View Full Version : Tabulated Nutritional Value of Store-bought Foods
LostInSpace
01-11-2006, 16:13
Has someone tabulated the nutritional value and caloric density of various store-bought foods that backpackers commonly buy? I am specifically interested in the calories, protein, fat, carbs, and fiber per ounce. Attached is the beginning of a spreadsheet that I started for my own use in meal planning. See right-most columns. However, if someone has already compiled something similar, I would like to use their data to minimize the time collecting my own.
I have some info on raw foods, will post sometime soon
Clark Fork
01-11-2006, 17:53
Has someone tabulated the nutritional value and caloric density of various store-bought foods that backpackers commonly buy? I am specifically interested in the calories, protein, fat, carbs, and fiber per ounce. Attached is the beginning of a spreadsheet that I started for my own use in meal planning. See right-most columns. However, if someone has already compiled something similar, I would like to use their data to minimize the time collecting my own.
New book just released that has info such as calories and nutritional info.
http://www.travellighteatheavy.com./
Price is $17.76 plus shipping. For a limited time you get two books for the price of one. Have ordered but have not seen it yet.
Regards,
Clark Fork in Western Montana.
Looks nice, I'll play with this a while. Probably be quite useful.
Here is an Interactive Hiking Nutrition Calculator (By Ben Corr, an AT thru hiker in 2003 & attempting the PCT in 2006) that can be used on the web. Note: To use this Web page interactively, you must have Microsoft® Internet Explorer.
Go to: http://purebound.com/hike/nutrition.htm
Remember, nutritional values have not been retested on food since the 1950s. The nutritional value of food now is estimated at half of recorded values, because of depletion of soil, etc.
Remember, nutritional values have not been retested on food since the 1950s. The nutritional value of food now is estimated at half of recorded values, because of depletion of soil, etc.
What is your source for this little gem of information? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Nutrient Database has had eighteen updates since 1980. Foods are tested continuously and the values published pretty close to annually.
hammock engineer
01-12-2006, 13:39
I think you may be thinking of the daily nutritional needs of someone. The percentage of daily allowances that you see on packages, and not the actual content in the food. I have heard that they have not been updated (no sources to back that one up).
Dances with Mice
01-12-2006, 14:00
Remember, nutritional values have not been retested on food since the 1950s. The nutritional value of food now is estimated at half of recorded values, because of depletion of soil, etc.So obviously the only way to ensure complete nutrition is to buy the all-natural products sold by XYZ Nutritional Supplements Company!! How close did I get? Now you need to throw in some words like "bio-dynamic", "aerobically enhanced" and "micro-nutrient spectrum".
LostInSpace
01-12-2006, 15:57
Unfortunately the USDA National Nutrient Database has a lot of generic entries, e.g., "Soup, ministrone, dehydrated, dry." This is not particularly useful. Contents will vary by manufacturer. Many of the entries, however, are for specific brands. Unfortunately, there is no correlation between the tested serving size, e.g., 100 gram, and the serving size marked on the package. Furthermore, there is no information about the number of servings per package. Does a serving come in one serving package or an eight serving package? I would like to vary the expected servings per package on the spreadsheet to be more in line with what I consider a serving.
The advantage of having brand and packaging information is being able to use a spreadsheet to readily produce some form of shopping list that indicates how many of what items in what package size to plan for or purchase.
The database is available for downloading. I'm not sure of the format, but I'm giving it a try. http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12354500
I'm sure someone has compiled some of this information in a more useful form. It is a matter of locating who has done the work, or some of it in any case.
LostInSpace
01-12-2006, 23:00
Downloaded it. USDA database is a waste for my purposes!
Smile mentioned raw foods above & this (http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/browse/page/1/1100.html?s_order=a) site gives you calories and nutritional information just like you commonly see on the side of a box.
http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php does a good nuritional breakdown of common foods as well.
LostInSpace
01-20-2006, 20:28
Smile mentioned raw foods above & this (http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/browse/page/1/1100.html?s_order=a) site gives you calories and nutritional information just like you commonly see on the side of a box.
http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php does a good nuritional breakdown of common foods as well.
Out of 1 cup of garlic we can get 8.6 grams of protein. :D:D
Seriously, this site provides good information. Thanks.
I may take my digital camera to the food store and snap a shot at the labels of anything that I might consider using. Then I can readily transfer the info to the spreadsheet.