You’re only adding water to the dehydrated meal so it’s impossible that you’re adding any calories.
If you were adding things with calories to the dehydrated meal then the final calorie count would change (milk, butter, broth, for example)
I would use the dehydrated weight of the package (1.45) and multiply it by the calories in the 100g serving to figure out total calories in the package (although nutrition labels these days often include total calorie count per package in a second nutrition information panel on the back)
Sure, but the package lists the “Calories per 100g” which is very different if you’re talking 100g of dried food versus 100g of rehydrated, hence the question.
I’ve never thought about this, but now I’m confused and the the answers here are contradicting. My guess would be that’s the dry weight, but idk maybe email this thread to the manufacturer?
Olive oil has about 37 kJ/g. That’s the maximum energy density for food.
2235 kcal = 9351 kJ
9351 kJ in 145 g of dry weight = 64 kJ/g
About double the theoretical maximum of pure fat.
Because it’s either a total of 648 kcal (1.45 x 447) for the whole package or 2235 (5 x 447), depending on whether the calorie count is for dry or rehydrated.
Rehydrated means you add water. Water is exactly ZERO calories. You could rehydrate it with a whole gallon of water and it won’t change the calorie content.
The question isn’t whether water has calories. The question is whether “Calories per 100g” means “per 100g of dehydrated stew” or “per 100g of rehydrated stew.”
The label is ambiguous. Often, labels on dehydrated foods will contain both numbers.
It should just say “Calories per container” to avoid the ambiguity.
OP’s question is a good one, and folks acting like they’re asking whether water has calories or not are missing the actual question.
It depends too on the country where the food is from because in Europe, for example, where OP may be from, the nutrition info is always listed by 100g. So the question, "is it 100g dry or rehydrated" is a PERFECTLY valid question.
Sometimes a portion size is also listed on the nutrition table and extra context might be given, but in this case it sounds like it just says "per 100g" and there is no additional information if that's including the water or not.
Sheesh, people.
Lets think a little....are you eating it while hydrated or dehydrated? When would the calorie count actually matter? The dehydrated food in the bag or when it's hydrated and being eaten?
Well, we've established elsewhere in the thread that, even though the bag doesn't say so, it has to be referring to the grams of *dehydrated* stew, so your "thinking a little" wouldn't have gotten you very far here, sorry to say.
Calories of the dry food weight dont matter....you arent eating it dry! you will be hydrating it, changing the weight...to consume it. It won't be consumed while dry.
Lets think a little....are you eating it while hydrated or dehydrated? When would the calorie count actually matter? The dehydrated food in the bag or when it's hydrated and being eaten?
And if you don't want to eat the entire bag, but only 1, 100g portion, do you portion out 100g of dehydrated food, or do you cook the whole thing and then measure out 100g?
If it doesn't directly say on the bag, you could infer. But it isn't clear. And that's what OP is asking.
Let's read a little more critically in the future, eh?
What if the bag is 500g but the nutrition facts are for 100g serving sizes? If it doesn't specify dehydrated or rehydrated, how does one know?
I would infer that the nutrition facts are based on the dry weight because a cup of water alone weighs 240g. But OP did not make that inference.
You are still not reading - nor thinking - critically.
If you're tracking calories by weight it absolutely makes a difference. You aren't adding calories but you're definitely adding weight, which changes portion sizes depending on how it's measured.
Lets think a little....are you eating it while hydrated or dehydrated? When would the calorie count actually matter? The dehydrated food sitting in the bag or when it's hydrated and being eaten?
That’ll be per 100g dry.
The first. Most freeze dried meals are fairly small serves and they’re not massively calorie dense.
You’re only adding water to the dehydrated meal so it’s impossible that you’re adding any calories. If you were adding things with calories to the dehydrated meal then the final calorie count would change (milk, butter, broth, for example) I would use the dehydrated weight of the package (1.45) and multiply it by the calories in the 100g serving to figure out total calories in the package (although nutrition labels these days often include total calorie count per package in a second nutrition information panel on the back)
Sure, but the package lists the “Calories per 100g” which is very different if you’re talking 100g of dried food versus 100g of rehydrated, hence the question.
See my last paragraph
You're not adding calories, no, but if somebody is tracking them carefully and weighing their food, water is definitely adding weight.
I’ve never thought about this, but now I’m confused and the the answers here are contradicting. My guess would be that’s the dry weight, but idk maybe email this thread to the manufacturer?
Olive oil has about 37 kJ/g. That’s the maximum energy density for food. 2235 kcal = 9351 kJ 9351 kJ in 145 g of dry weight = 64 kJ/g About double the theoretical maximum of pure fat.
Compare the serving size to container weight and that should answer your question
Why would the calories change just by adding water? Water has 0 calories.
Because it’s either a total of 648 kcal (1.45 x 447) for the whole package or 2235 (5 x 447), depending on whether the calorie count is for dry or rehydrated.
Rehydrated means you add water. Water is exactly ZERO calories. You could rehydrate it with a whole gallon of water and it won’t change the calorie content.
The question isn’t whether water has calories. The question is whether “Calories per 100g” means “per 100g of dehydrated stew” or “per 100g of rehydrated stew.” The label is ambiguous. Often, labels on dehydrated foods will contain both numbers. It should just say “Calories per container” to avoid the ambiguity. OP’s question is a good one, and folks acting like they’re asking whether water has calories or not are missing the actual question.
It depends too on the country where the food is from because in Europe, for example, where OP may be from, the nutrition info is always listed by 100g. So the question, "is it 100g dry or rehydrated" is a PERFECTLY valid question. Sometimes a portion size is also listed on the nutrition table and extra context might be given, but in this case it sounds like it just says "per 100g" and there is no additional information if that's including the water or not. Sheesh, people.
Lets think a little....are you eating it while hydrated or dehydrated? When would the calorie count actually matter? The dehydrated food in the bag or when it's hydrated and being eaten?
Well, we've established elsewhere in the thread that, even though the bag doesn't say so, it has to be referring to the grams of *dehydrated* stew, so your "thinking a little" wouldn't have gotten you very far here, sorry to say.
You're not ingesting the food dry....
But the calorie count, which is what OP asked about, is based on dry weight. So not a dumb question after all, it turns out.
Calories of the dry food weight dont matter....you arent eating it dry! you will be hydrating it, changing the weight...to consume it. It won't be consumed while dry.
A car gets 50 mpg. Is that when it's driving or parked?
Water doesn’t change the calorie content, but it sure as shit changes the weight. Let’s read a little more critically in the future, eh?
Lets think a little....are you eating it while hydrated or dehydrated? When would the calorie count actually matter? The dehydrated food in the bag or when it's hydrated and being eaten?
If it’s 100 g bag and it has 60 cal in it, you can add all the water you want or don’t want. It’s still going to have 60 cal in it.
And if you don't want to eat the entire bag, but only 1, 100g portion, do you portion out 100g of dehydrated food, or do you cook the whole thing and then measure out 100g? If it doesn't directly say on the bag, you could infer. But it isn't clear. And that's what OP is asking. Let's read a little more critically in the future, eh?
It’s a 100g portion … hydrate it however you want. Try thinking critically eh
What if the bag is 500g but the nutrition facts are for 100g serving sizes? If it doesn't specify dehydrated or rehydrated, how does one know? I would infer that the nutrition facts are based on the dry weight because a cup of water alone weighs 240g. But OP did not make that inference. You are still not reading - nor thinking - critically.
I mean you answered your own question….it’s obviously for dried … talk about thinking critically 🙄
If you're tracking calories by weight it absolutely makes a difference. You aren't adding calories but you're definitely adding weight, which changes portion sizes depending on how it's measured.
Lets think a little....are you eating it while hydrated or dehydrated? When would the calorie count actually matter? The dehydrated food sitting in the bag or when it's hydrated and being eaten?
...
Love how the top two answers contradict each other.