"Do you know how many calories are in butter and cheese and ice cream? Would you get your dog up in the morning for a cup of coffee and a donut?"
About this Quote
Then comes the pivot that makes it stick: the dog. It’s funny, slightly insulting, and strategically disarming. By comparing your morning routine to what you’d feed a pet, he flips the usual logic of self-care. People will splurge on themselves and call it “a treat,” yet they’d never rationalize that same low-grade neglect for an animal they love. The subtext is sharp: you’re extending more basic stewardship to your dog than to your own body.
Context matters. LaLanne built his brand in mid-century America, when convenience foods, TV dinners, and sugar-forward breakfasts were becoming normal. His whole persona was the counterprogramming: the original fitness influencer before the term existed, using simple images to cut through advertising fog. The line lands because it turns health from abstract longevity into immediate dignity. He’s not asking for perfection; he’s asking why you’d start the day by treating yourself like an afterthought.
Quote Details
| Topic | Health |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
LaLanne, Jack. (2026, January 16). Do you know how many calories are in butter and cheese and ice cream? Would you get your dog up in the morning for a cup of coffee and a donut? FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/do-you-know-how-many-calories-are-in-butter-and-128743/
Chicago Style
LaLanne, Jack. "Do you know how many calories are in butter and cheese and ice cream? Would you get your dog up in the morning for a cup of coffee and a donut?" FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/do-you-know-how-many-calories-are-in-butter-and-128743/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Do you know how many calories are in butter and cheese and ice cream? Would you get your dog up in the morning for a cup of coffee and a donut?" FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/do-you-know-how-many-calories-are-in-butter-and-128743/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.








