-
Carbohydrates, Protein and fats are the building blocks of our food, and each contribute a different amount of energy to our bodies
-
The average person needs somewhere between 2000 to 2700 calories a day
-
Depending on factors like height, weight, gender and age
-
And some foods like peanut butter are calorie dense, filling this requirement faster
-
Or that muffin you ate as a snack, chances are its calorie content is higher than you thought
-
And those irresistible Doritos? Don't lie, you ate the whole bag
-
Unlike Celery, which has very few calories, giving you lots to munch on
-
Or carrots
-
Not so much Hershey's Kisses
-
And if you're eating salad to limit calories, watch out for creamy dressing
-
Particularly, french dressing
-
On its own, black coffee is quite low on calories
-
You can have a lot before you hit 200 calories
-
But once you add one cream and one sugar, those calories quickly add up
-
Turn it into a specialty drink, like an Iced Peppermint White Mocha
-
And you might be shocked at the amount left
-
But, just because something has less calories
-
Doesn't necessarily mean it's healthier or better for you
-
Take for example this 200 calories of coke vs. 200 calories of whole milk
-
While it's true that the coke contains fewer calories per liter
-
You can't forget that milk contains many nutrients and healthy fats
-
Or like brown bread vs. white bread
-
Yes, whole wheat bread often contains more calories per slice, but it also contains more nutrients and fiber
-
So, counting calories isn't the be all and end all
-
But thinking about what goes into your body is bound to make a difference
-
At the end of the day, eat a healthy and balanced diet
-
And if you'd like to see even more 200 calorie examples, check out the WiseGeek post we've linked in the description
-
Which puts even more food into perspective
-
Got a burning question you want answered?
-
Ask it in the comments, or on facebook and twitter
-
And Subscribe for more weekly science videos!