Ask Karen - If the package reads 100 calories, then that’s how many it has

Karen McNew - Newschannel 10
Published: March 12, 2008

Health Questions to Karen McNew, co-anchor of Newschannel 10 at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., and heads up Health Team 10.

QUESTION: I have been buying those 100-calorie packs for easy calorie counting. I am wondering if some of them are really only 100 calories?

ANSWER: It’s easier to calculate calories when you eat foods that are easy to add right? That is how I feel at least. I am a calorie counter too and often find myself eating more of the same foods on a regular basis because I now have their calories memorized.

I took your question to local registered dietitian, Dorothy Shaver, who says, “Yes, if it says 100 calories, it has to have 100 calories. But, check the serving size on the package to make sure it’s one whole bag.”

Some food items will appear to have a very low calorie count per serving and then I notice the bottle or bag contains two or more servings. In that case, you take the number of servings and multiply it by the calories per serving to get the total calories for the package.

There is a calorie counting Web site called http://www.calorieking.com that will provide you with the amount of calories in foods you buy at the store or order at restaurants. You can usually go to the restaurants Web site to get nutrition information about the foods they serve.

Bonus Information:

Dorothy also says watch out for some items that say zero fat grams because some spray oils may say zero next to the fat content but a serving is “1/3 of a second.”

She says, “The manufacturer is able to put a zero because it’s less than 0.5 grams. So, we need to be sure we look at the ingredient list. If there’s oil in that list, there’s fat in that product.”

If you have a health question email or send it Ask Karen P.O. Box 10, Roanoke, VA 24022.

Karen McNew is co-anchor of WSLS Newschannel 10 at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., and heads up Health Team 10. She has received the Jaque L. Minnotte award for excellence in medical reporting from the Radio Television News Directors Foundation. If you have a health question you want answered please e-mail her at or write to Ask Karen P.O. Box 10 Roanoke, VA 24022.