Alfredo’s Mexican food super fries are a popular menu item at the Alfredo’s restaurant chain. With their crispy exterior and fluffy interior, these fries are a customer favorite. However, many health-conscious customers wonder just how many calories are packed into these indulgent fries. In this article, we will investigate the calorie content of a typical order of Alfredo’s super fries.
Nutrition Information on Alfredo’s Website
Unfortunately, Alfredo’s does not provide complete nutrition information for all of their menu items on their website. While they do have calorie counts for some entrees, sides like the super fries are not included. Without access to the official nutrition facts, we will have to do some deducing to estimate the calorie content of these fries.
Typical Serving Size
First, let’s look at the typical serving size for an order of Alfredo’s super fries. These fries are promoted as a sharable side. The super fries come in a basket that appears to hold around 3 cups of fries. Since fries are a high-calorie food, a 3-cup serving would pack a hefty caloric punch.
For comparison, a large order of fries at McDonald’s contains about 3 1/2 cups of fries and 610 calories. Other restaurants serve similar portion sizes of fries, ranging from 400-700 calories. Based on these comparisons, we can estimate a 3-cup serving of Alfredo’s super fries likely contains at least 600 calories.
Ingredients in Alfredo’s Super Fries
To get a more accurate estimate, we need to look at what goes into Alfredo’s super fries. According to the menu description, these fries include:
– Potatoes
– Vegetable oil for frying
– Mexican spice blend
Potatoes are high in carbohydrates and contain around 100 calories per 3.5 ounces when fried in oil. The Mexican spice blend adds minimal calories. The primary source of calories comes from frying in vegetable oil.
During frying, the porous potatoes absorb a significant amount of oil, which leads to an increase in calories. Most french fries soak up around 4 tablespoons of oil per 3 cups of fries during frying. With around 120 calories per tablespoon of oil, that equates to roughly 480 calories of oil per 3-cup serving.
Calorie Estimate
Given the large serving size and high oil content, we can estimate that a full order of Alfredo’s Mexican food super fries contains approximately:
– Potatoes: 300 calories
– Vegetable oil: 480 calories
– Mexican spice blend: minimal calories
Total estimated calories: Around 780 calories for 3 cups of fries
This is just an educated guess based on available information. The actual amount may vary depending on the oil used, frying time, and other factors. However, we can be confident that a full basket of these fries contains somewhere in the range of 600-800 calories.
Nutrition Tips
If you want to indulge in Alfredo’s super fries but limit calories, here are some tips:
– Order a half or small-size fries instead of the full basket. This cuts calories in half.
– Share with a friend to limit your own portion.
– Opt for lower-calorie dipping sauces like salsa or mustard instead of cheese sauce or sour cream.
– Balance the fries with lower calorie items like grilled chicken and salad.
– Drink water instead of sugary sodas for even more calorie savings.
Conclusion
Alfredo’s Mexican food super fries are a tasty but high-calorie menu option, estimated to contain around 780 calories per full-size order. By practicing portion control, choosing healthier dips, and balancing with lower calorie items, you can still enjoy these fries while maintaining your daily calorie intake goals. Check the menu next time you visit Alfredo’s to see if they have added nutrition information for their fries and other menu items.
