Can You Believe How Many Calories Are In These Foods?
From vegetables to fruits to meats, let's take a look at some of the highest-calorie foods in each category. It doesn't matter if you're trying to lose weight or not, just knowing these facts can help you make better-informed choices about what you put into your body. That being said, don't be fooled - just because a food has higher calories doesn't make it unhealthy. It's all about moderation and watching your intake!
1. Macadamia Nuts
For people who love a nice hearty snack, macadamia nuts are a satisfying munchie. But did you know they're also one of the most calorie-dense nuts out there? In just 100 grams, you're consuming about 718 calories. Don't be too alarmed though - these nuts contain plenty of healthy vitamins, minerals, and fats that are actually good for you. As with anything, just always eat in moderation. Too much of anything is never beneficial.
2. Butter
Used in baking, cooking, and simply spread on toast, butter is commonly thrown into dishes to give them some added richness and depth. Unfortunately though, butter isn't the healthiest of ingredients. Not only is it high in calories, about 717 per 100 grams, but it's also loaded with saturated fats that can lead to a number of health complications if consumed in large quantities.
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3. Olive Oil
We don't imagine you'd ever really consume 100 grams of olive oil just on its own, but for reference, it is a whopping 884 calories. Although extra virgin olive oil does have some surprising health benefits like helping you manage your cholesterol levels, having too much won't be good for you in the long run.
4. Chocolate
No, we're not talking about milk or white chocolate which are both high in calories and bad for your body when eaten in excess. For this point, we'd like to specifically talk about dark chocolate, a food that's surprisingly healthy when eaten in moderation thanks to its many minerals. In just 100 grams, there's about 550 calories, so just make sure you don't go crazy with it.
5. Pecans
Similar to macademia nuts, pecans are another heavy calorie nut. If you were to eat 100 grams, you'd be consuming approximately 691 calories! Containing so much protein, healthy fats, and fiber, it's certainly one of the healthier snacks out there that you can have.
6. Cheddar Cheese
Who doesn't love cheese? Throw it in a sandwich, pair it with some meat, or use it as a garnish on a salad and you'll make the dish taste so much better. But of course, just because it tastes good doesn't mean you can eat as much as you want. At about 402 calories per 100 grams, it's still important that you moderate your intake. It's a great food to help with bone health thanks to all the calcium in it, but only if you're careful.
7. Coconut Oil
Despite what the internet might tell you, we're here to say that coconut oil isn't as healthy as you've been told. In just 100 grams, it's about 862 calories which makes it one of the highest calorie foods on this list. Not to mention, it contains a whole lot of saturated fats that can be seriously bad for your heart health if you consume too much of it.
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8. Peanut Butter
The best partner for your jelly sandwiches, peanut butter is a beloved spread that's considered a staple in many households across America. While it's certainly delicious and has some interesting health benefits, it's one of those foods you have to be careful about. Moderation is key here, especially if it has approximately 588 calories per 100 grams.
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9. Ghee
In just 100 grams, ghee (clarified butter) contains a whopping 900 calories. Because of its incredibly high fat content, this is one of those foods you have to be very careful about. It's quite the popular ingredient used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine, so just be wary of foods containing ghee - too much can lead to health problems and weight gain.
10. Pork Belly
Pork belly, though delicious and amazingly tender when cooked right, is a very fatty cut of meat that you shouldn't be surprised to hear is high in calories. With about 518 calories for every 100 grams, it's okay to enjoy this meat, just in moderation. Just be wary of its high saturated fat content which can be detrimental to your health.
11. Sweet Potatoes
While clearly sweet potatoes aren't as high calorie as the rest of the items on this list, we did want to include it as one of the higher-calorie vegetables out there. Sweet potatoes contain approximately 86 calories per 100 grams, but generally, it's not something to be too concerned about. As long as you're not inhaling them left and right, you can enjoy the amazing antioxidants and vitamins that this vegetable provides.
12. Goose Fat
It goes without saying that certain fats used for cooking are expected to be incredibly high in calorie. But out of all the options available, goose fat is definitely one of the highest. We're talking 900 calories per 100 grams! Although it makes roasted dishes taste extra delicious thanks to its rich and deep flavour, try not to eat it too often or use too much of it. It's not something that's very good for your body.
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13. Bacon
Ah, as one of America's favorite foods, we're assuming you're pretty sad seeing bacon appear on this list. Sad, but not surprised. Reaching up to 541 calories per 100 grams, we should all already know that bacon isn't the healthiest of foods. Eating too much of it can cause a lot of problems for your body, so it's best to manage how much and how often you eat it.
14. Avocado
Everyone's favorite Instagram-worthy ingredient, avocados are a beloved fruit that is both healthy and high in calorie. You'll consume about 160 calories per 100 grams. It's one of those foods that while yes, it's loaded with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, you still have to be careful how much you eat of it.
15. Salmon
As far as fish goes, salmon is one of the higher calorie offerings available. It sits at around 208 calories per 100 grams, which is less than the others on this list but still important to consider. The nice thing about salmon is though, it's a tasty but healthy food that should be added to your regular diet. It's one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids that is great for heart health.
16. Mayonnaise
Sometimes, it's not the meat of the meal that carries the most calories, it can be something as surprising as the sauce. And when it comes to condiments, one of the highest calorie options out there is mayonnaise. After all, it's simply made from just oil and egg yolks. So although it's great in sandwiches and used as marinades, just be wary of how many calories you're tacking on to your overall meal.
17. Parmesan Cheese
Most commonly used as a topping for pasta, salads, casseroles, and so much more, Parmesan cheese is a must have ingredient in many households. It provides that extra oomph of flavour that really completes a dish! But aside from taste, we have to consider its calories too. At about 431 calories per 100 grams, it can really add up depending on how much you add to your meal.
18. Coconut Meat
Coconut meat can have plenty of great health benefits, but only if it's eaten in moderation. It does contain quite a bit of fat and can cause weight gain if eaten in excess. That's because it contains around 354 calories per 100 grams, which can definitely add up if you're not careful.
19. Artichokes
Again, although 47 calories per 100 grams seems like nothing compared to the rest of this list, we just want to point out how artichokes are one of the higher calorie vegetables. Of course, artichokes come with plenty of nutritional benefits and are a good food to incorporate into your daily diet.
20. Plantains
While they sure look like bananas, plantains are their own fruit. We took a look at some of the higher calorie vegetable options, so let's do the same with fruit. These starchy goodies contain about 122 calories per 100 grams. But given that these are often prepared fried, the calories can really add on. Of course with anything on this list, how the dish is prepared matters a great deal too.
