Do you know how many calories are in your CNY snacks?
Goodies like love letters, pineapple tarts, bak kwa and kueh lapis are must-haves for Chinese New Year. But eat them in moderation if you are counting your calories. Here are tips to help you snack smart.
By Yip Wai Yee -
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Melon seeds
One handful (30g): 167 calories,14.2g fat
Bak kwa
One slice (75g): 301 calories, 10.3g fat
Love letter
1 roll (13g): 56 calories,1.5g fat
Pineapple tart
One piece (20g): 93 calories,3.6g fat
Kueh bangkit
One piece (4g): 15 calories, 0.4g fat
Mandarin Orange
One whole (120g): 39 calories,0.3g fat
Kueh lapis
One slice (48g): 237 calories, 18.4g fat
Prawn roll
One piece (4.5g): 23 calories,1.4g fat
Nian gao
One slice (55g): 127 calories, 0.27g fat
Prawn keropok
One piece (7g): 30 calories, 0.7g fat
Here are 8 tips on how to snack responsibly.
1. Do not go visiting on an empty stomach. Eat a proper meal before visiting to prevent the munchies from attacking.
2. Prioritise your favourite snacks and stick to eating only the top three, rather than trying every snack served.
3. Select your treats and put them in a small bowl and eat only those. Do not refill.
4. Savour every mouthful by chewing slowly.
5. Plan to visit houses in the same area on the same day and try to walk from place to place to burn some calories.
6. Opt for healthier snacks such as Mandarin oranges. If you must snack on high-calorie items, choose those without nuts, chocolate or other extra toppings.
7. Watch out for empty calories in sugar-laden soft drinks. Choose water or sugar-free tea instead.
8. Remember to socialise. Stay away from the food tables and focus your energy on catching up with your loved ones.