What Do 200 Calories Look Like?
During challenging times like these, when we're spending more time at home and our energy expenditure is down due to a lack of sports and other routine physical activities, we can easily find ourselves in a calorie surplus. This, combined with a more sedentary lifestyle (sitting more, moving less), can lead to weight gain—consuming more calories than we burn.
That's why on crazy days (and on regular ones, too!), it’s a good idea to be mindful of the calories we eat.
Most people, myself included, find it hard to estimate the calorie content of food. We usually underestimate how much energy it really contains.
So, to make it much easier, let's see what 200 calories actually looks like.
Why 200 calories, you ask? Because a daily 200-calorie snack, combined with three large meals and one or two smaller ones, shouldn't disrupt your energy balance.
Of course, everyone's caloric needs are different and depend on various factors, but here's the bottom line: you can have one daily snack without gaining weight.
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So, What Do 200 Calories Look Like?
1: One and a half Passover-style peanut cookies (around 50 g (1.8 oz))

2: Two small scoops of ice cream and a teaspoon of chocolate syrup (100 g (3.5 oz))

3: One slice of whole wheat bread with a level tablespoon of no-sugar-added peanut butter (100 g (3.5 oz) total)

4: Four squares of dark chocolate (about 35 grams)

5: Four apples (500 g (1.1 lb) total)

6: Homemade stovetop popcorn (no oil), from 40 grams of corn kernels

7: Two rice cakes with one level tablespoon of raw tahini and vegetables

Looking for a vegan cutting menu? Click here.


