How Many Burpees Does 1 Cookie Equal?

A few years ago I remember seeing a chart of “burpee equivalents” for food.

Do you remember it?

How many burpees to work off what you eat?

• A cookie = 141 burpees
• Small meatball sub = 402 burpees
• Big Mac = 506 burpees

I’ve also seen charts for how many miles it takes to walk or run off different foods:

• 1 hour and 23 mins to walk off ¼ of a large pizza (or 42 mins of running at 5 mph)
• 48 minutes of walking to burn off a blueberry muffin (25 minutes of running)

Which on one hand is interesting, because it makes you realize just how much of an impact what you eat can have body-weight wise … even though the numbers themselves are a little meaningless.

This is because there are a LOT of things that affect how many calories a person burns, from their sex to their size to their age, and more.

But on the other hand, this approach overlooks a very important fact: the actual NUTRITION different foods give your body.

Food is so much more than just calories and how much it takes to “burn it off.”

Food can be packed with vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that help build and power your muscles and bones, create and regulate hormones, boost your immune system, and help your cells and organs do their jobs.

And it can also be filled with unhealthy fats, added sugars, excess sodium, and refined grains that make it harder for your body to function at its best.

The idea is to eat MORE of the foods that add value to your body … like veggies, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.

And also to eat less of those that don’t contribute to your health & wellbeing (like added sugars and ultra-processed foods).

Just something to keep in mind – because it’s not always about the calories!

Did you know that September is National Family Meals Month?

A recent study shows that children who grow up sharing meals as a family are more likely to exhibit positive behavior as adults, such as sharing, fairness, and respect. What are your favorite family-time rituals around the table?

Chances are your favorite childhood memories include meals and laughter around your family table. September is Family Meals Month™. Raise Your Mitt to Commit™ to making one more family meal this week.

Celebrate Family Meals Month™. Pick up all your favorite pizza ingredients at your local grocery store and make your own pizzas at home with your kids.