[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rgaqwFPU7cc]
This entertaining video (originally highlighted by Buzzfeed) shows what 2,000 calories looks like in a variety of foods. Why 2,000 calories? Because that is the average recommended daily caloric need of a person to maintain their weight, and what the calculations on food labels (referring to the percentage of daily value) are based on. Of course, that is just a very rough estimate – click here to find a table that has daily caloric needs for both men and women of different weights. In effect, according to that table, 2,000 calories would be roughly applicable for a 60 kg – woman between the age of 18 and 35, or a 65 – kg man over the age of 55.
While calorie-counting is a tedious way to control eating behavior, just rough eyeballing aids like this might come in handy just to realize how much we consume, especially while eating out. Before watching, ask yourself – how many carrots do you think are the equivalent of 2,000 calories? How many pieces of bacon? How many Cinnabon cinnamon rolls? And how many Olive Garden Fettucine Alfredo? You might be surprised…