Nutrition Facts: As Packaged vs As Prepared

Kamran1024

Do the "As Prepared" nutrition facts on the labels of items such as Velveeta Cheesy Skillets or Hamburger Helper include the meat, or do you have to count the calories from the meat itself separately?

missiontofitness

Do the "As Prepared" nutrition facts on the labels of items such as Velveeta Cheesy Skillets or Hamburger Helper include the meat, or do you have to count the calories from the meat itself separately?

From the FDA website:

"L22. What are the definitions of “as packaged” and “as prepared”?
Answer: “As packaged” refers to the state of the product as it is marketed for purchase. “As prepared” refers to the product after it has been made ready for consumption (e.g., ingredients added per instructions and cooked such as a cake mix that has been prepared and baked or a condensed or dry soup that has been reconstituted)."

sjaplo

I assume you are asking out of interest only, because I refuse to believe anyone would willingly eat either of those products.

(Disclaimer - my mother fed us Hamburger Helper and I've never really recovered.)

Francl27

'as prepared' should include the calories of what you ate adding by following their directions. I would calculate it myself though.