A Look at the Nutrition Facts of Grocery Store Meals and Packaged Foods
Written by KURA Writer- Rylee Nelson
There are benefits to cooking your meals from home, it can be both nutritious and affordable, but it’s only sometimes feasible or preferred. Having a preference or schedule that requires more food convenience can lead to dining out, eating fast food, and purchasing pre-packaged meals from various grocery stores. This article will help you make informed decisions when going out to eat or shopping at the grocery store. Let’s take a look into the nutrition facts of meals and snacks you may encounter from a few different grocery stores.
Costco is a store that many people shop from and dine at. Their food court has a few options, including pizza, hot dogs, and chicken bakes. On their menu, they provide the calories of each item, one slice of cheese pizza is 760 calories, a slice of pepperoni is 710 calories, a hot dog starts at 540 calories, and a chicken bake is 770 calories. A more nutritious option from Costco would be their chicken caesar salad which is 650 calories (Nutritionix, 2023). These numbers are important to consider when deciding what to eat because the recommended daily caloric intake is 2,000–2,500.
Trader Joe’s is a popular grocery store that sells a variety of pre-packaged frozen meals that are convenient to make. They sell meals such as frozen pizzas, pasta, and bowls. One popular frozen meal is their chicken burrito bowl which has 380 calories (Nutritionix, 2023). They also have pre-packaged salads like their super spinach salad, chopped salad kit, and classic greek salad. These salads are relatively healthy but have multiple servings in each package, so that’s something to pay attention to.
These are just a few options to consider and help you make informed decisions that match your diet and health goals. You should be mindful of their ingredients if you prefer to buy and eat these convenient meal options. A diet composed of pre-packaged foods should also incorporate whole foods for a more balanced and nutritious diet. The next time you go out to eat or go grocery shopping, read the nutrition labels because they provide beneficial information that can help you improve and maintain your overall health.
References:
Nutritionix. (2023). Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.nutritionix.com/brand/costco-food-court/products/57be0c972eb9319429e7689f
Nutritionix. (2023). Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.nutritionix.com/i/trader-joes/chicken-burrito-bowl/58ccdfa4743e113e4630d368
