Hey friends! If you have ever noticed little tags like Low Calorie, High Protein or Keto on our recipes and wondered where they come from, this post is for you. We thought it was high time we explained it. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s walk through it together.
How Does Hungry Hoarder Decide Which Dietary Tags a Recipe Gets?
Recipe nutrition tags on Hungry Hoarder are decided by estimated per-serving numbers and the type of dish, so a slice of bread and a full dinner are judged by different limits.
Every tag starts with the same thing: nutrition estimated per serving from each recipe’s ingredient list and the number of servings. From there, we ask whether that serving fits the rule for the tag. The tags you will see are Low Calorie, Low Fat, High Protein, Low Carb, Keto, Sugar Free, Low Sugar, Vegetarian and Gluten Free.
One honest note before we dive in: these numbers are estimates, and they are not medical or dietary advice. My mom and I are home cooks, not dietitians, so we want to show you exactly how we work things out. You can find a recipe’s tags right on the recipe page, and the rest of this post covers the rules behind them.
Nutrition Numbers Are Estimates Calculated From the Ingredient List
Nutrition estimates on Hungry Hoarder are calculated from each recipe’s ingredient list and servings. For every recipe we figure out calories, fat, carbs, protein, fiber and sugar per serving. Net carbs are simply the carbs minus the fiber, and we use that number for the Keto tag.
How are the calories on a Hungry Hoarder recipe calculated?
Calories on a Hungry Hoarder recipe are estimated per serving from the ingredient list and the number of servings. We do not run our recipes through a lab, and we are not quoting a particular nutrition app or database. We add up what is in the recipe and divide it by the servings.
Where do the servings come from?
Servings come from one of three places, and each recipe keeps track of which one it used:
| Servings source | What it means |
|---|---|
| Recipe page | The yield printed on the original recipe page |
| Stated | The yield written in the original recipe file |
| Estimated | No yield was given, so we picked a realistic portion count |
That last one matters. When we have to estimate the servings, the per-serving numbers are only as good as that estimate.
Are the nutrition numbers exact?
No. The numbers are estimates and they will vary with brands, ingredient swaps and how big you cut your portion. We also do not track saturated fat right now, so you will not see it on our recipes.
Dish Type Changes the Low Calorie and Low Fat Limits
Dish type matters because a serving of bread is a few bites and a serving of dinner is a full meal, so one calorie limit would be unfair to one of them. A single flat number would make almost every dessert and bread look “unhealthy” next to a plate of baked fish, and that did not seem right to us.
What counts as Low Calorie and Low Fat?
Here are the limits we use, per serving:
| Dish type | Low Calorie | Low Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Entrees, soups and stews, casseroles, sandwiches | 350 calories or less | 10g or less |
| Sides, salads, appetizers, dips, sauces | 150 calories or less | 3g or less |
| Desserts, cookies and bars (one piece) | 150 calories or less | 3g or less |
| Breads and loaves (one slice) | 100 calories or less | 3g or less |
Which dish type is used when a recipe fits more than one?
Some recipes could fit in more than one category, so we go down this list in order and use the first one that fits:
- Bread
- Dessert or candy
- Entree, soup or sandwich
- Side or appetizer
If a recipe only has a protein category, like Poultry Dishes, we count it as an entree.
Can a tag be removed later?
Yes. If we correct a serving count or fix an ingredient amount, the numbers change and a tag can come off. We would rather be right than keep a tag that does not fit anymore.
The Other Tags: High Protein, Low Carb, Keto, Sugar Free, Low Sugar, Vegetarian and Gluten Free
The rest of our tags use fixed numbers or a close look at the ingredient list. Here is each rule in one line:
| Tag | The rule | How we check |
|---|---|---|
| High Protein | 20g protein or more per serving | Per-serving numbers |
| Low Carb | 20g carbs or less per serving | Per-serving numbers |
| Keto | 5g net carbs or less per serving, or 10g net or less for a full meal (entree, soup or sandwich) | Per-serving numbers |
| Sugar Free | 0g sugar per serving, with no sugar-containing ingredients | Numbers and ingredient list |
| Low Sugar | 5g sugar or less per serving, or 10g or less for desserts | Per-serving numbers |
| Vegetarian | No meat, poultry, fish or gelatin | Ingredient list |
| Gluten Free | No wheat, flour, pasta, bread or other gluten ingredients | Ingredient list |
What is the difference between Keto and Low Carb?
Keto means 5g net carbs or less per serving, or 10g net for a full meal. Low Carb means 20g carbs or less per serving. Keto is the stricter of the two, and it uses net carbs, which is carbs minus fiber.
What is the difference between Sugar Free and Low Sugar?
Sugar Free means 0g sugar with no sugar-containing ingredients. Low Sugar means 5g or less per serving, or 10g or less for desserts. We are strict about Sugar Free on purpose, so a recipe with sugar in the ingredients will not get it.
How is a recipe judged Vegetarian or Gluten Free?
We read the ingredient list. Vegetarian recipes have no meat, poultry, fish or gelatin. Gluten Free recipes have no wheat, flour, pasta or bread. And if a recipe only almost meets a rule, it does not get the tag. We only tag a recipe when it clearly meets the rule.
Real Examples and What the Tags Do Not Mean
The best way to see how this works is with a few real recipes. Here are four, and they show why the same calorie number can earn a tag on one dish and not on another:
| Recipe | Dish type used | Calories | Fat | Low Calorie | Low Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baked Parmesan Cod | Entree | 209 | 10g | Yes (350 or less) | Yes (10g or less) |
| Creamy Cucumber Salad | Side | 116 | 6.2g | Yes (150 or less) | No (over 3g) |
| Black Forest Pumpernickel Bread, per slice | Bread | 136 | 2.1g | No (over 100) | Yes (3g or less) |
| Boston Cream Pie Minis, per cupcake | Dessert | 178 | 8.1g | No (over 150) | No (over 3g) |
Why can the same calories earn Low Calorie on one dish but not another?
A slice of pumpernickel bread at 136 calories is over our 100 calorie bread limit, while a full cod dinner at 209 calories is well under the 350 calorie meal limit. Same ballpark of numbers, very different amount of food on the plate. (The pumpernickel and the cupcakes are two of the newer recipes we are adding to the site.)
Are the tags medical or dietary advice?
No. The tags are estimates and are not medical or dietary advice. Nutrition information is an estimate per serving, calculated from the ingredients and servings listed, and will vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes. If you follow a special diet or have a health condition, please check with your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Quick Questions
What does Low Calorie mean on Hungry Hoarder?
It means a serving is at or under the calorie limit for that kind of dish: 350 calories for a meal, 150 for a side or a dessert piece, and 100 for a slice of bread.
Why does a recipe lose a tag?
Usually because we corrected a serving count or an ingredient amount, and the new numbers no longer fit the rule.
Why do some recipes have no tags?
Because they did not clearly meet any of the rules. A recipe with no tags is not a bad recipe, it just does not fit one of the boxes!
How to Browse Recipes by Tag
To recap, our tags come from estimated per-serving numbers and the type of dish. You can browse recipes by tag any time, whether you want Low Calorie recipes, High Protein recipes, Keto recipes or Gluten Free recipes.
If you ever think a tag is wrong, or you have a question about a recipe’s nutrition, we would love to hear from you. Just reach out through our contact page and we will take a look. Now go find something delicious, and grab an apron!