This is quite a nuanced question so let me take the nuance right out of it. NO!
Not all calories are created equal. To understand why you have to understand the difference between calorie dense foods and nutrition dense foods. Candy corn is a calorie dense food. It is densely packed with empty calories, that is calories with no nutrition. Corn on the other had is a nutrient dense food. If all you eat is candy corn then you are going to run into health problems quickly. If all you eat is corn you’ll get a lot of vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants.
Now this is where the “nuance” comes in. If you eat 1000 calories of candy corn and 1000 calories of corn you will gain the same amount of weight, roughly 1/3 of a pound. The difference is calorie and nutrient density. 1000 calories of candy corn is about 2 bags you would find in the checkout lane.
Even a small child could eat this in one sitting and not feel full and due to the addictive qualities of sugar they’ll be craving more in only a few hours time. On the other had 1000 calories of corn is about 8 ears worth. I dare you to eat 8 of corn in a day still want more.
The calorie dense candy corn leaves you hungry and allows you to eat even more calories of any type. The nutrient dense corn satisfies your hunger with far fewer calories. The simple fact of the matter is if you feel hungry your body is not craving calories it is craving nutrients.
So NO! Not all calories are created equal. You simply cannot eat as many calories of nutritious foods with easy the way you can un-nutritious foods.
Author – Coach Brian