Are you fond of eating street foods? Do you know how many calories do your favourite street foods have?
The Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) said Monday, Aug. 9., it has looked at the nutrient content of some street foods that Filipinos often eat. These include fried fish balls, squid balls and kikiam.
Based on DOST-FNRI's street food nutrition guide, 55 grams (g) or 10 pieces of fried fish ball will have about 146 calories, while four pieces or 60 g of fried squid ball contain about 160 calories.
Meanwhile, 40 grams or five pieces of fried kikiam contain 93 calories.
The DOST-FNRI said a cup of rice (80 grams) contains 200 calories, while 10 pieces of fishball in a stick contains 142 calories.
"Kaya kung kumain ka ng tatlong sticks ng fish ball para sa meryenda, ito ay katumbas ng 450 calories o lampas sa 2 tasang kanin. (So if you eat three fish ball sticks for a snack, it’s equivalent to 450 calories or more than 2 cups of rice),” it said in a statement.
The Institute asked the public to be mindful of the calorie content of the street foods they eat, saying that excessive calorie intake and little physical activities will result in weight gain.
“Remember you may eat street foods, but make sure it does not exceed your Estimated Energy Requirements (EER) in a day,” it said.
It advised the public to visit helponline.fnri.dost.gov.ph. to know more about their EER and calorie contents of other street foods.