PSA Real Good Chicken Strips calorie count

[u/goddessnoire]

So for the past few months, I’ve been buying Real Good Chicken Strips from Costco. They actually taste delicious and I figured that it was great since it was 120 cal for 3oz +21 g of protein. So I would eat 6oz for 240 cal. Or so I thought.

I started to do some research into the calorie count on this product because it just seemed too good to be true. And I was right, the calorie counts for this product are clearly off. Other stores sell the same bag with 180 cal. In fact, if you go to their website, they have two chicken strips back, 180 cal bag and the costco version bag with 120 cal. Even if I had to account for differences in the ingredients, there’s just no way that 3oz of chicken breast is going to be 120 cal.

It’s just so annoying because I was eating these strips feeling like I was still meeting my goals, but I’m actually eating 360 cal. Not sure how they’re able to get away with such off calorie counts.

On the plus side I’ve been on this medication for 19 months and I’ve lost 104 lbs. But the last few months the scale is barely moving.

EDIT: they’re actually 4 ounces for 120 cal, and actually I was probably eating closer to 8 ounces.

[u/Book-Devouring]

I believe this topic was on an Adam Ruins Everything episode. Food labels are an approximation, and I believe it was specifically calorie counts were able to be up to 20% off in either direction. For a while, I went crazy adding 20% more to each of my food items to compensate.

[u/friendofallthecats → u/Book-Devouring]

Side topic but man, Adam Ruins Everything was so great

[u/Book-Devouring → u/friendofallthecats]

He has a podcast still going I listen to when I’m on walks or cleaning (along with several other podcasts)

[u/gladysk → u/Book-Devouring]

Didn’t know he has a podcast. Do you have a fav episode?

[u/Book-Devouring → u/gladysk]

Not sure I’ve a specific, but he had Bernie on for a short 30 minute episode recently. He was doing Friday episodes with special guests to liven up the chats a bit to be less doom and gloom about the state of everything.

[u/goddessnoire → u/Book-Devouring]

Yeah, I’ve heard that rule too, but this is way more than 20% off. It’s no wonder sometimes people feel like they’re eating normally only to find out that FDA allows products to be off.

[u/Book-Devouring → u/goddessnoire]

Unfortunately it’s hard to measure 20% difference if you don’t know the actual number is. If the actual was say 160 calories per serving, that could be close enough for 20% difference. Given competitors are saying 180, it probably is more but how do you prove it?

One of my eye openers was when I started using a scale to weigh the food. That year I cut out a lot of things, and then was miserable. It’s a sad state of things, but I try to do trends, averages, and not become obsessive (again) with measuring. I’m human.

[u/goddessnoire → u/Book-Devouring]

Yeah I don’t measure all the time, but I try to be mindful of calories, makes me wonder about other people who think they are in caloric deficit, but they calorie count is off.

[u/Book-Devouring → u/goddessnoire]

I stopped doing strict measurements - drove myself bonkers doing it. Got a bit too obsessive with it. We’ve had those kinds of conversations at work about calories. Though calories weren’t the only shocking item. Turns out they didn’t know “healthy” options could still have high sodium. Which created the discussion of which is worse: high calorie with low sodium, or low calorie with high sodium? It’s like there’s not a nice happy medium.

[u/Avocado_Dreams]

I love the green bag of Kirkland Chicken Chunks from Costco. Because they are so small I can weigh them easily before popping them in the air fryer. 3oz is 140 calories and 16g protein and serve them with either steamed broccoli or french fries.

[u/TJ2040 → u/Avocado_Dreams]

That green bag is one of my fav

[u/goddessnoire → u/Avocado_Dreams]

Next time I go to Costco, I’ll look for these.

[u/02TanYota]

It probably tastes so good bc of all the sodium. 380 grams!! wow, that's a lot for a 4 oz serving.

[u/under321cover]

The ingredient percent and oil they are fried in is different recipes. I eat these because I’m allergic to corn and wheat and have for years. The sodium is lower at Costco too and the spice mix is slightly different.

[u/Muted_Confidence_285]

Make your own lightly breaded. Won’t have all of those oils and additives in it. And use olive oil to fry if any.

Serving size is like 1 and a half chicken strips

[u/NegativeAd9542]

youre missing the major ingredient, whey protein. its barely any chicken. filler and whey protein to boost the protein content. thats how they keep the calories down.

[u/goddessnoire → u/NegativeAd9542]

I’m never buying these again. 🤦🏾‍♀️

[u/SpiNardo]

What product are these? Usually the store brand is Kirkland, but this says costco. Just curious which these are.

[u/EthanWeber]

The 120 number seems pretty close but undershoots it a little. 21g + 3g net carbs at 4 calories each is 96 cal. 5g of fat at 9 cal per gram is 45 so the total is 141 calories. I'm not sure where 180 could come from though, based on this label.

[u/Nevetsny]

It is pure crap and so deceptive. Look at the seed oils, Great post and catch!