Can’t Resist the Twinkie? A Guide to Working Off Its Calories

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If you’re tempted to herald the return of the Twinkie by downing one (or more) of the golden treats, you’re probably not thinking about how many calories they contain. But just in case you’re curious…

…here is how the Twinkie stacks up to some healthier snack options, as well as a guide for how much exercise it will take to burn off the 150 calories in each cream-filled cake.

“A Twinkie is not worth it, not just because of the caloric content–150 calories is adequate for a snack–but because it lacks fiber, which will provide satiety over a period of time and because it is loaded with sugar, which will cause you to crash and become tired 15 minutes after you eat a Twinkie,” says Tracy Lockwood, a registered dietitian at F-Factor Nutrition. “You can choose so many other options, such as a handful of almonds or an apple and two table spoons of peanut butter, that will keep you full and will provide you with protein and fiber.”

We hate to taint your walk down memory lane, but now that Twinkies are back after almost disappearing for good, it’s information we thought you should know. You might even thank us later.

Twinkie, one per serving
Calories: 150
Fat: 4g
Sugars: 19g
Cholesterol: 27g

What you could eat instead for 150 calories:

  • 11 cups of celery
  • 75 grapes
  • 22 almonds
  • 100 blueberries
  • 2 cups of carrots

How you can work off a Twinkie:

  • Hiking: 22 minutes
  • Walking (slow pace): 50 minutes
  • Jogging: 20 minutes
  • Swimming (vigorously): 13 minutes
  • Jumping rope: 15 minutes
  • Scrubbing the floor: 30 minutes
  • Running up the stairs: 10 minutes