Energy
middle half156 kcalthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 154 kcal
- Middle 50%
- 125–177 kcal
Based on 169 records reporting energy.
Pasta, rice & grainsmoderate variability
Macaroni or pasta salad, with creamy dressing calories: 212 per 136 g
This exact USDA record reports 212 calories for 136 g. That answer belongs to this description and weight; it is not a universal value for every meal that shares the name.
Exact USDA description: Macaroni or pasta salad, made with creamy dressing
Quick facts
USDA reference amount · 136 g
- Calories
- 212 kcal
- Protein
- 5.2 g
- Carbohydrate
- 27.3 g
- Total fat
- 9 g
- Fiber
- 2.2 g
- Sodium
- 280 mg
Portion calculator
Estimate your portion
Choose a source measure or enter the weight you ate.
Estimated for 136 g
212calories
Macaroni or pasta salad, made with creamy dressing
- Protein
- 5.2 g
- Carbs
- 27.3 g
- Fat
- 9 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 212 calories for USDA reference amount at 136 grams. On a fixed-weight basis, the same record contains 156 calories per 100 grams. The first number answers a portion question; the second answers a concentration question.
Composition: that source amount also reports 5.2 g protein, 2.2 g fiber, and 280 mg sodium. Read those values together: a calorie total by itself cannot describe the nutrient profile.
Identity: the largest listed formulation input is pasta, cooked, enriched, without added salt, representing 57% of the record’s listed input weight. The record contains 7 source-input rows in all. 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 212–318 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 2708938: “Macaroni or pasta salad, made with creamy dressing.” 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 2708938, each row multiplies the published per-100-gram values by its stated weight. “75% of the reference weight” through “1 cup” 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 | 102 g | 159 kcal | 3.9 g | 1.6 g | 210 mg |
| USDA reference amountExact record reference weight | 136 g | 212 kcal | 5.2 g | 2.2 g | 280 mg |
| 1 cupUSDA-listed household measure | 204 g | 318 kcal | 7.8 g | 3.3 g | 420 mg |
02 · Fixed-weight context
Where 100 grams sits inside Pasta mixed dishes, excludes macaroni and cheese
The comparison set contains 169 exact records in the Pasta mixed dishes, excludes macaroni and cheese USDA category. Here, “middle half” describes FDC 2708938’s energy position in that corpus—not nutritional quality, desirability, or a health rating.
Protein
lower quarter3.8 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 5.8 g
- Middle 50%
- 4.4–6.3 g
Based on 169 records reporting protein.
Dietary fiber
middle half1.6 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 1.5 g
- Middle 50%
- 1–2 g
Based on 169 records reporting dietary fiber.
Sodium
lower quarter206 mgthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 336 mg
- Middle 50%
- 233–398 mg
Based on 169 records reporting sodium.
03 · FDA label lens
The strongest strength-side and tradeoff-side signals
At FDC 2708938’s 136 g reference weight, the largest strength-side percentage among the nutrients evaluated here is Vitamin A; 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
Vitamin A87 µg
≈ 10% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Iron2 mg
≈ 9% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Tradeoff-side signals
Sodium280 mg
≈ 12% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Saturated fat1.5 g
≈ 7% 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 pasta salad, made with creamy dressing,” the first-pass checks follow the evidence actually published: its named weights, the FDC 2708939 alternative, and its source-formulation identity.
- 01
Portion sensitivity around 136 g
A 25% weight move in either direction spans 102–170 g. When composition is held constant, those endpoints calculate to 159 kcal and 265 kcal.
- 02
Record choice: compare with FDC 2708939
At an equal 100 g, this record has 3.7 g more total fat than “Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light creamy dressing.” That is a record-level contrast; it does not identify which ingredient caused the difference.
- 03
Formulation anchor: Pasta, cooked, enriched, without added salt
The source formulation has 7 input rows; Pasta, cooked, enriched, without added salt supplies 57% 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 with creamy dressing” fits. Inspect FDC 2708939 when “made with light creamy dressing” is the more literal description of the food and preparation.
Keep this profile when these fields fit
Macaroni or pasta salad, made with creamy dressing
- Exact source wording
- “Macaroni or pasta salad, made with creamy dressing”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708938 · FNDDS 58148116
- Named qualifiers
- made with creamy dressing
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Salad dressing, ranch dressing, regular
Inspect this alternative when its fields fit better
Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light creamy dressing
- Exact source wording
- “Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light creamy dressing”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708939 · FNDDS 58148117
- Named qualifiers
- made with light creamy dressing
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Creamy dressing, made with sour cream and/or buttermilk and oil, reduced calorie
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 with creamy dressing”. 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 pasta salad, made with creamy dressing | 136 g212 kcal | 156 kcal | 3.8 g | 6.6 g | 1.6 g | 206 mg |
| Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light creamy dressing | 136 g167 kcal | 123 kcal | 3.8 g | 2.9 g | 1.6 g | 210 mg |
| Macaroni or pasta salad, made with Italian dressing | 136 g181 kcal | 133 kcal | 3.7 g | 3.7 g | 1.6 g | 226 mg |
| Macaroni or pasta salad, made with mayonnaise-type salad dressing | 136 g218 kcal | 160 kcal | 4.4 g | 4 g | 1.4 g | 211 mg |
| Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light Italian dressing | 136 g158 kcal | 116 kcal | 3.7 g | 2 g | 1.6 g | 216 mg |
| Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light mayonnaise-type salad dressing | 136 g216 kcal | 159 kcal | 4.3 g | 4.2 g | 1.4 g | 239 mg |
| Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light mayonnaise | 136 g216 kcal | 159 kcal | 4.3 g | 4.2 g | 1.4 g | 239 mg |
How to compare FDC 2708938: its source amount is 136 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 2708938, the 1 displayed measure scale the same source composition by gram weight; rounding changes presentation, not the underlying ratio.
1 cup
318 kcal
204 g
At a glance
Nutrient signals in the source amount
For FDC 2708938, Sodium is the largest displayed non-protein Daily Value signal. Read the set as label context—not a personalized score.
Sodium
280.2 mg≈ 12% Daily ValueTotal fat
9 g≈ 12% Daily ValueThe percentages above apply to FDC 2708938’s 136 g reference amount. FDA Daily Values are general label references, not individualized energy or medical targets. Read the FDA explanation ↗
Why FDC 2708938 has no protein percentage here: Feast reports 5.2 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 2708938 at 136 g—not a measured or recommended plate.
- The representative USDA portion contains 280 mg sodium, about 12% 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 136 g.
| Nutrient | Amount | Approx. % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 212 kcal 156 kcal | Not established Not established |
| Protein | 5.2 g 3.8 g | Not shown Not shown |
| Carbohydrate | 27.3 g 20.1 g | 10% 7% |
| Total fat | 9 g 6.6 g | 12% 8% |
| Dietary fiber | 2.2 g 1.6 g | 8% 6% |
| Sugars | 2.2 g 1.7 g | Not established Not established |
| Sodium | 280.2 mg 206 mg | 12% 9% |
| Saturated fat | 1.5 g 1.1 g | 7% 5% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2.2 g 1.6 g | Not established Not established |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.6 g 3.4 g | Not established Not established |
| Cholesterol | 4.1 mg 3 mg | 1% 1% |
| Potassium | 133.3 mg 98 mg | 3% 2% |
| Calcium | 23.1 mg 17 mg | 2% 1% |
| Iron | 1.6 mg 1.2 mg | 9% 7% |
| Magnesium | 19 mg 14 mg | 5% 3% |
| Vitamin C | 7.9 mg 5.8 mg | 9% 6% |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg 0 µg | 0% 0% |
| Vitamin A | 87 µg 64 µg | 10% 7% |
| Caffeine | 0 mg 0 mg | Not established Not established |
| Alcohol | 0 g 0 g | Not established Not established |
| Water | 93.3 g 68.6 g | Not established Not established |
For FDC 2708938, approximate percentages divide the displayed 136 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 2708938 to 7 source inputs totaling 982.8 g in its standardized formulation. Publishing that exact provenance makes “Macaroni or pasta salad, made with creamy dressing” inspectable beside similarly named records.
How to read this
7 listed components
The largest listed inputs by source weight are Pasta, cooked, enriched, without added salt, Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average, Salad dressing, ranch dressing, regular. The order and weights below come from the standardized USDA formulation, so they offer context for this exact database entry.
982.8 g total listed input weight across the formulation.
| # | USDA input | Listed amount | Input weight | Share of listed input weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasta, cooked, enriched, without added saltUSDA ingredient 20121 · encyclopedia page available | 560 GM | 560 g | 57% |
| 2 | Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round averageUSDA ingredient 11529 · encyclopedia page available | 149 GM | 149 g | 15.2% |
| 3 | Olives, ripe, canned (small-extra large)USDA ingredient 9193 · encyclopedia page available | 12 | 52.8 g | 5.4% |
| 4 | Broccoli, rawUSDA ingredient 11090 · encyclopedia page available | 35.5 GM | 35.5 g | 3.6% |
| 5 | Carrots, mature, rawUSDA ingredient 11124 · encyclopedia page available | 64 GM | 64 g | 6.5% |
| 6 | Salad dressing, ranch dressing, regularUSDA ingredient 4639 · encyclopedia page available | 0.5 | 120 g | 12.2% |
| 7 | Salt, tableUSDA ingredient 2047 · encyclopedia page available | 0.25 TS | 1.5 g | 0.2% |
Exact-record context
What makes this USDA record distinct?
For FDC 2708938, the close-record rule searches the USDA “Pasta mixed dishes, excludes 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 pasta salad, made with creamy dressing
- USDA category
- Pasta mixed dishes, excludes macaroni and cheese
- FDC ID
- 2708938
- FNDDS code
- 58148116
Closest inspectable record
Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light creamy dressing
- USDA category
- Pasta mixed dishes, excludes macaroni and cheese
- FDC ID
- 2708939
- FNDDS code
- 58148117
| Nutrient | This record | Comparison record | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 156 kcal | 123 kcal | +33 kcal |
| Protein | 3.8 g | 3.8 g | −0 g |
| Carbohydrate | 20.1 g | 20.2 g | −0.1 g |
| Total fat | 6.6 g | 2.9 g | +3.7 g |
| Dietary fiber | 1.6 g | 1.6 g | Same listed value |
| Sodium | 206 mg | 210 mg | −4 mg |
Plain-English read
At the fixed 100-gram basis, this record lists 33 more calories and 3.7 g more total fat than “Macaroni or pasta salad, made with light creamy dressing.”
Only this record lists Salad dressing, ranch dressing, regular. Only the comparison record lists Creamy dressing, made with sour cream and/or buttermilk and oil, reduced calorie. Those formulation rows identify different source records; they do not prove which input caused a nutrient difference.
2 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: Pasta, cooked, enriched, without added salt; Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average; Olives, ripe, canned (small-extra large); Broccoli, raw; and 2 more.
Listed only in this record: Salad dressing, ranch dressing, regular.
Listed only in the comparison: Creamy dressing, made with sour cream and/or buttermilk and oil, reduced calorie.
Portion evidence
The listed portion sets match
This record’s reference amount is 136 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (204 g).
The comparison record’s reference amount is 136 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (204 g).
Use the 100-gram row to compare FDC 2708938 with FDC 2708939 at equal mass; use their 136 g and 136 g source amounts only for portion matching.
Evidence boundary: FDC 2708938 versus FDC 2708939 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 pasta mixed dishes, excludes macaroni and cheese source category → Read the calculation and selection methodology →
From record to familiar meal
Guides that use this exact USDA record
These 1 guide place “Macaroni or pasta salad, made with creamy dressing” beside explicitly linked source records; use them to compare preparations without turning FDC 2708938 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 pasta salad, made with creamy dressing,” 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 2708938 comes from FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS). Its 156 kcal per 100 g becomes 212 kcal at 136 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: 2708938
FNDDS food code: 58148116
The scaling for FDC 2708938 can be exact while the match to “Macaroni or pasta salad, made with creamy dressing” is wrong. That is why this profile keeps its 136 g weight, 7-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.