With less than a week away, many individuals are fretting about what to get their significant other. Most women already have an idea of what they may be getting their other half, while a good portion of the fellas will be waiting til the day before or the day of to pick from the last of the cards and scramble to come up with a last minute gift. The media will have you believe that this is the only day that you need to worry about showing your spouse how much you love and appreciate them, however if you have been in a long term relationship you know that this day should be like EVERY other day in which you show your gratitude towards the person you love. Many individuals will partake in the standard gifts on this day like sending flowers, buying some form of chocolate and probably going out for a romantic dinner. If a person is not careful, there can be quite a number of calories that can be consumed on this day. If you look at some of the dangers of high caloric items like alcohol, chocolates, dessert, and a high calorie meal, this combination can put you well over your daily caloric intake very quickly. Here are some quick facts for your possible Valentine’s Day treats.
1. Valentine’s Day Cookie
Decorating heart-shaped cookies on Valentine’s Day is a favorite with kids. Snitch one of those cookies, and you will consume 66 calories for each 3-inch diameter cookie. Ice it with 2 teaspoons of prepared frosting and add about 35 calories for a total of around 100 calories.
2. Hershey’s Kisses
3. Chocolate-covered Strawberries
Chocolate-dipped strawberries are a favorite romantic Valentine’s treat. Eat one large strawberry dipped in about a tablespoon of melted chocolate, and you will consume about 75 calories. Not bad if you stick with one or two!
4. Conversation Hearts
Who doesn’t eat a conversation heart or two around Valentine’s Day? Each small heart contains only 3 calories! Pop 15 of those in your mouth, and you will consume only 45 calories. Keep in mind that if you prefer the large conversation hearts, they contain twice the amount of calories per heart.
5. Dove Chocolates
Unwrap one of those pretty foil packages on a Dove dark chocolate miniature, and you will consume about 42 calories. Eat a couple of those for around 85 calories.
6. Russel Stovers Chocolates
Dig into that box of Russel Stover’s assorted milk chocolates, and expect to indulge in about 66 calories for each piece. Three of them will add up to 199 calories.
Wine, although relatively low in carbs, can be high in calories. In general, dry wines have fewer calories than sweet wines because sugar is not added to dry wines after fermentation. Dessert wines have the highest amount of sugar and carbohydrates.
The difficult part about drinking wine is not finishing the entire bottle. Although one glass typically has fewer calories than the average beer, the calories can add up quickly as you refill your glass. Here are some examples of the calorie and carb content of some red and white wines.
Note: Each example below is based on a 4-ounce glass. However, depending on the bar or the restaurant (or how much you pour yourself), glasses may be as large as 8 ounces.
Wine Type Calories Carbs (g)
The number of calories in hard alcohol is based on the “proof” of the alcohol: the higher the proof, the higher the amount of calories. For example, a 100-proof alcohol has about 124 calories per 1½ oz, while an 80-proof alcohol contains 97 calories for the same amount.
Here’s the damage on some of the most common cocktails.
Note: These approximate values are based on 1½ oz of alcohol and 8 oz of mixer. Keep in mind, however, that jumbo-size drinks in restaurants can contain much more. For example, a Long Island Iced Tea can pack up to 16 ounces and 750 calories.
Although a single beer is not excessively high in calories (compared to a cheeseburger or a milkshake, for example), it is often difficult to stop at just one. And if you drink beer several nights a week, the calories add up quickly. Even if you exercise and eat right, beer can definitely cause you to gain weight. Here are some examples of your favorite beers and how they measure up in terms of calories and carbs. Keep in mind that there is no fat in beer.
Note: All figures are based on a 12-ounce beer. If you drink from a pint glass, which is roughly 16 ounces, the calorie content of alcohol increases.
Beer Brand Calories Carbs (g)