So you’re determined to stuff your face this Chinese New Year and worry about the extra kilos later. Good for you! After all, how do you celebrate Chinese New Year without downing some high-calorie festive treats like radish cake, crispy triangles and sticky rice cake?
While you’re not about to let anything hold you back, it wouldn’t hurt to know what it will take to shed the extra festive kilos later, would it?
Recommended Daily Calorie Intake (as recommended by the Department of Health):
Female (aged between 18 and 50 with medium physical activity level): 2,300 kcal
Male (aged between 18 and 50 with medium physical activity level): 2,700 kcal
Chinese New Year Snacks Calories & How Long It Would Take to Work It Off (based on a body weight of 125 pounds)
Sticky rice cake (pan-fried): 160 kcal/100 grams
Work it off with: 30-minute aerobics
Radish cake (pan-fried): 130 kcal/100 grams
Work it off with: 30-minute BMX or mountain-bicycling
Taro cake (pan-fried): 160 kcal/100 grams
Work it off with: 30 minutes of ballroom or disco dancing
Water chestnut cake (pan-fried): 140 kcal/100 grams
Work it off with: 30-minute kayaking
Crispy peanut puffs: 130 kcal/piece
Work it off with: 30 minutes of walking (6.4 km per hour)
Sesame balls: 250 kcal/piece
Work it off with: 30-minute swimming (backstroke)
Dried sweet melon slices: 40 kcal/piece
Work it off with: Standing in line for 30 minutes
Sweet glutinous dumplings: 80 kcal/piece
Work it off with: 30-minute general weight-lifting
Pistachios: 280 kcal/50 grams
Work it off with: 30 minutes on a ski machine
Here we offer two more quick tips on cutting calories when enjoying the feast. Firstly, choose the cooking methods wisely; steaming, stewing or poaching are healthier options than frying in oil. Secondly, avoid animal skin. For example, there are 90 calories in 1 ounce of chicken skin; opt for skinless options to consume fewer calories.
With a little bit of discipline, you can indulge yourself this Chinese New Year without an ounce of guilt!
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