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The Hungry Caterpillar's Non-progressive Diet

Submitted by greg on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 07:17

I've always been bothered by the consumption pattern of the "Hungry Caterpillar." He eats things of different sizes and caloric value. The 1 red apple on the first day always seemed similar in size/calories to the 4 strawberries he ate on the 4th day and yet the arc of the story is that he's eating "more" each day.

I got frustrated enough I decided to research the calories in each item and graph them. Details under the graph.

* 1 red apple: 80
* 2 pears: 170
* 3 plums: 225
* 4 strawberries: 40
* 5 oranges: 430
* Saturday: 2400 calories
* Slice of cake: 190
* Ice cream and cone: 160
* Pickle: 145
* Wedge of swiss cheese (4 ounces): 424
* Sausage (6 ounces): 714
* Lollipop: 25
* Slice of cherry pie: 325
* Sausage: 196
* Cupcake: 131
* Watermelon: 90
* 1 leaf: less than 6 calories (6 calories is a cup of spinach)

Wow.

Comments

Another example of the canon of so-called children's "literature" contributing to the epidemic of obesity among children!

I propose this book be banned in all states and replaced with "The Very Satisfied Aphid" co-written by officials at the FDA and the Corn Grower's lobby with in-school advertising support from Pepsi-Co.