Energy
upper quarter200 kcalthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 154 kcal
- Middle 50%
- 125–177 kcal
Based on 169 records reporting energy.
Pasta, rice & grainsmoderate variability
Whole-grain pasta, cream sauce, restaurant calories: 500 per 1 cup (250 g)
This exact USDA record reports 500 calories for 1 cup (250 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: Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant
Quick facts
1 cup · 250 g
- Calories
- 500 kcal
- Protein
- 9.5 g
- Carbohydrate
- 38 g
- Total fat
- 35.8 g
- Fiber
- 4.8 g
- Sodium
- 1,445 mg
Portion calculator
Estimate your portion
Choose a source measure or enter the weight you ate.
Estimated for 1 cup · 250 g
500calories
Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant
- Protein
- 9.5 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 35.8 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 500 calories for 1 cup at 250 grams. On a fixed-weight basis, the same record contains 200 calories per 100 grams. The first number answers a portion question; the second answers a concentration question.
Composition: that source amount also reports 9.5 g protein, 4.8 g fiber, and 1,445 mg sodium. Read those values together: a calorie total by itself cannot describe the nutrient profile.
Identity: the largest listed formulation input is pasta, whole-wheat, cooked (includes foods for usda's food distribution program), representing 47.9% 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 2708903: “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant.” 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 2708903, 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 | 187.5 g | 375 kcal | 7.1 g | 3.6 g | 1,084 mg |
| 1 cupUSDA-listed household measure | 250 g | 500 kcal | 9.5 g | 4.8 g | 1,445 mg |
| 125% of the reference weightArithmetic scenario from the reference weight | 312.5 g | 625 kcal | 11.9 g | 5.9 g | 1,806 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, “upper quarter” describes FDC 2708903’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 half1.9 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 1.5 g
- Middle 50%
- 1–2 g
Based on 169 records reporting dietary fiber.
Sodium
upper quarter578 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 2708903’s 250 g reference weight, the largest strength-side percentage among the nutrients evaluated here is Dietary fiber; 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
Dietary fiber4.8 g
≈ 17% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Vitamin A152.5 µg
≈ 17% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Tradeoff-side signals
Sodium1,445 mg
≈ 63% DV. This crosses the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Saturated fat12.1 g
≈ 60% DV. This crosses the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
04 · Highest-impact checks
The three levers most worth resolving first
For “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant,” the first-pass checks follow the evidence actually published: its named weights, the FDC 2708906 alternative, and its source-formulation identity.
- 01
Portion sensitivity around 250 g
A 25% weight move in either direction spans 187.5–312.5 g. When composition is held constant, those endpoints calculate to 375 kcal and 625 kcal.
- 02
Record choice: compare with FDC 2708906
At an equal 100 g, this record has 1.5 g more total fat than “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, and added vegetables, restaurant.” That is a record-level contrast; it does not identify which ingredient caused the difference.
- 03
Formulation anchor: Pasta, whole-wheat, cooked (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)
The source formulation has 4 input rows; Pasta, whole-wheat, cooked (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) supplies 47.9% 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 “whole grain; with cream sauce; restaurant” fits. Inspect FDC 2708906 when “whole grain; with cream sauce; and added vegetables; restaurant” is the more literal description of the food and preparation.
Keep this profile when these fields fit
Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant
- Exact source wording
- “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708903 · FNDDS 58146681
- Named qualifiers
- whole grain · with cream sauce · restaurant
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Alfredo sauce
Inspect this alternative when its fields fit better
Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, and added vegetables, restaurant
- Exact source wording
- “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, and added vegetables, restaurant”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708906 · FNDDS 58146691
- Named qualifiers
- whole grain · with cream sauce · and added vegetables · restaurant
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Alfredo sauce with added vegetables
Choose the closest description
Which USDA record fits your meal?
Treat the long description as data. The phrases doing the most work here are “whole grain”, “with cream sauce”, and “restaurant”. 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 recordPasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant | 250 g500 kcal | 200 kcal | 3.8 g | 14.3 g | 1.9 g | 578 mg |
| Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce and poultry, restaurant | 250 g505 kcal | 202 kcal | 5.9 g | 13.7 g | 1.9 g | 563 mg |
| Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce and seafood, restaurant | 250 g493 kcal | 197 kcal | 5.5 g | 13.2 g | 1.9 g | 573 mg |
| Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce and meat, restaurant | 250 g523 kcal | 209 kcal | 5.8 g | 14.5 g | 1.9 g | 564 mg |
| Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, and added vegetables, restaurant | 250 g468 kcal | 187 kcal | 3.8 g | 12.8 g | 2 g | 521 mg |
| Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, meat, and added vegetables, restaurant | 250 g498 kcal | 199 kcal | 5.7 g | 13.2 g | 2 g | 517 mg |
| Pasta with cream sauce, restaurant | 250 g510 kcal | 204 kcal | 3.7 g | 14 g | 0.9 g | 577 mg |
How to compare FDC 2708903: its source amount is 250 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 2708903, the 1 displayed measure scale the same source composition by gram weight; rounding changes presentation, not the underlying ratio.
1 cup
500 kcal
250 g
At a glance
Nutrient signals in the source amount
For FDC 2708903, Sodium is the largest displayed non-protein Daily Value signal. Read the set as label context—not a personalized score.
Sodium
1,445 mg≈ 63% Daily ValueSaturated fat
12.1 g≈ 60% Daily ValueTotal fat
35.8 g≈ 46% Daily ValueThe percentages above apply to FDC 2708903’s 250 g reference amount. FDA Daily Values are general label references, not individualized energy or medical targets. Read the FDA explanation ↗
Source-serving signals
What stands out in this record
These 2 calculated observations describe FDC 2708903 at 250 g—not a measured or recommended plate.
- The representative USDA portion supplies 4.8 g dietary fiber, about 17% of the Daily Value used on U.S. labels.
- The representative USDA portion contains 1445 mg sodium, about 63% 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 250 g.
| Nutrient | Amount | Approx. % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 500 kcal 200 kcal | Not established Not established |
| Protein | 9.5 g 3.8 g | Not shown Not shown |
| Carbohydrate | 38 g 15.2 g | 14% 6% |
| Total fat | 35.8 g 14.3 g | 46% 18% |
| Dietary fiber | 4.8 g 1.9 g | 17% 7% |
| Sugars | 1.9 g 0.8 g | Not established Not established |
| Sodium | 1,445 mg 578 mg | 63% 25% |
| Saturated fat | 12.1 g 4.8 g | 60% 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10.9 g 4.4 g | Not established Not established |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 8 g 3.2 g | Not established Not established |
| Cholesterol | 47.5 mg 19 mg | 16% 6% |
| Potassium | 157.5 mg 63 mg | 3% 1% |
| Calcium | 90 mg 36 mg | 7% 3% |
| Iron | 2.1 mg 0.8 mg | 12% 5% |
| Magnesium | 70 mg 28 mg | 17% 7% |
| Vitamin C | 0.3 mg 0.1 mg | 0% 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0.5 µg 0.2 µg | 3% 1% |
| Vitamin A | 152.5 µg 61 µg | 17% 7% |
| Caffeine | 0 mg 0 mg | Not established Not established |
| Alcohol | 0 g 0 g | Not established Not established |
| Water | 162.3 g 64.9 g | Not established Not established |
For FDC 2708903, approximate percentages divide the displayed 250 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 2708903 to 4 source inputs totaling 292.5 g in its standardized formulation. Publishing that exact provenance makes “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant” inspectable beside similarly named records.
How to read this
4 listed components
The largest listed inputs by source weight are Pasta, whole-wheat, cooked (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program), Alfredo sauce, Vegetable oil, NFS. The order and weights below come from the standardized USDA formulation, so they offer context for this exact database entry.
292.5 g total listed input weight across the formulation.
| # | USDA input | Listed amount | Input weight | Share of listed input weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasta, whole-wheat, cooked (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)USDA ingredient 20125 · encyclopedia page available | 140 GM | 140 g | 47.9% |
| 2 | Alfredo sauceUSDA ingredient 14650160 · encyclopedia page available | 130 GM | 130 g | 44.4% |
| 3 | Vegetable oil, NFSUSDA ingredient 82101000 · encyclopedia page available | 20 GM | 20 g | 6.8% |
| 4 | Salt, tableUSDA ingredient 2047 · encyclopedia page available | 2.5 GM | 2.5 g | 0.9% |
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 2708903, 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
Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant
- USDA category
- Pasta mixed dishes, excludes macaroni and cheese
- FDC ID
- 2708903
- FNDDS code
- 58146681
Closest inspectable record
Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, and added vegetables, restaurant
- USDA category
- Pasta mixed dishes, excludes macaroni and cheese
- FDC ID
- 2708906
- FNDDS code
- 58146691
| Nutrient | This record | Comparison record | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 200 kcal | 187 kcal | +13 kcal |
| Protein | 3.8 g | 3.8 g | +0 g |
| Carbohydrate | 15.2 g | 15.6 g | −0.4 g |
| Total fat | 14.3 g | 12.8 g | +1.5 g |
| Dietary fiber | 1.9 g | 2 g | −0.1 g |
| Sodium | 578 mg | 521 mg | +57 mg |
Plain-English read
At the fixed 100-gram basis, this record lists 13 more calories and 1.5 g more total fat than “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, and added vegetables, restaurant.”
Only this record lists Alfredo sauce. Only the comparison record lists Alfredo sauce with added vegetables. 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, whole-wheat, cooked (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program); Vegetable oil, NFS; Salt, table.
Listed only in this record: Alfredo sauce.
Listed only in the comparison: Alfredo sauce with added vegetables.
Portion evidence
The listed portion sets match
This record’s reference amount is 250 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (250 g).
The comparison record’s reference amount is 250 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup (250 g).
Use the 100-gram row to compare FDC 2708903 with FDC 2708906 at equal mass; use their 250 g and 250 g source amounts only for portion matching.
Evidence boundary: FDC 2708903 versus FDC 2708906 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 2 guides place “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant” beside explicitly linked source records; use them to compare preparations without turning FDC 2708903 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 restaurant formulation and serving size, amount served, cooked-to-dry ratio, sauce or mix-ins.
For “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant,” resolve restaurant formulation and serving size first, then move through the remaining 3 published levers. Unknowns should remain visible rather than expanding every assumption at once.
- 01
restaurant formulation and serving 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.
- 02
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.
- 03
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.
- 04
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.
How we estimated this
The arithmetic is simple; the provenance is the point
FDC 2708903 comes from FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS). Its 200 kcal per 100 g becomes 500 kcal at 250 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: 2708903
FNDDS food code: 58146681
The scaling for FDC 2708903 can be exact while the match to “Pasta, whole grain, with cream sauce, restaurant” is wrong. That is why this profile keeps its 250 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.