Hey friends! If you’ve ever spotted little labels like Low Calorie, High Protein or Keto on one of our recipes and wondered where they come from, this post is for you. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s walk through how we calculate recipe nutrition 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 dietary tag starts with nutrition estimated per serving from the recipe’s ingredient list and its number of servings. From there, we check whether that serving meets the rule for each tag. Hungry Hoarder uses nine recipe dietary labels:
Where do I see a recipe’s dietary tags?
A recipe’s dietary tags on Hungry Hoarder appear right on the recipe page. The rest of this post covers the rules behind each one.
Are Hungry Hoarder’s dietary tags based on exact numbers?
No, Hungry Hoarder’s dietary tags are not based on exact numbers. They’re based on nutrition estimates, and they aren’t 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.
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 estimate six numbers per serving: calories, fat, carbs, protein, fiber and sugar. Those estimated nutrition per serving figures are what every tag is checked against.
How are 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 add up what’s in the recipe and divide it by the servings. We don’t send our recipes to a lab, and we’re not quoting a particular nutrition app or database.
Where do the servings on a Hungry Hoarder recipe come from?
Servings on a Hungry Hoarder recipe come from one of three sources: the recipe page, the original recipe file or a realistic estimate. Each recipe keeps track of which source 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 Hungry Hoarder’s nutrition numbers exact?
No, Hungry Hoarder’s nutrition numbers are not exact. They’re estimates, and they’ll vary with the brands you buy, any ingredient swaps and how big you cut your portion.
What are net carbs on Hungry Hoarder?
Net carbs on Hungry Hoarder are the carbs per serving minus the fiber per serving. We use net carbs for the Keto tag.
Why is saturated fat not shown on Hungry Hoarder recipes?
Saturated fat is not shown on Hungry Hoarder recipes because we don’t track it right now. The fat number you see is total fat per serving.
Dish Type Changes the Low Calorie and Low Fat Limits
Low Calorie and Low Fat limits on Hungry Hoarder depend on dish type, because a serving of soup and a slice of bread are very different amounts of food.
Why does dish type matter for a Low Calorie tag?
Dish type matters for a Low Calorie tag 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 bread and dessert look “unhealthy” next to a plate of baked fish, and that just didn’t seem right to us.
What are the Low Calorie and Low Fat limits by dish type?
The Low Calorie and Low Fat limits by dish type on Hungry Hoarder are 350 calories and 10g fat per serving for meals, 150 calories and 3g fat for sides and dessert pieces, and 100 calories and 3g fat per slice of bread.
| 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?
The dish type used when a recipe fits more than one is the first match in this order:
- 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 dietary tag be removed from a recipe later?
Yes, a dietary tag can be removed from a recipe later. If we correct a serving count or fix an ingredient amount, the numbers change, and a tag that no longer fits comes off. We’d rather be right than keep a tag that doesn’t fit anymore.
The Other Tags: High Protein, Low Carb, Keto, Sugar Free, Low Sugar, Vegetarian and Gluten Free
The other dietary tags on Hungry Hoarder use fixed per-serving numbers or a close look at the ingredient list.
| 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 on Hungry Hoarder?
The difference between Keto and Low Carb on Hungry Hoarder is the carb limit and how the carbs are counted. Keto means 5g net carbs or less per serving, or 10g net carbs or less 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 (carbs minus fiber).
What is the difference between Sugar Free and Low Sugar?
The difference between Sugar Free and Low Sugar on Hungry Hoarder is how much sugar a serving can have. Sugar Free means 0g sugar per serving with no sugar-containing ingredients. Low Sugar means 5g sugar or less per serving, or 10g or less for desserts. We’re strict about Sugar Free on purpose, so a recipe with sugar in the ingredient list won’t get it.
How is a recipe judged Vegetarian or Gluten Free?
A recipe is judged Vegetarian or Gluten Free on Hungry Hoarder by reading its ingredient list. Vegetarian recipes have no meat, poultry, fish or gelatin. Gluten Free recipes have no wheat, flour, pasta, bread or other gluten ingredients.
What happens if a recipe almost meets a tag’s rule?
A recipe that almost meets a tag’s rule 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
Four real Hungry Hoarder recipes show that the same calorie count can earn a tag on one dish and miss it 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) |
Which dietary tags do the example recipes earn?
The example recipes earn different dietary tags: Baked Parmesan Cod earns Low Calorie and Low Fat, Creamy Cucumber Salad earns Low Calorie, Black Forest Pumpernickel Bread earns Low Fat, and Boston Cream Pie Minis earn neither.
Why can 136 calories be too many for bread but fine for a dinner?
136 calories can be too many for bread but fine for a dinner because the bread limit is 100 calories per slice and the meal limit is 350 calories per serving. A slice of Black Forest Pumpernickel Bread at 136 calories is over the bread limit, while a full Baked Parmesan Cod dinner at 209 calories is well under the 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’re adding to the site.)
Are Hungry Hoarder’s dietary tags medical or dietary advice?
No, Hungry Hoarder’s dietary tags are not medical or dietary advice. They’re estimates meant to help you browse.
Nutrition disclaimer: Nutrition information is an estimate per serving, calculated from the ingredients and servings listed, and is not medical or dietary advice. It 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 About Our Recipe Dietary Labels
What does Low Calorie mean on Hungry Hoarder?
Low Calorie on Hungry Hoarder 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.
What does Low Fat mean on Hungry Hoarder?
Low Fat on Hungry Hoarder means a serving has 10g of fat or less for a meal, or 3g of fat or less for a side, a dessert piece or a slice of bread.
What does High Protein mean on Hungry Hoarder?
High Protein on Hungry Hoarder means a serving has 20g of protein or more.
Why do some Hungry Hoarder recipes have no tags?
Some Hungry Hoarder recipes have no tags because they don’t clearly meet any of the tag rules. A recipe with no tags isn’t a bad recipe. It just doesn’t fit one of the boxes!
How to Browse Recipes by Tag
Recipe nutrition tags on Hungry Hoarder come from estimated per-serving numbers and the type of dish, so think of them as a helpful starting point rather than a promise.
How do I find all Low Calorie recipes on Hungry Hoarder?
All Low Calorie recipes on Hungry Hoarder are listed on the Low Calorie recipes page. Every tag has its own page, so you can also browse High Protein recipes, Keto recipes or Gluten Free recipes any time.
What should I do if I think a tag is wrong?
If you think a tag is wrong, or you have a question about a recipe’s nutrition, just reach out through our contact page and we’ll take a look. We’d love to hear from you!
Now go find something delicious. Grab an apron and join us in the kitchen!