Burn off those CNY calories with a good spring clean! Two pluses: Your house will look immaculate and you won’t feel deprived. By Yuen Yi Ying
Hands up those of you who love Chinese New Year and all the delicious goodies. Before you indulge in your favourite festive treats, check out our guide below.
We’ve put together a list of spring cleaning chores for you to work off those calories from your CNY snacking (since you need to spruce up your place for the new year anyway). Trust us, you’d relish each bite even more!
Chinese New Year Snack: Love Letters
Two-and-a-half love letters: 140kcal
Work it off! Get 12 crease-free shirts after one hour of ironing (140kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Kueh Lapis
A slice of kueh lapis: 237kcal
Work it off! Enjoy the view after an hour of window-cleaning (250kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Peanut Puffs
Two peanut puffs, or kok chai: 77kcal
Work it off! 45 minutes of dusting will ensure spotless furniture (75kcal)!
Chinese New Year Snack: Roasted Cashews
Three handfuls (2/3 cup) of roasted cashews: 500kcal
Work it off! Kick back in your gorgeous yard after 90 minutes of gardening – including planting, adding compost, light weeding and trimming (450kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Milk Sweets
Five milk sweets: 89kcal
Work it off! You’ll love having clean, lint-free carpets and floors after 30 minutes of vacuuming (90kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Melon Seeds
A handful (1/4 cup) of melon seeds, or kwa chi: 150kcal
Work it off! Show off your flashy ride after washing your car by hand (150kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Sa Kei Ma
Half a slice of sa kei ma, or egg-flour cookie: 148kcal
Work it off! Have a good night’s rest after making three beds in 30 minutes (130kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Pineapple Tarts
Four pineapple tarts: 373kcal
Work it off! After 90 minutes of mopping (the equivalent of mopping your five-room HDB flat twice over), your floors will be so shiny you can smile at your own reflection (330kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Bak Kwa
One slice of bak kwa – so eat the best you can find!: 370kcal
Work it off! Scrub up two grubby loos (400kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Peanut-sesame Candy
A piece of peanut-sesame candy: 218kcal
Work it off! A 30-minute walk home carrying groceries should do the trick (190kcal, or more if the bags are heavy).
Chinese New Year Snack: Spring Rolls with Dried Shrimp Filling
Three mini spring rolls with dried shrimp filling: 68kcal
Work it off! Flaunt toned gams in a cheongsam after hauling groceries up eight flights of stairs (68kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Kueh Bangkit
Twelve pieces of kueh bangkit, or coconut cookies: 183kcal
Work it off! An hour of cooking for that family gathering will raze off major calories (180kcal).
Chinese New Year Snack: Hawthorn Sweets
Four rolls of hawthorn sweets: 160kcal
Work it off! Save the environment. Skip disposable ware and wash dishes by hand for about 30 minutes after the guests leave (160kcal).
Calorie data sourced from Health Promotion Board, Singapore
Also read:
Keep Your Diet on Track During Festive Periods
Healthy & Delicious Hot Pot Soup Base Recipes
How to Keep Teeth Healthy During CNY
