According to a recent survey by cheese spread brand The Laughing Cow, British men and women are drastically underestimating the number of calories they consume each day.

Researchers found that the majority of people surveyed greatly underestimated the number of calories in the foods they consume. An average adult surveyed estimated that there are just 270 calories in a large cinema popcorn, when the true value is closer to 965. Another national favourite, the supermarket pepperoni pizza, contains approximately 1,100 calories. However, respondents to the survey estimated an average of just 335.

 

The study also revealed that the average person surveyed aimed to consume 1,920 calories per day, but they actually consume around 2,625 calories on average – largely due to the number of snacks eaten.

 

“Too often we are reaching for snacks that, when we think about it properly, we don’t want” says The Laughing Cow brand manager Alexandra Labaisse. “Whether it is a soggy sandwich left over after a meeting or a bowl of salty crisps that you devour on autopilot in front of the TV, it is clear we will simply graze without much thought.”

 

“However, being mindful about what we are consuming and ensuring we dedicate the time to snack well means we can avoid ‘snaccidents’ and enjoy a delicious snack without the guilt.”

 

Many people who participated in the survey also had no idea how many calories were needed to maintain their weight, with 12% believing men required 3,000 calories to stay the same, rather than the 2,500 actually needed.

 

17% of those surveyed exceeded their calorie allowance every day, but a quarter admitted that if they knew how many calories were in their favourite snacks they would probably refrain from eating them.