Energy
lower quarter131 kcalthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 161 kcal
- Middle 50%
- 144–191 kcal
Based on 16 records reporting energy.
Pasta, rice & grainsmoderate variability
Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix calories: 301 per 1 cup (230 g)
This exact USDA record reports 301 calories for 1 cup (230 g). That answer belongs to this description and weight; it is not a universal value for every meal that shares the name.
Quick facts
1 cup · 230 g
- Calories
- 301 kcal
- Protein
- 10.5 g
- Carbohydrate
- 39.8 g
- Total fat
- 11.1 g
- Fiber
- 1.4 g
- Sodium
- 396 mg
Portion calculator
Estimate your portion
Choose a source measure or enter the weight you ate.
Estimated for 1 cup · 230 g
301calories
Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix
- Protein
- 10.5 g
- Carbs
- 39.8 g
- Fat
- 11.1 g
— means the source has no value available.
These values scale the selected reference food by weight. Ingredients, preparation, and portion size can change your meal’s estimate.
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 301 calories for 1 cup at 230 grams. On a fixed-weight basis, the same record contains 131 calories per 100 grams. The first number answers a portion question; the second answers a concentration question.
Composition: that source amount also reports 10.5 g protein, 1.4 g fiber, and 396 mg sodium. Read those values together: a calorie total by itself cannot describe the nutrient profile.
Identity: the largest listed formulation input is beverages, water, tap, drinking, representing 54.7% of the record’s listed input weight. The record contains 4 source-input rows in all. These are provenance for a standardized calculation, not a recipe for your plate.
The source calls its underlying survey portion “Quantity not specified,” but it separately lists 1 cup at the identical weight. We use the familiar household label here without changing the source calculation.
Record-specific decision brief
What the numbers say—and what choice still belongs to you
This analysis belongs to USDA FDC 2708816: “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix.” 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 2708816, each row multiplies the published per-100-gram values by its stated weight. “75% of the reference weight” through “125% of the reference weight” are weight scenarios: named measures come from USDA, while percentage labels are transparent arithmetic.
| Scenario | Weight | Energy | Protein | Fiber | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75% of the reference weightArithmetic scenario from the reference weight | 172.5 g | 226 kcal | 7.9 g | 1 g | 297 mg |
| 1 cupUSDA-listed household measure | 230 g | 301 kcal | 10.5 g | 1.4 g | 396 mg |
| 125% of the reference weightArithmetic scenario from the reference weight | 287.5 g | 377 kcal | 13.1 g | 1.7 g | 495 mg |
02 · Fixed-weight context
Where 100 grams sits inside Macaroni and cheese
The comparison set contains 16 exact records in the Macaroni and cheese USDA category. Here, “lower quarter” describes FDC 2708816’s energy position in that corpus—not nutritional quality, desirability, or a health rating.
Protein
lower quarter4.6 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 6 g
- Middle 50%
- 4.6–8.4 g
Based on 16 records reporting protein.
Dietary fiber
lower quarter0.6 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 0.8 g
- Middle 50%
- 0.7–1.1 g
Based on 16 records reporting dietary fiber.
Sodium
lower quarter172 mgthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 256 mg
- Middle 50%
- 176–300 mg
Based on 16 records reporting sodium.
03 · FDA label lens
The strongest strength-side and tradeoff-side signals
At FDC 2708816’s 230 g reference weight, the largest strength-side percentage among the nutrients evaluated here is Calcium; the larger tradeoff-side percentage is Saturated fat. 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
Calcium175 mg
≈ 13% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Vitamin A112.7 µg
≈ 13% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Tradeoff-side signals
Saturated fat3.9 g
≈ 19% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Sodium396 mg
≈ 17% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
04 · Highest-impact checks
The three levers most worth resolving first
For “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix,” the first-pass checks follow the evidence actually published: its named weights, the FDC 2708813 alternative, and its source-formulation identity.
- 01
Portion sensitivity around 230 g
A 25% weight move in either direction spans 172.5–287.5 g. When composition is held constant, those endpoints calculate to 226 kcal and 377 kcal.
- 02
Record choice: compare with FDC 2708813
At an equal 100 g, this record has 3.2 g less total fat than “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from packaged mix.” That is a record-level contrast; it does not identify which ingredient caused the difference.
- 03
Formulation anchor: Beverages, water, tap, drinking
The source formulation has 4 input rows; Beverages, water, tap, drinking supplies 54.7% of listed input weight. Those are standardized formulation inputs, not final plated percentages.
05 · Exact-record choice
Select by literal evidence, not the shortest name
Keep this record when “made from reduced fat packaged mix” fits. Inspect FDC 2708813 when “made from packaged mix” is the more literal description of the food and preparation.
Keep this profile when these fields fit
Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix
- Exact source wording
- “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708816 · FNDDS 58145119
- Named qualifiers
- made from reduced fat packaged mix
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix, unprepared
Inspect this alternative when its fields fit better
Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from packaged mix
- Exact source wording
- “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from packaged mix”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708813 · FNDDS 58145112
- Named qualifiers
- made from packaged mix
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Macaroni and cheese dinner with dry sauce mix, boxed, uncooked
Choose the closest description
Which USDA record fits your meal?
Treat the long description as data. The phrases doing the most work here are “made from reduced fat packaged mix”. 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.
| Exact record | Source serving | Calories / 100 g | Protein / 100 g | Fat / 100 g | Fiber / 100 g | Sodium / 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This recordMacaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix | 230 g301 kcal | 131 kcal | 4.6 g | 4.8 g | 0.6 g | 172 mg |
| Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from packaged mix | 230 g412 kcal | 179 kcal | 4.6 g | 8 g | 1 g | 161 mg |
| Macaroni or noodles with cheese and meat, prepared from Hamburger Helper mix | 230 g331 kcal | 144 kcal | 8.2 g | 7.6 g | 0.3 g | 284 mg |
| Macaroni or noodles with cheese and tomato | 230 g340 kcal | 148 kcal | 3.9 g | 6.5 g | 1.1 g | 131 mg |
| Macaroni or noodles with cheese, from restaurant | 230 g347 kcal | 151 kcal | 5.4 g | 6.1 g | 1.1 g | 361 mg |
| Macaroni or noodles, creamed, with cheese | 230 g363 kcal | 158 kcal | 4.7 g | 5.5 g | 1.3 g | 260 mg |
| Macaroni or noodles with cheese and tuna | 230 g377 kcal | 164 kcal | 7.6 g | 6.8 g | 0.8 g | 176 mg |
How to compare FDC 2708816: its source amount is 230 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 2708816, the 1 displayed measure scale the same source composition by gram weight; rounding changes presentation, not the underlying ratio.
1 cup
301 kcal
230 g
At a glance
Nutrient signals in the source amount
For FDC 2708816, Saturated fat is the largest displayed non-protein Daily Value signal. Read the set as label context—not a personalized score.
Saturated fat
3.9 g≈ 19% Daily ValueSodium
395.6 mg≈ 17% Daily ValueThe percentages above apply to FDC 2708816’s 230 g reference amount. FDA Daily Values are general label references, not individualized energy or medical targets. Read the FDA explanation ↗
Why FDC 2708816 has no protein percentage here: Feast reports 10.5 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 2708816 at 230 g—not a measured or recommended plate.
- The representative USDA portion contains 396 mg sodium, about 17% 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 230 g.
| Nutrient | Amount | Approx. % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 301 kcal 131 kcal | Not established Not established |
| Protein | 10.5 g 4.6 g | Not shown Not shown |
| Carbohydrate | 39.8 g 17.3 g | 14% 6% |
| Total fat | 11.1 g 4.8 g | 14% 6% |
| Dietary fiber | 1.4 g 0.6 g | 5% 2% |
| Sugars | 4.9 g 2.1 g | Not established Not established |
| Sodium | 395.6 mg 172 mg | 17% 7% |
| Saturated fat | 3.9 g 1.7 g | 19% 8% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3.8 g 1.7 g | Not established Not established |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2 g 0.9 g | Not established Not established |
| Cholesterol | 27.6 mg 12 mg | 9% 4% |
| Potassium | 82.8 mg 36 mg | 2% 1% |
| Calcium | 174.8 mg 76 mg | 13% 6% |
| Iron | 1 mg 0.4 mg | 6% 2% |
| Magnesium | 25.3 mg 11 mg | 6% 3% |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg 0 mg | 0% 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0.5 µg 0.2 µg | 2% 1% |
| Vitamin A | 112.7 µg 49 µg | 13% 5% |
| Caffeine | 0 mg 0 mg | Not established Not established |
| Alcohol | 0 g 0 g | Not established Not established |
| Water | 165.8 g 72.1 g | Not established Not established |
For FDC 2708816, approximate percentages divide the displayed 230 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 2708816 to 4 source inputs totaling 650 g in its standardized formulation. Publishing that exact provenance makes “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix” inspectable beside similarly named records.
How to read this
4 listed components
The largest listed inputs by source weight are Beverages, water, tap, drinking, Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix, unprepared, Milk, NFS. The order and weights below come from the standardized USDA formulation, so they offer context for this exact database entry.
650 g total listed input weight across the formulation.
| # | USDA input | Listed amount | Input weight | Share of listed input weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix, unpreparedUSDA ingredient 32014 | 7.25 WO | 205.5 g | 31.6% |
| 2 | Beverages, water, tap, drinkingUSDA ingredient 14411 · encyclopedia page available | 1.5 C | 355.5 g | 54.7% |
| 3 | Milk, NFSUSDA ingredient 11100000 · encyclopedia page available | 0.25 C | 61 g | 9.4% |
| 4 | Table fat, NFSUSDA ingredient 81100000 · encyclopedia page available | 2 TB | 28 g | 4.3% |
USDA shorthand in this evidence
- NFS means “not further specified.” The record intentionally leaves the exact subtype, size, or preparation unresolved.
Exact-record context
What makes this USDA record distinct?
For FDC 2708816, the close-record rule searches the USDA “Macaroni and cheese” 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.
This record
Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix
- USDA category
- Macaroni and cheese
- FDC ID
- 2708816
- FNDDS code
- 58145119
Closest inspectable record
Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from packaged mix
- USDA category
- Macaroni and cheese
- FDC ID
- 2708813
- FNDDS code
- 58145112
| Nutrient | This record | Comparison record | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 131 kcal | 179 kcal | −48 kcal |
| Protein | 4.6 g | 4.6 g | −0.1 g |
| Carbohydrate | 17.3 g | 22.2 g | −4.9 g |
| Total fat | 4.8 g | 8 g | −3.2 g |
| Dietary fiber | 0.6 g | 1 g | −0.4 g |
| Sodium | 172 mg | 161 mg | +11 mg |
Plain-English read
At the fixed 100-gram basis, this record lists 48 less calories, 4.9 g less carbohydrate, and 3.2 g less total fat than “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from packaged mix.”
Only this record lists Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix, unprepared. Only the comparison record lists Macaroni and cheese dinner with dry sauce mix, boxed, uncooked. Those formulation rows identify different source records; they do not prove which input caused a nutrient difference.
3 of the six displayed differences clear the documented materiality screen. It is a reading aid, not a health rating.
Formulation evidence
The listed formulations differ
The formulation rows differ, but the source data do not isolate which component caused any nutrient difference. Input weights describe the standardized formulation—not final plated proportions.
Shared listed inputs: Beverages, water, tap, drinking; Milk, NFS; Table fat, NFS.
Listed only in this record: Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix, unprepared.
Listed only in the comparison: Macaroni and cheese dinner with dry sauce mix, boxed, uncooked.
Portion evidence
The listed portion sets match
This record’s reference amount is 230 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (230 g).
The comparison record’s reference amount is 230 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (230 g).
Use the 100-gram row to compare FDC 2708816 with FDC 2708813 at equal mass; use their 230 g and 230 g source amounts only for portion matching.
Evidence boundary: FDC 2708816 versus FDC 2708813 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 macaroni and cheese source category → Read the calculation and selection methodology →
Deep comparisons
Controlled comparisons that include this exact record
FDC 2708816 appears in 1 pair page that passed semantic, material-difference, source-evidence, and diversity gates. Each preserves a 100-gram denominator and both primary records.
From record to familiar meal
Guides that use this exact USDA record
These 1 guide place “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix” beside explicitly linked source records; use them to compare preparations without turning FDC 2708816 into a universal recipe.
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 amount served, cooked-to-dry ratio, sauce or mix-ins, added fat.
For “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix,” resolve amount served first, then move through the remaining 3 published levers. Unknowns should remain visible rather than expanding every assumption at once.
- 01
amount served
When composition is held constant, nutrient totals scale directly with grams. A 20% weight correction produces the same 20% correction to the scaled totals.
- 02
cooked-to-dry ratio
Match the food state before matching the number. Cooking, draining, or added liquid can change grams and concentration even when the food name barely changes.
- 03
sauce or mix-ins
Check whether the exact source description already includes it. If not, keep the addition separate rather than silently folding it into the base record.
- 04
added fat
Match the named cooking-fat state when possible. Fat used, retained, or left behind is preparation information that a dish name alone cannot recover.
How we estimated this
The arithmetic is simple; the provenance is the point
FDC 2708816 comes from FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS). Its 131 kcal per 100 g becomes 301 kcal at 230 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.” The separately listed 1 cup has the same gram weight, so the familiar label can be shown without changing the calculation.
Data cycle: 2021–2023, published October 31, 2024
FoodData Central ID: 2708816
FNDDS food code: 58145119
The scaling for FDC 2708816 can be exact while the match to “Macaroni or noodles with cheese, made from reduced fat packaged mix” is wrong. That is why this profile keeps its 230 g weight, 4-row source formulation, and selection uncertainty beside the arithmetic.
Source release October 31, 2024. Review USDA’s data-type documentation ↗ · Read Feast’s full nutrition methodology.