Confusion on calories in shrimp
KeysKat
Posts: 5 Member
I bought a bag of frozen jumbo shrimp at Walmart. The bag says 6 shrimp= 4 ounces = 140 calories.
When I look on the MFP database that is waaay more than what any other resource says for shrimp/oz.
How do you know what is correct? Do you just assume that what is on the package you purchased is correct? Or the USDA?
A lot of times when I run into this, the difference is pretty small, but for shrimp...it is a huge difference.
When I look on the MFP database that is waaay more than what any other resource says for shrimp/oz.
How do you know what is correct? Do you just assume that what is on the package you purchased is correct? Or the USDA?
A lot of times when I run into this, the difference is pretty small, but for shrimp...it is a huge difference.
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Replies
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Most MFP entries are user-entered so they need to be double-checked by comparing them to the package or USDA. Always go with what the package or USDA says.1
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You should follow the nutritional facts listed on the package. I use the USDA database mostly for fruits and vegetables or anything that doesn't have nutritional facts on the package.4
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I bought a bag of frozen jumbo shrimp at Walmart. The bag says 6 shrimp= 4 ounces = 140 calories.
When I look on the MFP database that is waaay more than what any other resource says for shrimp/oz.
How do you know what is correct? Do you just assume that what is on the package you purchased is correct? Or the USDA?
A lot of times when I run into this, the difference is pretty small, but for shrimp...it is a huge difference.
First, go with the package info. After the shrimp thaw, weigh 6 of them and see if they weigh 4 oz. Then eat that many after it's cooked.
Also - Were your shrimp raw or cooked? (Like shrimp cocktail ready?)
The raw weight of food tends to be less than the same weight of cooked food. So if your shrimp were raw, then 4 oz. of cooked shrimp were likely to be higher than 4 oz. of cooked shrimp. Along with including usda in your search you should also look for an indicator of raw or cooked.2 -
Go with the package.1
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I promise you no company ever has put way more calories thn was true on their packaging. They dont want high high calories in this diet age....Why wouldnt you listen to the package -Atleast not for higher calories...i often find they under estimate their portions in packaged food...never over0
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Because it's a Processed food12
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HarlemNY17 wrote: »Because it's a Processed food
What in the world does that have to do with OP's question?11 -
JaydedMiss wrote: »I promise you no company ever has put way more calories thn was true on their packaging. They dont want high high calories in this diet age....Why wouldnt you listen to the package -Atleast not for higher calories...i often find they under estimate their portions in packaged food...never over
huh...packing can be up to 20% deviation in serving size - so packaging could easily be wrong - those 6 shrimp could be 3oz, 4oz or 5oz - that is why weighing is sooo important5 -
I bought a bag of frozen jumbo shrimp at Walmart. The bag says 6 shrimp= 4 ounces = 140 calories.
When I look on the MFP database that is waaay more than what any other resource says for shrimp/oz.
How do you know what is correct? Do you just assume that what is on the package you purchased is correct? Or the USDA?
A lot of times when I run into this, the difference is pretty small, but for shrimp...it is a huge difference.
go by the packaging if at all possible
weigh out 4oz of shrimp (it could be 6 or less/more) - eat shrimp - calorie wise 4oz shrimp is about 23g protein/1g fat - approx. 101 cal (but if there are any additional seasonings etc that could change the calorie count)0 -
deannalfisher wrote: »
huh...packing can be up to 20% deviation in serving size - so packaging could easily be wrong - those 6 shrimp could be 3oz, 4oz or 5oz - that is why weighing is sooo important
The number of shrimp per serving size could be high or low, but I tend to agree that they are unlikely to have overestimated the calories in the serving size. I would weight out the serving and use the calories on the packaging.1 -
I always assume the calories on my package are way more accurate than any other random thing I found elsewhere since the package directly relates to what I am eating.8
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Go with the package, but weigh those little buggers. I would trust that 4 oz is 140 cals, but the number of shrimp that make up 4 oz could be off!5
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Like others have said, OP, go for the package data but make sure you weigh the shrimp to make sure that's really how many shrimp make up 4oz.8 -
deannalfisher wrote: »
huh...packing can be up to 20% deviation in serving size - so packaging could easily be wrong - those 6 shrimp could be 3oz, 4oz or 5oz - that is why weighing is sooo important
yes but the OP says the website says the calories are way lower...the company isnt simply being like HAH lets just put the calories as double! Packaging is right. I never said anything about not weighing to get the right weight, OP asked which to listen to for what calories are right not what serving size.1 -
What in the world does that have to do with OP's question?
Processed Foods are always higher in calories and sodium!! Clearly she wanted to know why her shrimps were so high in calories and that's why .8 -
CattOfTheGarage wrote: »
See, that's where you went wrong, OP, you should have stuck your face directly in a rock pool, caught them with your teeth and eaten them alive and wriggling. No pesky confusing packaging that way.
Actually you should do you're research on why processed foods are high in calories and sodium . They don't just take shrimp throw them in the bag and put them in freezers.7 -
Weigh the peeled shrimp. Then look up the calories per gram/ounce. Shrimp can vary in size and density. Enter your own numbers and note it for future reference.2
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HarlemNY17 wrote: »
Actually you should do you're research on why processed foods are high in calories and sodium . They don't just take shrimp throw them in the bag and put them in freezers.
Many frozen foods are exactly that (though they may be blanched or fully cooked first).9 -
HarlemNY17 wrote: »
Actually you should do you're research on why processed foods are high in calories and sodium . They don't just take shrimp throw them in the bag and put them in freezers.
So nearly all meat that is frozen is frozen with brine, which is salt water.
I have never heard of adding calories though. That would be something other than brine.
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HarlemNY17 wrote: »
Processed Foods are always higher in calories and sodium!! Clearly she wanted to know why her shrimps were so high in calories and that's why .
Weird. I eat frozen fruit and vegetables, and their calories are not higher and they don't have added sodium.
Pretty sure the same is true with plenty of frozen shrimp too. Whether OP's have added ingredients we do not know, but if they do not there is no basis to claim the processing increased their calories or added sodium. Could be something about the frozen weight, could be the kind of shrimp. Seeing the packaging would, of course, help.
It's true that some frozen foods have added salt solution and it looks to me like the Walmart brands might (or some of them do), but that doesn't mean they all do.
Also, where do you live that you can get never frozen shrimp, because I am pretty sure that where I am (Chicago) the stuff unfrozen in the store was once frozen. You need to be aware of stuff like that before going on about frozen foods being processed and therefore bad, oh no!2 -
I've also been known to add salt when cooking foods. I'm pretty sure that's common practice. Not everyone is scared of sodium.3
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If there are any added ingredients in the shrimp it will be listed on the packaging. If none, it is just shrimp.3
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It never occurred to me that the OP wouldn't be able to ascertain if there are "other" ingredients in her shrimp package.
And it doesn't surprise me that we can argue even about this.1 -
HarlemNY17 wrote: »
Actually you should do you're research on why processed foods are high in calories and sodium . They don't just take shrimp throw them in the bag and put them in freezers.
Added sodium is not going to add calories.
I'm not sure where you live, but here frozen prawns (shrimp) are just prawns placed in a bag and then frozen, no sneaky calorific ingredients added.
ETA: Are you talking about crumbed/battered shrimp, this will obviously bump up the calories...2 -
Oh really, and what else is done to frozen shrimp?HarlemNY17 wrote: »
Actually you should do you're research on why processed foods are high in calories and sodium . They don't just take shrimp throw them in the bag and put them in freezers.4 -
CattOfTheGarage wrote: »If there are any added ingredients in the shrimp it will be listed on the packaging. If none, it is just shrimp.
Yes, exactly.
Processed foods don't have mysterious non listed calorie-adding ingredients.3 -
cmriverside wrote: »It never occurred to me that the OP wouldn't be able to ascertain if there are "other" ingredients in her shrimp package.
And it doesn't surprise me that we can argue even about this.
If this is aimed at me, I've seen weirder, but I wouldn't assume it was the case, I'd just ask to make sure (if OP is still around, of course). Anyway, I think I identified the particular brand with 140 cal for 4 oz and it has no calorie-adding extra ingredients.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »
If this is aimed at me, I've seen weirder, but I wouldn't assume it was the case, I'd just ask to make sure (if OP is still around, of course). Anyway, I think I identified the particular brand with 140 cal for 4 oz and it has no calorie-adding extra ingredients.
Why would you think it was aimed at you? I was following @CattOfTheGarage and her statement.
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Even some nice person's question about which calorie total to choose draws the ire of clean eaters
I honestly don't know how we all survive to adulthood, poisoning ourselves with dirty dirty frozen fish so recklessly.
Shrimp is often caught and flash frozen. You then have to thaw, peel, and de-vein them. So I guess they are dirty, until you clean them!6
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