Meat & poultrymoderate variability

Chicken nuggets, from school lunch calories: 216 per 80 g

This exact USDA record reports 216 calories for 80 g. That answer belongs to this description and weight; it is not a universal value for every meal that shares the name.

Quick facts

USDA reference amount · 80 g

Calories
216 kcal
Protein
12.6 g
Carbohydrate
18.3 g
Total fat
10.3 g
Fiber
1.8 g
Sodium
409 mg

Portion calculator

Estimate your portion

Choose a source measure or enter the weight you ate.

Preparation and portion

Named measures come from this exact source record.

Estimated for 80 g

216calories

Chicken nuggets, from school lunch

Protein
12.6 g
Carbs
18.3 g
Fat
10.3 g

These values scale the selected reference food by weight. Ingredients, preparation, and portion size can change your meal’s estimate.

FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS) · FDC 2706095

Nutrition facts, household measures, preparation notes and USDA sources

The editorial read

The useful answer has a weight, a composition, and an identity

Portion: the cited record reports about 216 calories for USDA reference amount at 80 grams. On a fixed-weight basis, the same record contains 270 calories per 100 grams. The first number answers a portion question; the second answers a concentration question.

Composition: that source amount also reports 12.6 g protein, 1.8 g fiber, and 409 mg sodium. Read those values together: a calorie total by itself cannot describe the nutrient profile.

Identity: the largest listed formulation input is school lunch, chicken nuggets, whole grain breaded, representing 100% of the record’s listed input weight. These are provenance for a standardized calculation, not a recipe for your plate.

The reference amount and 1 cup answer different portion questions. Their values are scaled independently from the same per-100-gram source record.

The household measures attached to this record span roughly 43–378 calories across the listed portions. That is a set of scaled examples—not a confidence interval, a recommendation, or a claim about the full universe of recipes.

Calculated from the smallest and largest usable household measures listed by USDA for this exact FNDDS record; not a confidence interval.

Record-specific decision brief

What the numbers say—and what choice still belongs to you

This analysis belongs to USDA FDC 2706095: “Chicken nuggets, from school lunch.” It separates gram-weight arithmetic, corpus context, label signals, and record selection so one number does not have to answer four different questions.

01 · Portion arithmetic

Three weights, one fixed composition

For FDC 2706095, each row multiplies the published per-100-gram values by its stated weight. “1 nugget” through “1 cup” are weight scenarios: named measures come from USDA, while percentage labels are transparent arithmetic.

Three gram-weight scenarios calculated from this exact USDA nutrient record
ScenarioWeightEnergyProteinFiberSodium
1 nuggetUSDA-listed household measure 16 g 43 kcal 2.5 g 0.4 g 82 mg
USDA reference amountExact record reference weight 80 g 216 kcal 12.6 g 1.8 g 409 mg
1 cupUSDA-listed household measure 140 g 378 kcal 22 g 3.1 g 715 mg

02 · Fixed-weight context

Where 100 grams sits inside Chicken patties, nuggets and tenders

The comparison set contains 13 exact records in the Chicken patties, nuggets and tenders USDA category. Here, “middle half” describes FDC 2706095’s energy position in that corpus—not nutritional quality, desirability, or a health rating.

Energy

middle half

270 kcalthis record per 100 g

Corpus median
271 kcal
Middle 50%
262–298 kcal

Based on 13 records reporting energy.

Protein

middle half

15.7 gthis record per 100 g

Corpus median
15.7 g
Middle 50%
14.8–17.8 g

Based on 13 records reporting protein.

Dietary fiber

upper quarter

2.2 gthis record per 100 g

Corpus median
1.2 g
Middle 50%
0.9–1.7 g

Based on 13 records reporting dietary fiber.

Sodium

lower quarter

511 mgthis record per 100 g

Corpus median
594 mg
Middle 50%
527–600 mg

Based on 13 records reporting sodium.

03 · FDA label lens

The strongest strength-side and tradeoff-side signals

At FDC 2706095’s 80 g reference weight, the largest strength-side percentage among the nutrients evaluated here is Iron; the larger tradeoff-side percentage is Sodium. Percentages use FDA label Daily Values, whose general “high” guide begins at 20% Daily Value. This is not an overall score or a personalized target.

Strength-side signals

Iron2 mg

≈ 9% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.

Dietary fiber1.8 g

≈ 6% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.

Tradeoff-side signals

Sodium409 mg

≈ 18% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.

Saturated fat2.3 g

≈ 11% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.

04 · Highest-impact checks

The three levers most worth resolving first

For “Chicken nuggets, from school lunch,” the first-pass checks follow the evidence actually published: its named weights, the FDC 2706101 alternative, and its source-formulation identity.

  1. 01

    Listed portion span: 1 nugget to 1 cup

    USDA assigns those measures 16 g and 140 g. At this record’s fixed composition, scaled energy moves from 43 kcal to 378 kcal.

  2. 02

    Record choice: compare with FDC 2706101

    At an equal 100 g, this record has calories than “Chicken tenders or strips, breaded, from school lunch.” That is a record-level contrast; it does not identify which ingredient caused the difference.

  3. 03

    Single listed source: School Lunch, chicken nuggets, whole grain breaded

    USDA derives this record from one listed source-input row at 100 g. Real preparations can still differ in water, cooking state, brand, and served weight.

05 · Exact-record choice

Select by literal evidence, not the shortest name

Keep this record when “from school lunch” fits. Inspect FDC 2706101 when “breaded; from school lunch” is the more literal description of the food and preparation.

Keep this profile when these fields fit

Chicken nuggets, from school lunch

Exact source wording
“Chicken nuggets, from school lunch”
Source identity
USDA FDC 2706095 · FNDDS 24198735
Named qualifiers
from school lunch

Inspect this alternative when its fields fit better

Chicken tenders or strips, breaded, from school lunch

Exact source wording
“Chicken tenders or strips, breaded, from school lunch”
Source identity
USDA FDC 2706101 · FNDDS 24198745
Named qualifiers
breaded · from school lunch

06 · Continue with purpose

The next pages answer different follow-up questions

Choose the closest description

Which USDA record fits your meal?

Treat the long description as data. The phrases doing the most work here are “from school lunch”. Match those details first; then compare the database weight with the amount you mean.

On smaller screens, focus a nutrition table and scroll horizontally to read every column.

Nearby USDA records compared with this exact food description
Exact recordSource servingCalories / 100 gProtein / 100 gFat / 100 gFiber / 100 gSodium / 100 g
This recordChicken nuggets, from school lunch 80 g216 kcal 270 kcal 15.7 g 12.9 g 2.2 g 511 mg
Chicken tenders or strips, breaded, from school lunch 80 g216 kcal 270 kcal 15.7 g 12.9 g 2.2 g 511 mg
Chicken nuggets, from frozen 80 g238 kcal 298 kcal 13.4 g 19.2 g 1.8 g 600 mg
Chicken nuggets, from restaurant 80 g246 kcal 307 kcal 15.9 g 20.4 g 0.9 g 594 mg
Chicken nuggets, from other sources 80 g243 kcal 304 kcal 15.2 g 20 g 1.2 g 596 mg
Chicken nuggets, from fast food 80 g246 kcal 307 kcal 15.9 g 20.4 g 0.9 g 594 mg
Chicken patty, breaded 75 g215 kcal 287 kcal 14.8 g 19.6 g 0.3 g 532 mg

How to compare FDC 2706095: its source amount is 80 g; every 100-gram column removes portion size from the record-to-record comparison. Neither denominator determines your plate’s weight or recipe.

Household measures

Compare listed portions

For FDC 2706095, the 2 displayed measures scale the same source composition by gram weight; rounding changes presentation, not the underlying ratio.

1 nugget

43 kcal

16 g

1 cup

378 kcal

140 g

At a glance

Nutrient signals in the source amount

For FDC 2706095, Sodium is the largest displayed non-protein Daily Value signal. Read the set as label context—not a personalized score.

Sodium

408.8 mg≈ 18% Daily Value

Cholesterol

40 mg≈ 13% Daily Value

The percentages above apply to FDC 2706095’s 80 g reference amount. FDA Daily Values are general label references, not individualized energy or medical targets. Read the FDA explanation ↗

Why FDC 2706095 has no protein percentage here: Feast reports 12.6 g, but does not present grams divided by 50 as FDA protein %DV; applicable label rules account for protein quality and regulatory context.

Source-serving signals

What stands out in this record

These 1 calculated observation describe FDC 2706095 at 80 g—not a measured or recommended plate.

  • The representative USDA portion contains 409 mg sodium, about 18% of the Daily Value used on U.S. labels.

Nutrition facts

Compare the source serving with 100 grams

Values are rounded for readability. The source serving is 80 g.

Nutrient amounts for the selected source serving or 100 grams
NutrientAmountApprox. % Daily Value
Calories 216 kcal Not established
Protein 12.6 g Not shown
Carbohydrate 18.3 g 7%
Total fat 10.3 g 13%
Dietary fiber 1.8 g 6%
Sugars 0.4 g Not established
Sodium 408.8 mg 18%
Saturated fat 2.3 g 11%
Monounsaturated Fat 2.9 g Not established
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.4 g Not established
Cholesterol 40 mg 13%
Potassium 184.8 mg 4%
Calcium 25.6 mg 2%
Iron 1.6 mg 9%
Magnesium 19.2 mg 5%
Vitamin C 0.5 mg 1%
Vitamin D 0.2 µg 1%
Vitamin A 12.8 µg 1%
Caffeine 0 mg Not established
Alcohol 0 g Not established
Water 37.2 g Not established

For FDC 2706095, approximate percentages divide the displayed 80 g amount by FDA label Daily Values; they are not personalized targets. “Not established” means FDA sets no Daily Value for that row. Protein %DV remains unshown because adult-label use depends on regulatory context.

Inside the source record

Source formulation behind this USDA record

USDA links FDC 2706095 to one source input totaling 100 g in its standardized formulation. Publishing that exact provenance makes “Chicken nuggets, from school lunch” inspectable beside similarly named records.

How to read this

A single-source formulation

School Lunch, chicken nuggets, whole grain breaded is the only listed source input for this record. That does not mean every real-world version is identical; brands, preparation, water content, and portion weight can still differ.

100 g total listed input weight across the formulation.

USDA source inputs listed for this exact survey-food record
#USDA inputListed amountInput weightShare of listed input weight
1 School Lunch, chicken nuggets, whole grain breadedUSDA ingredient 21611 100 GM 100 g 100%

Use this formulation to choose a closer record—not to reverse-engineer a recipe. If your meal adds, removes, or substantially changes one of these components, another source entry or a photo-based estimate may fit better.

Exact-record context

What makes this USDA record distinct?

For FDC 2706095, the close-record rule searches the USDA “Chicken patties, nuggets and tenders” category for shared description terms or source inputs. Any surviving pair is compared per 100 grams, so unlike source-serving sizes cannot manufacture the nutrient difference.

Exact nutrient values per 100 grams
NutrientThis recordComparison recordDifference
Calories270 kcal270 kcalSame listed value
Protein15.7 g15.7 gSame listed value
Carbohydrate22.9 g22.9 gSame listed value
Total fat12.9 g12.9 gSame listed value
Dietary fiber2.2 g2.2 gSame listed value
Sodium511 mg511 mgSame listed value

Plain-English read

The six displayed nutrient values are close under a conservative materiality screen. Small differences remain exact source values, not evidence that one food is preferable.

Formulation evidence

The listed formulations match

The USDA input rows shown on these profiles are identical. The nutrient or portion distinction therefore should not be attributed to a different named input.

Shared listed inputs: School Lunch, chicken nuggets, whole grain breaded.

Portion evidence

The listed portion sets differ

This record’s reference amount is 80 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (140 g).

The comparison record’s reference amount is 80 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (140 g).

Use the 100-gram row to compare FDC 2706095 with FDC 2706101 at equal mass; use their 80 g and 80 g source amounts only for portion matching.

Evidence boundary: FDC 2706095 versus FDC 2706101 is a comparison of standardized source records—not a measurement of your meal, an overall food-quality rank, or proof that one input caused a difference.

Review the full chicken patties, nuggets and tenders source category → Read the calculation and selection methodology →

Deep comparisons

Controlled comparisons that include this exact record

FDC 2706095 appears in 2 pair pages that passed semantic, material-difference, source-evidence, and diversity gates. Each preserves a 100-gram denominator and both primary records.

Uncertainty, made actionable

What can change this estimate?

This is a standardized USDA survey-food profile, not a measurement of every preparation. Actual nutrition can change with portion size, cut and fat trim, cooking method, breading, marinade, or sauce.

For “Chicken nuggets, from school lunch,” resolve portion size first, then move through the remaining 3 published levers. Unknowns should remain visible rather than expanding every assumption at once.

  1. 01

    portion size

    When composition is held constant, nutrient totals scale directly with grams. A 20% weight correction produces the same 20% correction to the scaled totals.

  2. 02

    cut and fat trim

    Match the named cooking-fat state when possible. Fat used, retained, or left behind is preparation information that a dish name alone cannot recover.

  3. 03

    cooking method

    Match the method named by the source—such as baked, fried, boiled, or grilled—before scaling. Preparation can change both water content and the ingredients retained in the finished food.

  4. 04

    breading, marinade, or sauce

    Check whether the exact source description already includes it. If not, keep the addition separate rather than silently folding it into the base record.

How we estimated this

The arithmetic is simple; the provenance is the point

FDC 2706095 comes from FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS). Its 270 kcal per 100 g becomes 216 kcal at 80 g through nutrient per portion = nutrient per 100 g × portion grams ÷ 100; this page adds no second nutrition estimate.

About the serving label: USDA describes the underlying survey portion as “Quantity not specified.” We display it as a USDA reference amount because it is a database comparison point—not a suggested portion or a claim about what most people should eat.

Data cycle: 2021–2023, published October 31, 2024

FoodData Central ID: 2706095

FNDDS food code: 24198735

The scaling for FDC 2706095 can be exact while the match to “Chicken nuggets, from school lunch” is wrong. That is why this profile keeps its 80 g weight, 1-row source formulation, and selection uncertainty beside the arithmetic.

Open the source record ↗

Source release October 31, 2024. Review USDA’s data-type documentation ↗ · Read Feast’s full nutrition methodology.