About the Calorie Converter
Calories measure energy content in food and energy expenditure in exercise. Our converter helps you understand the relationship between calories, kilojoules, and practical exercise equivalents for fitness planning and nutritional awareness.
Whether you're tracking daily nutrition, planning workout routines, comparing food labels from different countries, or studying energy balance, understanding calorie conversions provides valuable insights into energy intake and expenditure.
- 1 kcal = 1,000 calories = 4.184 kilojoules (food calorie standard)
- 1 kilojoule = 0.239 kcal = 239 calories
- Running: ~10 kcal per minute (average adult, moderate pace)
- Walking: ~4 kcal per minute (average adult, normal pace)
- 1 gram carbs/protein = 4 kcal; 1 gram fat = 9 kcal
Real-World Examples: A slice of pizza contains approximately 285 kcal. A 30-minute run burns about 300 kcal. A banana provides roughly 105 kcal. One kilowatt-hour of electricity equals about 860 kcal of energy.
Fun Facts About Calories and Energy
- The word "calorie" comes from the Latin "calor," meaning heat
- A calorie was originally defined as the energy needed to heat 1 gram of water by 1°C
- Professional cyclists can burn over 10,000 kcal during a single stage race
- Your brain uses about 20% of your daily calorie intake despite being only 2% of body weight
- Cold water technically burns more calories as your body warms it to body temperature