USDA source topicBeans, nuts & protein foods

Protein and nutritional powders: nutrition range, portions, and source records

This wiki page organizes 11 exact USDA Survey Foods records labeled “Protein and nutritional powders.” It shows the median and central spread of reported nutrients per 100 grams, explains the portion and preparation language present in the records, and keeps every underlying profile and citation available for inspection.

What is included?

The exact descriptions define the topic.

USDA places these records in the “Protein and nutritional powders” survey-food category. Within Feast’s broader navigation, they appear under Beans, nuts & protein foods (11 records). The category label is useful for discovery, but it does not mean every record uses the same recipe, brand, cooking method, or portion.

The current collection includes Nutritional powder mix, sugar free (Carnation Instant Breakfast); Nutritional powder mix, light (Muscle Milk); Nutritional powder mix (Slim Fast); Nutritional powder mix (Isopure); Nutritional powder mix (Carnation Instant Breakfast); Nutritional powder mix, sugar free (Slim Fast). Those examples show why the exact wording matters. The complete alphabetical catalog farther down the page preserves all 11 descriptions instead of replacing them with one generic average.

A robust view of the data

Median and central nutrient ranges per 100 grams

The central range runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile of the records on this page. The observed minimum and maximum are included for transparency, but the middle interval is generally more useful for seeing the collection without letting one extreme record dominate.

Nutrient	Median	Central 80%	Observed span	Records
Caloriesper 100 g	396 kcal	358 kcal–448 kcal	353 kcal–448 kcal	11
Proteinper 100 g	45.7 g	8.1 g–58.1 g	8.1 g–66.7 g	11
Carbohydrateper 100 g	41 g	18.5 g–73.9 g	18 g–73.9 g	11
Total fatper 100 g	10.7 g	1.4 g–13.5 g	1.2 g–17.1 g	11
Dietary fiberper 100 g	2 g	0 g–18.1 g	0 g–18.2 g	11
Total sugarsper 100 g	20.6 g	3.6 g–40.5 g	1.2 g–65.8 g	11
Sodiumper 100 g	452 mg	329 mg–717 mg	250 mg–1,210 mg	11
Potassiumper 100 g	840 mg	247 mg–1,130 mg	247 mg–1,700 mg	11
Calciumper 100 g	500 mg	256 mg–1,040 mg	95 mg–1,200 mg	11
Ironper 100 g	6.4 mg	0.7 mg–22.5 mg	0.7 mg–24.8 mg	11

All rows use the same 100-gram denominator and values from the cited records. The interval is descriptive, not a recommended intake range or statistical confidence interval.

Calories context

396 kcal at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported calories value is 396 kcal per 100 grams. The central records run from 358 kcal to 448 kcal, while the complete observed span is 353 kcal to 448 kcal.

Nutritional powder mix, sugar free (Carnation Instant Breakfast) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix (Slim Fast) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Protein context

45.7 g at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported protein value is 45.7 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 8.1 g to 58.1 g, while the complete observed span is 8.1 g to 66.7 g.

Nutritional powder mix (Slim Fast) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix (Isopure) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Carbohydrate context

41 g at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported carbohydrate value is 41 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 18.5 g to 73.9 g, while the complete observed span is 18 g to 73.9 g.

Nutritional powder mix (Muscle Milk) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix (Slim Fast) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Total fat context

10.7 g at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported total fat value is 10.7 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 1.4 g to 13.5 g, while the complete observed span is 1.2 g to 17.1 g.

Nutritional powder mix (Carnation Instant Breakfast) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix, high protein (Slim Fast) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Dietary fiber context

2 g at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported dietary fiber value is 2 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 0 g to 18.1 g, while the complete observed span is 0 g to 18.2 g.

Nutritional powder mix (EAS Soy Protein Powder) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix (Slim Fast) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Total sugars context

20.6 g at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported total sugars value is 20.6 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 3.6 g to 40.5 g, while the complete observed span is 1.2 g to 65.8 g.

Nutritional powder mix, high protein (Herbalife) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix (EAS Soy Protein Powder) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Sodium context

452 mg at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported sodium value is 452 mg per 100 grams. The central records run from 329 mg to 717 mg, while the complete observed span is 250 mg to 1,210 mg.

Nutritional powder mix (Muscle Milk) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix, sugar free (Carnation Instant Breakfast) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Potassium context

840 mg at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported potassium value is 840 mg per 100 grams. The central records run from 247 mg to 1,130 mg, while the complete observed span is 247 mg to 1,700 mg.

Nutritional powder mix (Slim Fast) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix (Muscle Milk) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Calcium context

500 mg at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported calcium value is 500 mg per 100 grams. The central records run from 256 mg to 1,040 mg, while the complete observed span is 95 mg to 1,200 mg.

Nutritional powder mix (EAS Whey Protein Powder) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix, high protein (Slim Fast) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Iron context

6.4 mg at the collection midpoint

Across 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records, the middle reported iron value is 6.4 mg per 100 grams. The central records run from 0.7 mg to 22.5 mg, while the complete observed span is 0.7 mg to 24.8 mg.

Nutritional powder mix (Slim Fast) is nearest the lower central boundary, and Nutritional powder mix, high protein (Herbalife) is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Preparation language in the records

Source descriptions reveal meaningful distinctions.

The counts below report words and phrases that appear explicitly in the 11 USDA descriptions. They can help narrow a search to a closer record. They do not prove that the named preparation caused a nutrient difference, because these survey-food records are not controlled experiments.

No preparation phrase from the wiki’s controlled vocabulary appears consistently enough to summarize this topic. Use the exact record catalog instead of inferring a shared method.

Portion context

Household measures answer a different question than 100 grams.

11 of 11 records (100%) include at least one named measure in the source data. Together those records provide 17 usable named measures.

Across the pooled named measures, the midpoint gram weight is 20 g. The central 10th-to-90th-percentile interval runs from 8 g to 40 g, while the complete observed span is 6–87 g. This pooled summary mixes different measure types, so it is a navigation aid rather than a suggested portion.

A cup, slice, piece, sandwich, fillet, or fluid ounce can represent a different amount of food. Even two measures with the same label may have different gram weights across records. Open the closest profile and use its listed weight instead of transferring a measure from another record.

USDA’s representative source amount is also not necessarily what a visitor ate. For equal-weight comparison, use the 100-gram table. For meal estimation, match the exact description first, then match the amount, and finally account for additions or preparation details absent from the selected record.

Common named measures in this topic

1 scoopAppears on 6 recordsExample: Nutritional powder mix (Muscle Milk) →

1 tablespoonAppears on 5 recordsExample: Nutritional powder mix (Carnation Instant Breakfast) →

1 envelopeAppears on 2 recordsExample: Nutritional powder mix (Carnation Instant Breakfast) →

1 scoop EAS WheyAppears on 2 recordsExample: Nutritional powder mix (EAS Soy Protein Powder) →

1 packetAppears on 1 recordsExample: Nutritional powder mix (Isopure) →

1 scoop, NFSAppears on 1 recordsExample: Nutritional powder mix (Isopure) →

Choosing a closer record

Use a sequence, not a guess disguised as precision.

01
Match the exact description
Look for the closest food name, preparation, additions, and context. “Protein and nutritional powders” is the collection label; the individual description is the actual reference.
02
Compare on equal weight
Use the per-100-gram values when comparing two records. This keeps the denominator fixed and prevents different source-serving weights from masquerading as a food difference.
03
Scale the closest listed measure
Open the profile, select a named household measure when one fits, or enter a gram estimate. Treat scaled decimals as arithmetic from the source—not greater certainty about the plate.
04
Add missing context
Brand, recipe, cooking fat, sauce, toppings, substitutions, and edible portion can move the result. A current package label or weighed recipe may be more specific than a generic survey-food record.

Complete source catalog

All 11 “Protein and nutritional powders” records

Records are alphabetical, not ranked. Every row links to a complete Feast profile with household measures, all reported nutrients, estimate factors, and methodology, plus the exact USDA FoodData Central source where available.

Exact USDA description	Calories	Protein	Fiber	Sodium	Source amount	References
Nutritional powder mix (Carnation Instant Breakfast)FDC 2710729	353 kcalper 100 g	19.9 gper 100 g	0.4 gper 100 g	385 mgper 100 g	37 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix (EAS Soy Protein Powder)FDC 2710732	405 kcalper 100 g	47.6 gper 100 g	0 gper 100 g	452 mgper 100 g	44 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix (EAS Whey Protein Powder)FDC 2710731	385 kcalper 100 g	66.7 gper 100 g	0 gper 100 g	385 mgper 100 g	39 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix (Isopure)FDC 2710734	359 kcalper 100 g	58.1 gper 100 g	0 gper 100 g	372 mgper 100 g	87 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix (Muscle Milk)FDC 2710735	411 kcalper 100 g	45.7 gper 100 g	7.1 gper 100 g	329 mgper 100 g	70 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix (Slim Fast)FDC 2710737	448 kcalper 100 g	8.1 gper 100 g	18.1 gper 100 g	472 mgper 100 g	26 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix, high protein (Herbalife)FDC 2710733	392 kcalper 100 g	53.6 gper 100 g	0 gper 100 g	1,210 mgper 100 g	25 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix, high protein (Slim Fast)FDC 2710739	433 kcalper 100 g	27.9 gper 100 g	18.2 gper 100 g	495 mgper 100 g	26 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix, light (Muscle Milk)FDC 2710736	396 kcalper 100 g	50 gper 100 g	2 gper 100 g	250 mgper 100 g	50 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix, sugar free (Carnation Instant Breakfast)FDC 2710730	358 kcalper 100 g	35.8 gper 100 g	2 gper 100 g	717 mgper 100 g	20 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗
Nutritional powder mix, sugar free (Slim Fast)FDC 2710738	448 kcalper 100 g	8.1 gper 100 g	18.1 gper 100 g	472 mgper 100 g	14 gUSDA reference amount	Full profile USDA source ↗

Boundaries and provenance

What this collection can—and cannot—tell you.

This page summarizes USDA FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS) records from 2021–2023, published 2024-10-31. FNDDS supplies standardized reference descriptions used to represent foods reported in dietary surveys. Each value on this page remains tied to one exact FDC record; the complete catalog provides direct links so the source can be checked rather than taken on trust.

The records are not laboratory measurements of every possible “Protein and nutritional powders” preparation. Restaurant recipes change, packaged products are reformulated, homemade ingredient ratios vary, and cooking can change water weight. A photo also cannot reliably reveal every hidden ingredient or gram weight. The robust range describes variation among the records selected for this topic, not uncertainty around a single meal.

The median is not a default calorie count. The 10th and 90th percentiles are not lower and upper recommendations. The minimum and maximum are not promises that every real version falls inside the observed span. These statistics are tools for navigating a source collection while keeping the denominator, record name, and normal recipe variation visible.

Nutrient values do not establish whether a food is appropriate for a particular person or condition. This wiki does not diagnose deficiencies, prescribe targets, or replace advice from a qualified professional. If accuracy matters for an allergy, medical diet, or clinician-directed limit, use verified ingredient information and the guidance relevant to that situation.

Why no overall ranking appears.

A record can report more protein and also differ in sodium, fiber, energy, fat, portion weight, or ingredients. Choosing one metric as a universal score would hide those tradeoffs and imply a value judgment the data cannot support. The alphabetical catalog and side-by-side statistics are intentionally descriptive.

For the full import, filtering, portion-scaling, Daily Value, and uncertainty rules, read Feast’s nutrition-page methodology. For an exact item, use its profile and FoodData Central link rather than citing this collection-level summary alone.

Common questions

Using the “Protein and nutritional powders” collection responsibly

Is the median the expected nutrition for my food?

No. It is the middle value among these 11 source records on a 100-gram basis. Your recipe, brand, preparation, and portion may align more closely with one specific record or may fall outside this collection.

Why compare 100 grams instead of one serving?

Source servings can have different gram weights and measure labels. Holding weight at 100 grams makes concentration comparable. After choosing a record, its household measures are more useful for estimating the amount actually eaten.

Does the upper end of a nutrient range mean “better”?

No. The position only describes that nutrient within this source collection. It does not evaluate the whole food, determine an appropriate portion, or account for an individual’s needs.

Which number should I log?

Start with the record whose exact wording most closely matches the food. Use a listed measure or gram estimate, then add missing recipe or preparation context. Keep the result as an estimate unless you have a current label or weighed recipe.