[Alyj89]

I had a box of red beans and rice a few nights ago, Zatarains brand. I had 2 servings along with a salad for dinner. The box said 190 calories per serving prepared. And the serving size is 1 full cup, so it seemed great! I just split the box with my fiancé.

I went to get more last night, exact same box and brand and style, and out of habit I glanced at the back and it said 230 calories in a serving ! I checked all the other boxes and none said 190. the box I'd already eaten even said 190 when I scanned it with MFP, an if I do Internet look up I get both 190 and 230 results...

So did I have a mislabeled box or something???

[LeilaJey]

That's weird, I don't know but 40 calories isn't that much so I wouldn't worry about it.

[seagirl]

Mabye they changed the recipe and added a recommendation for butter or something? or added something else to it?

[Alyj89]

the box has always said to add 2 tbsp of butter - which I never did anyway. I was thinking maybe they weren't accounting for that in the calories ? ugh, I don't know. I just like to know exactly what I'm eating and now I'm confused. I thought I had found a pantry stable !

[seagirl]

"as prepared" means with the butter they recommend. So if you leave the butter out, use the smaller number.

[Spinach]

I looked them up in the food data base on MFP and there is an increase in sodium and fat for the higher calorie version. Interestingly enough, the Zatarain's website has the 190 calorie version listed on their nutritional info page with a higher sodium count than either MFP listing and no fat at all.

I'm with seagirl, they may have changed the formulation a bit.

It's frustrating though when something ends up being so far off, 40 calories (or 80 if you are splitting the box of 4 portions in 2) is a lot more to budget into a meal.


*edit* I see you figured it out
2 tblsp of butter = approx 200 calories divided by 4 = approx 50 calories. Totally makes sense.

[Alyj89]

exactly - 40 calories isn't a big deal but 80 is I wish they hadn't of changed it if that's what they did. I've ate it for years and it's always tasted fine (I never looked at te calories before the past few months so I don't know of it was 190 back then). I've had several boxes that were all 190 in the past few months so I don't get why they'd randomly change it. :/

[TiffNeedsChange]

All of the old stock is probably being used up which is why you're getting the higher cal stuff more recently. I live in New Orleans and we have had to higher calorie version for a while. The new formula probably has more of something in it, unless it is the butter you're supposed to add.