Calories in Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce

📏 Serving Size: 1 Serving (112.0g)

🧪 Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving
  • Calories 359.5
  • Total Fat 12.0 g
  • Saturated Fat 3.5 g
  • Cholesterol 20.2 mg
  • Sodium 880.3 mg
  • Potassium 0.0 mg
  • Total Carbohydrate 49.0 g
  • Dietary Fiber 2.0 g
  • Sugars 4.0 g
  • Protein 13.0 g
Vitamins & Minerals
  • Vitamin A 99.7 IU
  • Vitamin B-12 0.0 µg
  • Vitamin B-6 0.0 mg
  • Vitamin C 0.0 mg
  • Vitamin D 0.0 IU
  • Vitamin E 0.0 mg
  • Calcium 150.1 mg
  • Copper 0.0 mg
  • Folate 0.0 µg
  • Iron 1.8 mg
  • Magnesium 0.0 mg
  • Manganese 0.0 mg
  • Niacin 0.0 mg
  • Pantothenic Acid 0.0 mg
  • Phosphorus 0.0 mg
  • Riboflavin 0.0 mg
  • Thiamin 0.0 mg
  • Zinc 0.0 mg

Note: Nutrition information comes from the USDA Food Central Database. Daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet (FDA). Actual requirements vary by individual. Use at your own risk.

📋 Nutrition Summary

At 359.5 calories per serving (1 Serving (112.0g)), Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce is a high-calorie food — portion size matters if you're monitoring your daily intake. Carbohydrates are the primary energy source at 49.0g per serving (55.1% of calories), with a good 2.0g of dietary fiber. One thing to note: a single serving contains 880.3mg of sodium (38% of the daily recommended limit), which is significant if you're watching your salt intake.

🏷️ Diet & Nutrition Tags

⚠️ High Sodium

Tags are generated automatically from USDA nutrition data using standard dietary thresholds. They are for general guidance only and are not medical advice.

📝 Ingredients

Enriched Macaroni Product (wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate (iron), Thiamin Mononitrate Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Folic Acid); Cheese Sauce (whey, Cheddar Cheese (milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Milk, Whey Protein Concentrate, Canola Oil, Sodium Phosphate, Milk Protein Concentrate, Contains Less than 2% of Salt, Lactic Acid, Sodium Alginate, Sorbic Acid as a Preservative, Oleoresin Paprika (color], Enzymes, Cheese Culture, Annatto Extract (color), Milkfat, Natural Flavor).

🔬 Ingredient Analysis

⚠️ Artificial Preservatives ⚠️ Emulsifiers / Stabilisers ℹ️ Fortified / Enriched

Artificial Preservatives: Sorbic Acid

Emulsifiers / Stabilisers: Sodium Alginate

Fortification / Enrichment Agents: Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid

Detected additives are based on the ingredient list in the USDA Food Central Database. Always read the full product label as formulations can change. Presence of these ingredients does not necessarily indicate a health risk — consult a healthcare professional for personalised dietary advice. Fortification agents are synthetic vitamins or minerals added to restore nutrients lost during processing or to boost nutritional content. They are added for public health reasons and are widely considered safe.

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📊 % Daily Value

The following shows how one serving of Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce contributes to the recommended daily intake for key nutrients, based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutrient Amount % Daily Value
Calories359.5 kcal18%
Total Fat12.0 g15%
Saturated Fat3.5 g17%
Cholesterol20.2 mg7%
Sodium880.3 mg38% ⚠️
Total Carbohydrate49.0 g18%
Dietary Fiber2.0 g7%
Protein13.0 g26%
Calcium150.1 mg12%
Iron1.8 mg10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

🔥 Calorie Analysis

Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce accounts for 18% of a standard 2,000 calorie daily diet per serving. The majority of the calories for this food comes from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates make up 55.1% of the calories.

Fat 30.3%
Carbs 55.1%
Fat 30.3% Carbs 55.1% Protein 14.6%

🏃 Exercise Burn Time

How long would it take to burn off the 359.5 calories in Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce? The table below shows burn time for a 170-pound person doing common exercises.

Exercise Minutes to Burn
Running: 10 minutes per mile 27.2 min
Walking: 17 minutes per mile 62.0 min
Cycling (Low Intensity) 39.3 min
HIIT 33.3 min
Running: 7 minutes per mile 21.4 min

Find more information on calories burned doing popular exercises.

💬 Nutrition Q&A: Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce

Is Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce good for weight loss?

This dish is moderately calorie-dense at 360 calories per serving, making portion control important if you're watching your weight. The 13g of protein helps with satiety, but the high sodium content (880mg) can promote water retention. You'd do better choosing this occasionally rather than regularly for weight loss.

Is Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce good for muscle building?

With 13g of protein per serving, this provides a decent protein contribution, though it's not particularly high compared to dedicated protein sources. The enriched pasta includes B vitamins that support energy metabolism, which can complement muscle-building efforts when paired with strength training.

Is Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce good post-workout fuel?

The carb-to-protein ratio of roughly 4:1 makes this reasonably suitable for post-workout recovery, delivering carbs to replenish glycogen alongside some protein for muscle repair. However, the high sodium and moderate protein mean it's not optimal compared to whole-food post-workout meals.

Is Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce good fuel for endurance activities?

The 49g of carbs per serving provides decent fuel for sustained activity, and the pasta base offers relatively quick energy. This works better as a pre-activity meal than during exercise, and the sodium content may help with electrolyte balance during longer efforts.

What should I watch out for with Original Shell Pasta & Creamy Cheese Sauce?

The sodium content is notably high at 880mg per serving—over a third of many people's daily limit. While the saturated fat is modest at 3.5g, the combination of processed ingredients and added sodium makes this something to enjoy in moderation rather than as a regular staple.

Nutrition Q&A answers are based on USDA nutritional data and are for general informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for professional dietary or medical advice.

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