Here's a look at just how many steps are needed to burn off that tasty Snickers bar!
If sticking to a workout routine has been on your to-do list forever, it may be time to invest in an activity tracker! (Like this sleek-looking Fitbit.) Getting regular exercise—like walking—can prevent and even reverse health conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Wearing a tracker to count your steps can also be a great reminder to get up and move throughout the day.
The best part about having an activity tracker is that it shows you how many steps you have taken that day, plus the distance you’ve traveled and the calories you burned.
Being able to see how many calories you burn throughout the day can help you stay mindful of the calories you’re taking in, too. Many of us don’t realize just how many steps are needed to burn off our favorite treats! Even a small treat like a Kit Kat Bar can require over 6,000 steps to burn off, so you may want to know your numbers before ripping open that wrapper…
3 Musketeers
212 calories,
6,625 steps
100 Grand Bar
200.5 calories,
6,266 steps
Almond Joy
232 calories,
7,250 steps
Baby Ruth
288.5 calories,
9,016 steps
Butterfinger
216 calories,
6,750 steps
Cadbury’s Carmello
220 calories,
6,875 steps
Kit Kat
220.5 calories,
6,891 steps
Milky Way
228.5 calories,
7,141 steps
Nestle Crunch
229.5 calories,
7,172 steps
Oh Henry
245.5 calories,
7,672 steps
Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
222 cups,
6,938 steps
Snickers
273 calories,
8,531 steps
Twix, Caramel
284.5 calories,
8,891 steps
Twix, Peanut Butter
307.5 calories,
9,609 steps
Whatchamacallit
256.5 calories,
8,016 steps
York Peppermint Patty
149 calories,
4,656 steps
Krackel
236 calories,
7,375 steps
5th Avenue Bar
269.9 calories,
8,434 steps
Hershey’s Pot of Gold Almond Bar
450 calories,
14,063 steps
Milky Way Midnight Bar
221.5 calories,
6,922 steps
Rolos
233 calories,
7,281 steps
Mars Almond Bar
233.5 calories,
7,297 steps
M&Ms, Plain
236 calories,
7,375 steps
M&Ms, Peanut
242.5 calories,
7,578 steps
* Calorie and step estimates may vary depending on your workout intensity and body type.
Not up for adding 7,000 steps per day just for one candy bar? Try starting with a short walk in the morning, and you may find you don’t even want that Snickers in the first place (speaking of, here’s how you can make your very own healthy Snickers)! Studies show that a quick 15-minute walk can cut your craving for sweets like candy bars.
Yogurt-Ricotta Cheesecake
I have always liked Italian ricotta cheesecakes, but they have too much sugar for me. I made a light version, and my family couldn’t even tell the difference! I serve mine with sugar-free strawberry ice cream topping and fresh strawberries. —Diane Shipley, Mentor, Ohio
Go to Recipe
Applesauce Spice CupcakesI began making these moist cupcakes in grade school and still bake them today. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana
Mocha Meringue Sandwich CookiesThese crisp, chewy cookies can be made any size you choose. They're also great with a variety of fillings—try making them with fruit preserves. —Marie Valdes, Brandon, FL
Frozen Banana Cereal PopsWhen we want a healthy snack, we dip bananas in yogurt, roll 'em in cereal, then freeze. Ta-da! —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
Makeover Peach Upside-Down CakeThis peachy delight has charmed folks for years. Our lightened version is even better with less fat and calories than other similar recipes.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Banana Chocolate CakeThis light-as-air chocolate cake has a yummy banana flavor. It’s scrumptious as is, but you can also dress it up with nuts or light frostings. —Tina Bellows, Racine, Wisconsin
Fluffy Key Lime PieFor a taste of paradise, try this no-bake Key lime pie recipe. It's low in fat, sugar and fuss. It truly is the best Key lime pie recipe ever! —Frances VanFossan, Warren, Michigan
Makeover Fruit PizzaThere’s nothing better than a guilt-free dessert, especially when it’s topped with refreshing and colorful fruit. We skimmed the calories and fat from a traditional fruit pizza to create one with about half the calories, fat and cholesterol. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Grilled Honey-Balsamic Glazed FruitOne summer my mother-in-law made us grilled peaches basted with a sweet and tangy sauce. These are so good I'm always tempted to eat the whole batch. —Kristin Van Dyken, West Richland, Washington
Grilled Cranberry Pear CrumbleMy husband loves it when I make dessert. Fruit crisps are easy and quick to prepare, so I make them often! I created this fall-flavored grilled version with fresh pears and items I had on hand. We loved it. —Ronna Farley, Rockville, Maryland
Meringue Shells with Lemon CurdWe love a dazzling dessert of meringue shells filled with sunny lemon curd. It’s sweet and tart, crunchy and fluffy. Top this lemon curd dessert with whipped cream and berries. —Kris Brill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Makeover Lemon Pound CakeFor this lovely golden cake, I use fat-free yogurt to trim the calories. It's a comforting dessert for days when it's warm enough to dine outside. —Lauren Gilmore, Pennington, New Jersey
Cranberry Stuffed ApplesCinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts add a homey autumn flavor to these stuffed apples, while the slow cooker does most of the work. —Graciela Sandvigen, Rochester, New York
Sonoran Sunset Watermelon IceIf you didn’t think watermelon and cilantro could go together in a dessert, this recipe will be a pleasant surprise! Sprinkle pomegranate seeds and a sprig of cilantro on top for extra flair. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Makeover Pineapple Upside-Down CakeBoth of my boys loved this makeover version of a family favorite, and even my husband, who is a bit picky, wants a piece in his lunch tomorrow! —Mary Lou Moeller, Wooster, Ohio
Sour Cream BavarianAre you ‘sweet on’ someone who’s counting calories? Show them you care with this light and refreshing dessert. It’s sinfully creamy and so pretty with the tart raspberry sauce. No one would ever guess that it’s fat-free! —Judi Janczewski, Berwyn, Illinois
Apple Pie Oatmeal DessertWarm and comforting oatmeal desserts bring back memories of times spent with my family around the kitchen table. I serve this dish with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream as a topper. —Carol Greer, Earlville, Illinois
Frozen Greek Vanilla YogurtIt's so simple and easy to make your own frozen Greek yogurt, you might even want to get the kids in on the fun. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ginger Plum TartSweet cravings, begone: This free-form plum tart is done in only 35 minutes. It's extra awesome when served warm. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Healthy Apple CrispThis easy dish is a tradition in my family. It's as quick as a boxed cake mix but it's a healthier dessert choice. It's ideal in fall when it seems that everyone has a bag or two of fresh apples to give away! —Terri Wetzel, Roseburg, Oregon
Frozen Berry & Yogurt SwirlsI enjoy these frozen yogurt pops because they double as a healthy snack and a cool, creamy sweet treat. —Colleen Ludovice, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Apple-Spice Angel Food CakeI dressed up an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois
Root Beer Float PieThis is the kind of recipe your kids will look back on and always remember. And you don't even need to use an oven! —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
Carrot Cookie BitesThis recipe is a longtime family favorite. The cookies are soft and delicious, and the aroma while baking is absolutely irresistible! I'm always being asked for the recipe. —Jeanie Petrik, Greensburg, Kentucky
Picnic Berry ShortcakesYou can make the berry sauce ahead of time and chill it. Then assemble the entire dessert right before the picnic or party. —Frieda Bliesner, McAllen, Texas
Grilled Angel Food Cake with StrawberriesOne night I goofed, accidentally using the balsamic butter I save for grilling chicken on my pound cake. What a delicious mistake that my entire family loved! For a patriotic look, add a drizzle of blueberry syrup. —Tammy Hathaway, Freeman Twp, Maine
Low-Fat Peanut Butter CookiesWhen you bite into one of these yummy cookies, you'll never guess it's low in fat. This is my family's favorite healthy peanut butter cookie recipe. —Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts
Mango Rice PuddingMangoes are my son's favorite fruit, so I was ecstatic to incorporate them into a healthy dessert. You can also use ripe bananas instead of mango, almond extract instead of vanilla or regular milk in place of soy. —Melissa McCabe, Victor, New York
Light CheesecakeOur family adores cheesecake, but I wanted to serve something healthier. I came up with this lighter version that I make for both holidays and everyday. —Diane Roth, Adams, Wisconsin
Sweet Potato Frozen Yogurt PopsOnce I had my little girl I quickly became really creative in the kitchen, needing to have healthy foods on hand. These frozen treats turned out to be a favorite and are a staple in our home. —Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue RosesEat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California
Lemon Blueberry Cornmeal CakeI lightened up this quick and easy dessert by making a few substitutions. Because the treat is so sweet, no one will know it's healthy, too.—Roxanne Chan, Albany, California.
Black Bean BrowniesYou’d never guess these rich, velvety chocolate treats contain a can of black beans. Who would have thought black bean brownies would be so amazing? —Kathy Hewitt, Cranston, Rhode Island
Chocolate-Dipped Phyllo SticksLooking for a little something special to share with friends or family? Try these crunchy treats. They’re wonderful with coffee or a glass of milk. —Peggy Woodward, Shullsburg, Wisconsin
Vanilla Meringue CookiesWant to learn how to make meringues? This meringue cookie recipe creates light, airy morsels. It's the perfect fat-free treat to really beat a sweets craving. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cinnamon Nut BarsClassic bar meets good-for-you ingredients in this updated recipe. If you have the patience, after the bars are cool, store them in a tin for a day to allow the flavors to meld...I think they taste even better the next day.— Heidi Lindsey, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
Strawberry-Rosemary Yogurt PopsWe planted strawberries a few years ago, and these tangy-sweet frozen yogurt pops are my very favorite treats to make with them! The options are endless. Try using other yogurt flavors like lemon, raspberry or blueberry. You may also substitute your favorite herb for the rosemary—or simply omit it. —Carmell Childs, Ferron, Utah
Cranberry and Pear CrispThis dessert is perfect for that first autumn day you can feel a nip in the air. It’s full of sweet, crunchy fall flavors. —Lori Choquette, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Mixed Berry Sundaes for 2These delightful yogurt sundaes are an easy way to add fruit and calcium to your diet. Berries star in the dish, which I enjoy as a simple breakfast or healthy dessert for two. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
Grilled Stone Fruits with Balsamic SyrupGet ready to experience another side of stone fruits. Hot off the rack, these grilled nectarines practically melt in your mouth. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California
Now a freelance health and food writer, Carrie worked as a nurse for over a decade. When she isn't hunched over her laptop with a baby in hand, you will find her cooking her grandmother’s recipes, lacing up her running shoes or sipping coffee in the bathroom to hide from her three young children.
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