Nutrition Label Surprises

seizethefray
seizethefray Posts: 109
in Food and Nutrition
So, the other day I went to Costco and picked up my usual bag of Kirkland Trail Mix only to realize that one serving (a measly three tablespoons--ha! they don't even measure it by cup) carries with it a solid 160 calories. Now I know trail mix can be a good snack and that nuts provide healthy fats, but this seriously blows my mind. I am in disbelief to the point I'm ready to call Costco and demand an investigation into this erroneous nutrition label! Three tablespoons is a joke--I just picture measuring them out only to eat about 2 almonds, a few raisins, and an m&m. Mmm! So satisfied! Pfft. I'm better off eating just almonds.

On the flip side, as a former coffee virgin, I was delighted to learn that black coffee is virtually calorie free! Yes, please.

So I'm curious, now that you're tracking calories and checking labels like a crazy person, what food or drinks have surprised you most?
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Replies

  • Alee4nia
    Alee4nia Posts: 168 Member
    I have the same frickin' issue with Costco Trail Mix...I got the individual packets...and they label it with the 3 tablespoons as well...but the whole individual packet is 400 calories...what kind of snack is that...so I have to enjoy it only eating half of it...and even that to me is considered more of a 200 calories pleasure snack...
  • amcharanek
    amcharanek Posts: 66
    Well I hate that pop tarts are 200 calories for ONE PASTRY. Not one Package. How the hell am I supposed to open the wrapping and only have one pastry??? smh
  • MMarvelous
    MMarvelous Posts: 1,067 Member
    This is how I feel about the Whole Foods granola...ugh!
  • jencute
    jencute Posts: 35 Member
    Ive seen whole cashews clock in at 170 cals for TWO tablespoons. Those are the types of things that i seriously start doubting the label and launch an in depth investigation about. Sometimes oatmeal or muesli can me surprisingly high cal, and a lot of hot cereals that actually do have some good stuff in them can be like 180-200 for a whopping fourth cup. Like, how is that gonna do me for breakfast?
  • seizethefray
    seizethefray Posts: 109
    Well I hate that pop tarts are 200 calories for ONE PASTRY. Not one Package. How the hell am I supposed to open the wrapping and only have one pastry??? smh

    Dude, I feel you. When the boyfriend buys them, I just glance at them every so often in the pantry. lol If I open the little foil package it's over.
  • DesignGuy
    DesignGuy Posts: 457 Member
    Not so much a label in a store, but I was surprised at how much sodium some of the Subway sandwiches have.
  • seizethefray
    seizethefray Posts: 109
    I have the same frickin' issue with Costco Trail Mix...I got the individual packets...and they label it with the 3 tablespoons as well...but the whole individual packet is 400 calories...what kind of snack is that...so I have to enjoy it only eating half of it...and even that to me is considered more of a 200 calories pleasure snack...

    BS, right? I considered buying the individual servings too until I noticed the same measurement. If you're going to pre-package snacks, at least make the package one serving size instead of messing around with silly tablespoons. Ugh.
  • Alee4nia
    Alee4nia Posts: 168 Member
    I thought the individual packet would be a serving as so many companies have decided to go with that philosophy like the 100 calories packs...in this case Costco please get with the program...measuring out tablespoons is not fun and so impossible not to eat the whole individual packet
    I have the same frickin' issue with Costco Trail Mix...I got the individual packets...and they label it with the 3 tablespoons as well...but the whole individual packet is 400 calories...what kind of snack is that...so I have to enjoy it only eating half of it...and even that to me is considered more of a 200 calories pleasure snack...

    BS, right? I considered buying the individual servings too until I noticed the same measurement. If you're going to pre-package snacks, at least make the package one serving size instead of messing around with silly tablespoons. Ugh.
  • ninaquelinda
    ninaquelinda Posts: 136
    I used to eat a can of beefaroni for lunch on occasion until I started using this site and looking at calories and fat etc.... now I have soup instead!
  • Robin_Bin
    Robin_Bin Posts: 1,046 Member
    Well I hate that pop tarts are 200 calories for ONE PASTRY. Not one Package. How the hell am I supposed to open the wrapping and only have one pastry??? smh

    Dude, I feel you. When the boyfriend buys them, I just glance at them every so often in the pantry. lol If I open the little foil package it's over.

    Plastic sandwich bag...

    I agree those "individual packets" that are still 2-3 "servings" are very misleading and annoying!
  • Hungry_Tuna
    Hungry_Tuna Posts: 361 Member
    Ahh I just try to focus on the types of calories I'm consuming (protein/carb/fat ratio) and decide if it's worth it. If it's a healthy snack (unsalted nuts), sure.. I eat a few more. Calories isn't the end all be all of fitness.
  • seizethefray
    seizethefray Posts: 109
    Well I hate that pop tarts are 200 calories for ONE PASTRY. Not one Package. How the hell am I supposed to open the wrapping and only have one pastry??? smh

    Dude, I feel you. When the boyfriend buys them, I just glance at them every so often in the pantry. lol If I open the little foil package it's over.

    Plastic sandwich bag...

    I agree those "individual packets" that are still 2-3 "servings" are very misleading and annoying!

    Oh, it will never make it to the sandwich bag. lol
  • mfp_1
    mfp_1 Posts: 516 Member
    Europe, Australia and other countries require labels to have "per 100 g". They're allowed to put serving sizes in addition.

    American label laws only require serving size. They're allowed to put "per 100 g" but many don't. It's partly because US labels use more units (cups/tbsp/oz/g/servings) and are therefore more cluttered than in the rest of the world. But it's partly so they can make claims of low fat/salt/sugar/calories. That's why we see nonsense serving sizes like 3/4 of a bag of chips or half an "Individual" container of nuts.
  • mclarenemma
    mclarenemma Posts: 17
    You could always make your own trail mix - bag of mixed nuts, some dried bananas, apples and sultanas, and if you desperately need chocolate, little chocolate buds (preferably dark chocolate). Work all the cals out, and then take your serving size to what you think is going to be a good cal count for you - you really only need about 10 almonds a day. You also need to ensure you are only eating about 30gm of brazil nuts (approx 6-8?) as they are full of selenium, especially if you take a mineral supplement with selenium in it.
  • sometimes_blondie
    sometimes_blondie Posts: 241
    I thought my veggie burrito atQudoba would be a healthy treat, till I looked it up and realized it was most of my days worth of calories! I haven't been back since!
  • grassette
    grassette Posts: 976 Member
    Trail mix is really reserved for those situations when you are burning off calories in a major way: i.e. hiking through the Rockies with 30 lbs on your back, or on a canoeing expedition on a river emptying into the Arctic ocean. In those situations you need the calories and the high level of nutrition in trail mix. It is substantial, quick energy.

    It's not a snack for people who sit at a desk all day.

    Nuts are really high in calories, and if you are on a low cal diet, a small quantity can really take up a huge chunk of your daily allotment. Just look up the cals in a handfull of Virginia peanuts!
  • natashamcn
    natashamcn Posts: 145 Member
    A lot of young mother don't realize that milk has sugar in it. AKA it can rot your babies teeth.
  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
    Those powdered coffee things..Maxwell House International Cafe or something.

    Instructions, place 4 tsp in 6 oz of water. heat.

    Serving size 1 1/3 tsp!!!!!! wtf!

    They do it so they can say they don't have trans-fat ...but they do =(
  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
    A lot of young mother don't realize that milk has sugar in it. AKA it can rot your babies teeth.

    Err fruit has sugar in it too, OMG!!!
    Not juice...aaah!!!
  • stephenatl09
    stephenatl09 Posts: 186 Member
    Most things do have a measurement next to the serving size. Just weigh it out. I was shocked to weigh my "serving size" of peanut butter (at least what I thought was 2 tablespoons)... It was freakin 3 servings -> 630 cals :sad:
  • Yes2HealthyAriel
    Yes2HealthyAriel Posts: 453 Member
    It's not the calories in things that surprises me, or the serving size. I am mind blown at how much sodium is things. Even bottled flavored water has sodium in it to help preserve the flavor. I have been trying to keep my sodium within a healthy range and dont use any extra salt on anything anymore. But now I check the nutrition value on everything and many things have a lot of sodium. For instance I was told to use low sodium soy sauce instead of the regular stuff. Even with it being low sodium and all it still has over 600 mg of sodium per tablespoon.
  • mclarenemma
    mclarenemma Posts: 17
    A lot of young mother don't realize that milk has sugar in it. AKA it can rot your babies teeth.

    Yup it's called lactose, as is the sugar found in bread (gluten) and in fruit (fructose)
  • KatFierce
    KatFierce Posts: 252 Member
    A lot of young mother don't realize that milk has sugar in it. AKA it can rot your babies teeth.

    Ok Im sorry but this S#!T pisses me off! " A lot of young mothers"...because clearly if your a mom and under 40 your automatically a moron. And milk? Breastmilk? nope false... Formula? probably but some moms dont have a choice Cows Milk? Pretty sure most kids/people on the planet have or do drink it and have great teeth. Ddo you even have children? If so mind your own..if not MIND YOUR BUSINESS and stop judging other moms we have enough on our plates, young, old or otherwise and dont need ignorant people like you making it more difficult. SMH
  • djkamin60
    djkamin60 Posts: 88
    Sodium Content in prepackaged foods. My Pet Peeve however is the small print that nutrition information and ingredient list is on labels. Some of the labels you need a magnifying glass to read.
  • natashamcn
    natashamcn Posts: 145 Member
    Take 1 guess at to what I do for a living. Yup! I'm checking your kids teeth for cavities. I see far too many kids come in with rotted teeth to not mention this on the boards for those that don't know. Did you know that "full mouth clearances" are still common in this day and age? AKA every single last tooth in the mouth gets taken out at once under sedation due to "baby-bottle syndrome". We have a year and a half long waitlist for this procedure where I live. If you already knew this then good for you. It may serve as useful information for those that are not in the know. Sorry if I offended anyone. This was meant to be an educational post.
    A lot of young mother don't realize that milk has sugar in it. AKA it can rot your babies teeth.

    Ok Im sorry but this S#!T pisses me off! " A lot of young mothers"...because clearly if your a mom and under 40 your automatically a moron. And milk? Breastmilk? nope false... Formula? probably but some moms dont have a choice Cows Milk? Pretty sure most kids/people on the planet have or do drink it and have great teeth. Ddo you even have children? If so mind your own..if not MIND YOUR BUSINESS and stop judging other moms we have enough on our plates, young, old or otherwise and dont need ignorant people like you making it more difficult. SMH
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    What surprises me is everything you all have mentioned. But, why don't the manufactures make things in single servings?

    But, here's my huge pet peeve now. We're going to delve into a new area called restaurant servings.

    I love hummus. And there's an awesome little Greek place near my house w here I like to go eat, and I will always order hummus, which comes with warm pita bread. It is o delicious. But, now that I've become more attuned to how much a serving of hummus is, it's gross how much they serve. They probably bring out a serving of 5 to 7. I used to eat it all myself, no problem, now, I don't order it because it's gross to eat hat much.

    But, I got o thinking about something. Restaurants could start serving single serving and charge way less. So, like if the large thing of hummus is $5, what f they had a single serving for $.99? How awesome would that be? They could do that with everything. That way, people watching what they are eating could eat or cheap, and the restaurant could use that cheap pricing as advertising.

    Anyway, the idea of BIG PORTIONS is out of hand. But, I don't think it's the restaurants fault. Just go read Yelp, everyone rating them starts out with the "portion size". For me, I'd rather pay less and get a single serving.
  • kepete
    kepete Posts: 268 Member
    Prior post ... Well I hate that pop tarts are 200 calories for ONE PASTRY. Not one Package. How the hell am I supposed to open the wrapping and only have one pastry??? smh

    TRY Special K Crispy ... They have a new snack that taste a lot like Strawberry Pop Tarts. I love them!
  • kelleybelly35
    kelleybelly35 Posts: 73 Member
    Well I hate that pop tarts are 200 calories for ONE PASTRY. Not one Package. How the hell am I supposed to open the wrapping and only have one pastry??? smh
    i agree i usually dont eat pop-tarts but they came out with a pumpkin pie one and it is so good with coffee
  • diddyk
    diddyk Posts: 269 Member
    It`s not one product that really shocks me, it`s serving sizes in general. My parents really lead me wrong...

    What I thought 1 serving of granola was as a teen compared to what it actually is...It`s no wonder why I`m overweight.

    This also applies to tons of other foods...cereal in general, peanut butter (you mean 1 tablespoon has how many calories??)
  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
    I still can't believe how much sugar is in everything -.-

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