The Diet Detective: A Lesson in Calorie Counting

Updated OnNovember 29, 2017
Written by
Charles Stuart Platkin
Oh, the calories we consume. As much as you may believe you know about how much you're eating, inevitably you're devouring more than you think. Take a peek at the quiz below and test your knowledge.

What You Get for About 10 Calories

Minutes to walk it off* = 2.5

  • 2 (0.6 grams) sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
  • 2 teaspoons of Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard
  • 1 Altoids Dark Chocolate Dipped Mint (7.5 calories)
  • 1 Life Savers Hard Candy Roll - five flavors (11.25 calories)
  • 1 stick Wrigley's Spearmint Gum
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

What You Get for About 25 Calories

Minutes to walk it off* = 6.5

  • 1 tablespoon of heavy whipping cream (32 calories)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 grams) light sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons Stubb's Bar-B-Q Sauce, Original (30 calories)
  • 2 tablespoons teriyaki marinade & sauce (30 calories)

What You Get for About 50 Calories

Minutes to walk it off* = 13

  • 1 (3 x 11/2 x 1/2 inch) hash brown potato frozen oval patty (60 calories)
  • 1 slice (19 grams) Hebrew National Soft Salami
  • 2 tablespoons (30 grams) sour cream (60 calories)
  • 3 Starburst original fruit chew candies (47.5 calories)
  • 1 Chicken McNugget (53 calories)
  • 1 pan-fried P.F. Chang's Vegetable Dumpling (60 calories)
  • 1 steamed P.F. Chang's Vegetable Dumpling (45 calories)
  • 2 tablespoons Newman's Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette (45 calories)

What You Get for About 75 Calories

Minutes to walk it off* = 13

  • 1 oz. soft goat cheese
  • 1 cup Silk Light Soymilk, Vanilla (80 calories)
  • 1 cup skim milk (80 calories)

What You Get for About 100 Calories

Minutes to walk it off* = 26

  • 1 cup (7 ounces) P.F. Chang's Wonton Soup (92 calories)
  • 1 Denny's biscuit (105 calories)
  • A few bites (1 oz.) Denny's All-American Slam (82 calories)
  • 5 Nabisco Triscuit Snack Crackers
  • 1 KFC Original Recipe Chicken Drumstick (120 calories)
  • 1 KFC Honey BBQ Hot Wing (90 calories)
  • 10 ounces Subway Minestrone Soup (90 calories)
  • 2 tablespoons tartar sauce (90 calories)
  • 1 (12-oz.) Starbucks Tazo Black Shaken Iced Tea Lemonade