Just spent half an hour doing some sums (so to speak). Here are the interesting results:
Sums to Amuse and Shock…
Time to eat 100 grams (3.5oz) of milk chocolate: 5-10 minutes
Calories in 100 grams of milk chocolate: 520
Time to walk off chocolate calories: 1hour, 58 minutes
Time to eat 100 grams of peanuts: 5-10 minutes
Calories in 100 grams of peanuts: 622
Fat in 100 grams of peanuts: 49 grams
Recommended daily fat intake: 40 grams (approx.)
Time to walk off peanut calories: 2 hours, 21 minutes
Time to eat 100 grams of strawberries: 3-5 minutes
Calories in 100 grams of strawberries: 28
Time to walk off strawberry calories: 6 minutes
Time to eat 100 gram of dried apricot: 5-10 minutes
Calories in 100 grams of dried apricot: 240
Sugar in 100 grams of dried apricot: 42 grams
Sugar in a (60gr) Mars Bar: 43 grams
Time to walk off dried apricot calories: 55 minutes
Time to eat 100 grams of fresh apricot: 3-5 minutes
Calories in 100 grams of fresh apricot: 45
Sugar in 100 grams of fresh apricot: 8 grams
Time to walk off fresh apricot calories: 10 minutes
Time to drink 250 ml (cup) regular milk cappuccino: 5-10 minutes
Calories in 250 ml cappuccino: 180
Time to walk off cappuccino calories: 41 minutes
Time to drink 250 ml breakfast tea (water with skim milk): 5-10 minutes
Calories in 250 ml tea: 18
Time to walk off tea calories: 4 minutes
Caffeine hit compared to cappuccino: same!
*Note: The above figures are indicative only. The energy-expenditure figures are based on an individual weighing 73 kgs (160lbs) walking at a moderate pace (5kph / 3mph). With this kind of science, keep in mind that there are many variables (exercise intensity, training environment, body weight, body composition, metabolic variance and much more) which affect the end result. Nonetheless, this kind of comparison provides food for thought.
So to speak. 
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks, this is helpful (although shocking). I wish food came labelled with how many minutes it would take to walk off. How many calories are there in a minutes walking?
Love the way you’ve written this
I also love the new kilojoule values on things at Macca’s and most restaurants. Calories are still imbedded into my brain so I divide by 4 to get an approximate calorie count.
If shops were made to put the ‘energy expenditure needed’ on their products do you think we’d be halving the obesity epidemic or would we still have people having a party in their mouths?
IMO we need to change the thinking, move the advertising target (our kids and ourselves) away from the TV, and replace our habits so we can change the outcome and live long and prosper (did I just steal that saying?)
I love these thought provoking things you come up with – Thankyou
(off to hospital tomorrow and will be trying those liquid veg drinks as I’ll be getting food via a straw)
Keep on keeping on everyone.
Hugs
Suu
Approximately 4.5 calories in a minutes walking based on the figures provided above. Same **Note applies
All that is about what I eat before lunchtime. lol. Just hope my metabolism doesn’t change!
Like the last few words of the last para. was it meant to be a pun?
Yes your sums are pretty good will be sending the info out to all my hippo’s
yeah well everybody knows that there are only 3 kinds of people in this world – those who CAN count; and those who CAN’T! bahahaha!
Thanks Craig, very helpful
To Craig’s Melbourne readers (sorry interstaters & overseas) just wanted to let you know that if you were interested in the tv show that Craig had mentioned the other day called ‘Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead’ it is being replayed tonight 09/02/ on Channel 9 from 11.30pm – 1.30am.
Cheers
Kim
Thanks Kim
Nice,
Q. is there really 180 calories in a 250ml Cappuccino?
Is a 250ml a small one as I always thought it was 80 calories not 180 – When I looked up calorie king it said 80 for a small one.
Just want to confirm as if its 180 I can definatenly give it up-
Its not always just about the calories though its also having a good look at the QUALITY of the calories and the nutrient content. I have 40gms fat every day in the form of raw nuts in my muesli and i know my body is all the better for me eating them due to their enormous health benefits. Compared to the equivalent in fat grams from a Mars bar….
So i think people should also focus on not just calorie intake but the quality of the intake. Just my thoughts anyway
Scary, I found it fastinating the different between a dried apricot (55minute walk) and a fresh apricot (10minutes). Craig why is there such a different?
Fascinating! I think I can eat much faster than that… and my long black coffees are a life saver
Just ate a fresh apricot before reading this and I’m feeling very smug! Temporarily. It’s still mid-morning.
Sandy – the comparison of apricots was based on weight, not on one apricot. Most of the weight of a fresh apricot is water. Take the water out and you get many more apricots for the same weight. Same with grapes and sultanas, plums and prunes etc.
The show is being replayed in NSW at 11:30pm tonigh on channel 9 too.
I think most stations are linked Australia-wide nowadays.
Of all nights to put it on they chose the night that I’ll be out like a light after theatre so will get someone to tape it for me.
just a thought – if a skinny latte has four shots of coffee does that make it burn more calories and with that little bit less milk = ? only 140 [or less]calories maybe.
Hi Craig
Where do you sit on the “calorie values are not that useful as when food is digested your food is not burned, it is digested through the sequence of adding various chemicals/enzymes/fluids to food for it to be broken down” issue?
Curious as after working with some overweight people in a previous career in Physio Rehab, the calorie approach didn’t work for them despite some close monitoring and lowering of their daily calorie intake?
Is there really the same amount of caffeine in a cup of tea as a cappuccino?