Although giant pandas will munch on many types of plants, 99% of what they eat consists of bamboo leaves, stems and shoots. The giant panda also enjoys various fruits while in captivity. Pandas need to eat anywhere from 22 to 40 pounds of food a day. To do this, they spend 12 to 16 hours each day eating. They have special paws to help them hold the bamboo stalks and their strong jaws and teeth make it easy for them to tear bamboo. The giant panda, while eating bamboo, will generally sit upright with their hind legs stretched out in front of them, like a child sitting on the floor.