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
