What Does 200 Calories Look like?

L. S. Wynn
L. S. Wynn

Some foods have significantly more Calories than others but what does the difference actually look like. Each of the photographs below represents 200 Calories of the particular type of food; the images are sorted from low to high calorie density. When you consider that an entire plate of broccoli contains the same number of Calories as a small spoonful of peanut butter, you might think twice the next time you decide what to eat. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average adult needs to consume about 2000 - 2500 Calories to maintain their weight. In other words, you have a fixed amount of Calories to "spend" each day; based on the following pictures, which would you eat?

Pictures of 200 Calories of Various Foods

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200 Calories of Celery
Celery
1425 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Mini Peppers
Mini Peppers
740 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Broccoli
Broccoli
588 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Baby Carrots
Baby Carrots
570 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Honeydew Melon
Honeydew Melon
553 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Coca Cola
Coca Cola
496 ml = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Red Onions
Red Onions
475 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Apples
Apples
385 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Canned Green Peas
Canned Green Peas
357 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Whole Milk
Whole Milk
333 ml = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Kiwi Fruit
Kiwi Fruit
328 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Canned Sweet Corn
Canned Sweet Corn
308 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Grapes
Grapes
290 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Ketchup
Ketchup
226 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Sliced Smoked Turkey
Sliced Smoked Turkey
204 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic Vinegar
200 ml = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Lowfat Strawberry Yogurt
Lowfat Strawberry Yogurt
196 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Canned Chili con Carne
Canned Chili con Carne
189 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Canned Black Beans
Canned Black Beans
186 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Canned Pork and Beans
Canned Pork and Beans
186 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Eggs
Eggs
150 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Cooked Pasta
Cooked Pasta
145 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Avocado
Avocado
125 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Canned Tuna Packed in Oil
Canned Tuna Packed in Oil
102 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Fiber One Cereal
Fiber One Cereal
100 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Flax Bread
Flax Bread
90 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Dried Apricots
Dried Apricots
83 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Jack in the Box Cheeseburger
Jack in the Box Cheeseburger
75 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Jack in the Box French Fries
Jack in the Box French Fries
73 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Jack in the Box Chicken Sandwich
Jack in the Box Chicken Sandwich
72 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of French Sandwich Roll
French Sandwich Roll
72 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Blueberry Muffin
Blueberry Muffin
72 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Sesame Seed Bagel
Sesame Seed Bagel
70 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Tootsie Pops
Tootsie Pops
68 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Hot Dogs
Hot Dogs
66 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Wheat Dinner Rolls
Wheat Dinner Rolls
66 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Corn Bran Cereal
Corn Bran Cereal
60 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Bailey's Irish Cream
Bailey's Irish Cream
60 ml = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Smarties Candy
Smarties Candy
57 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Uncooked Pasta
Uncooked Pasta
56 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Blackberry Pie
Blackberry Pie
56 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Cranberry Vanilla Crunch Cereal
Cranberry Vanilla Crunch Cereal
55 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Cornmeal
Cornmeal
55 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Wheat Flour
Wheat Flour
55 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Peanut Butter Power Bar
Peanut Butter Power Bar
54 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Puffed Rice Cereal
Puffed Rice Cereal
54 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
54 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Puffed Wheat Cereal
Puffed Wheat Cereal
53 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Brown Sugar
Brown Sugar
53 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Glazed Doughnut
Glazed Doughnut
52 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Salted Pretzels
Salted Pretzels
52 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Medium Cheddar Cheese
Medium Cheddar Cheese
51 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Fruit Loops Cereal
Fruit Loops Cereal
51 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Gummy Bears
Gummy Bears
51 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Splenda Artificial Sweetener
Splenda Artificial Sweetener
50 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Salted Saltines Crackers
Salted Saltines Crackers
50 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Werther's Originals Candy
Werther's Originals Candy
50 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories (69% of one serving) of Snickers Chocolate Bar
Snickers Chocolate Bar
41 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Doritos
Doritos
41 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Marshmallow Treat
Marshmallow Treat
40 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of M&M Candy
M&M Candy
40 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Peanut Butter Crackers
Peanut Butter Crackers
39 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Cheetos
Cheetos
38 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Potato Chips
Potato Chips
37 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Hershey Kisses
Hershey Kisses
36 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Sliced and Toasted Almonds
Sliced and Toasted Almonds
35 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Fried Bacon
Fried Bacon
34 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter
34 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Salted Mixed Nuts
Salted Mixed Nuts
33 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Butter
Butter
28 grams = 200 Calories
200 Calories of Canola Oil
Canola Oil
23 grams = 200 Calories

Answers to some questions and other notes:

Why 200 Calories?

We could have chosen any amount of Calories for this project, but we wanted something that gave tangible volumes for the entire range of items. We felt that 100 Calories of butter or oil would have yielded diminutive portion sizes; on the other hand 500 Calories of celery would have been virtually incomprehensible.

How did you choose which foods to include in the project?

Many of the items we chose just happened to be in the wiseGEEK pantry; we chose the others because we wanted to display foods in a wide variety of categories. We stayed away from prepared foods such as funnel cake and spanakopita because their Caloric content is closely tied to the particular recipe used; we also avoided some more obscure foods such as mangosteen and jackfruit.

The sorting can be misleading because items with liquid tend to appear less Calorie dense; that's why you will find coke amongst the vegetables and cooked pasta significantly higher than uncooked pasta.

As we crafted this diverse catalog of caloric contents, we wanted to offer a well-rounded perspective on health and diet. It’s imperative to highlight one standout item that has garnered significant attention recently: the best greens powder. When incorporated into your daily routine, this nutrient-dense supplement can significantly optimize your health profile. Why? Because the best greens powder is chock-full of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber, yet relatively low in calories, making it an exceptional choice for those striving to maintain a balanced diet.

Given the innate complexity of fresh produce's availability and portability, the best greens powder steps in as an easy and convenient alternative. Packed into this seemingly simple mix are powerful leafy greens, antioxidant-rich fruits, and other plant-based ingredients that surpass many traditional food items in nutritional value. Plus, its ability to be mixed into water, juices, or smoothies makes it a versatile dietary supplement. Much like the rest of our selected foods, it's a testament to our intention of including a variety of items that cater to different dietary needs and preferences. 

Despite the low-calorie density, its placement in the nutritional hierarchy isn't affected by its liquid mixability. Instead, it provides an exceptional case of how crucial nutritional value extends beyond sheer calorie content. Just as cooked pasta has a different caloric profile than its uncooked counterpart, the best greens powder's nutritional makeup sets it apart from raw greens, offering a unique, convenient, and nutrient-rich option to consider in your diet.

All pictures were taken with the same camera (Nikon D70 digital camera) and with the same setup; in other words, the portion sizes displayed are all relative to each other.

The plate is 10.25" (26cm) in diameter and the bowl is 6.25" (16cm).

This article deals with Calories only. Don't forget that there are other considerations when choosing which foods to eat, such as nutritive value and diversity of your food choices.

The capital "C" in "Calories" throughout this article denotes dietary as opposed to physics calories.