A long time ago, being fat during the Chinese New Year equates to prosperity and a huge pinch on the cheeks (until I couldn’t fit into any pair of decent jeans). In today’s context, you need to be both slim and fit. After all, this could be the only time you are showing off to your relatives and friends in the entire year.
So what’s stopping you? That very bag of bak kwa you queued up for an hour at Chinatown for.
Before you continue munching on them while watching TV movie reruns, think about it, you need to run for 47 minutes to ‘get rid’ of a single slice. For 3 pineapple tarts, that is a 30 min jog. Three seemingly harmless thin fluffy love letters would take 21 minutes as well.
Don’t you love yusheng? This ‘Chinese salad’ containing fresh vegetables and salmon does not seem to add inches to the waist. That’s if it is without the oil, golden pillows and so much plum sauce.
According to Health Promotion Board (HPB), these are an estimated calorie intake for our favourite Chinese New Year goodies.
Snack (Portion size) – Calories
Peanut Crackers (3 rolls) – 418
Bak Kwa pork (1 slice) – 370
Pineapple Tarts (3 pieces) – 246
Kueh Lapis (1 slice) – 240
Twisted Cookies (3 pieces) – 201
Love Letters (3 rolls) – 168
Yusheng (1 serving) – 145
Roasted nuts salted (1 handful) – 123
Kueh bangkit (4 pieces) – 61
Nian Gao non-fried (1 piece) – 46
To put it further into perspective, that single innocent looking pork bak kwa slice at 370 calories is ‘worth’ more than a prate with egg (288) and prawn noodle soup (293). Help!
People ask how I stay, emm, in shape. My only advice is take everything in moderation. After all, CNY is a once a year affair to try out these goodies. And perhaps eat only those you really like and of reasonably good quality. No point grabbing a handful of mediocre tarts just to past time or pretending to act busy. Sugared drinks are probably a killer for your waist too.
If not, help your mum with the household chores. Washing and cleaning burn a lot, yah? Happy and HEALTHY New Year everyone!
Other Related Entries
Favourite Chinese New Year Goodies
Crystal Jade My Bread Bolo Tarts
Le Café Confectionery (Middle Road)
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Kedai Kue Kue (Great World City)
