At a glance: looking at the correlation between snacks and steps

It has been well documented that the waistlines of UAE residents are expanding — and overeating is a big part of the reason. The dietetics team at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi  shares the calorie contents of some popular but unhealthy snacks and the number of steps it takes to burn them off, while clinical dietetics manager Dimitrios Spanos offers healthy alternatives

* 1. Estimates based on a person who is 45 years old and weighs 70 kilograms.

2. It is recommended to walk an average of 10,000 steps every day. A 45-year-old weighing 70kg can burn approximately 400 calories by walking 10,000 steps at a brisk pace (5 to 8 kilometres per hour).

Unhealthy snack option

One small, 75g bag of crisps

Estimated calories: 184

* Steps to burn off: 4,600

Healthy snack option

Homemade, air-popped popcorn, 2 cups

Estimated calories: 31

Steps to burn off: 775

Tip: Add paprika, instead of salt, for a boost of flavour

Unhealthy option

Milkshake (350ml)

Estimated calories: 500

Steps to burn off: 12,500

Healthy option

One cup of low-fat plain yogurt with 1 teaspoon of honey

Estimated calories: 164

Steps to burn off: 4,100

Tip: Add walnuts for extra vitamin E

Unhealthy option

Chocolate bar 50g

Estimated calories: 250

Steps to burn off: 6,250

Healthy option

100g of carrots with 100g of hummus

Estimated calories: 206

Steps to burn off: 5,150

Tip: Add cherry tomatoes for extra vitamin C or substitute carrots with cucumbers to cut down on calories

Unhealthy option

Coffee-shop blueberry muffin

Estimated calories: 400

Steps to burn off: 10,000

Healthy option

3 small dates

Estimated calories: 199

Steps to burn off: 4,975

Tip: Try to eat three dates per day and fresh fruit for the rest of the day

Unhealthy option

Chocolate doughnut

Estimated calories: 320

Steps to burn off: 8,000

Healthy option

Fresh fruit, eg 100g pomegranate

Estimated calories: 83

Steps to burn off: 2,075

Tip: Mix pomegranate with low-fat plain yogurt for extra calcium

Unhealthy option

One 350ml can of full-sugar soda

Estimated calories: 139

Steps to burn off: 3,475

Healthy option

Water

Estimated calories: 0

Steps to burn off: 0

Tip: Add cucumber or lemon slices to your water for flavour