Quick Answer
There are approximately 120 calories in 1/2 cup (113g) of Boston Market fresh vegetable stuffing.
Calories and Nutrients
Boston Market’s fresh vegetable stuffing is a savory side dish made with a blend of bread cubes, vegetables, and seasonings. Here are the nutrition facts for 1/2 cup (113g) of Boston Market fresh vegetable stuffing:
| Calories | 120 |
| Total Fat | 3 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5 g |
| Trans Fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 360 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 23 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Total Sugars | 3 g |
| Protein | 3 g |
As you can see, a 1/2 cup serving of Boston Market’s fresh vegetable stuffing contains 120 calories. It is relatively low in fat and high in carbohydrates. The stuffing also provides a small amount of protein and fiber.
Ingredients
According to the Boston Market website, the fresh vegetable stuffing contains the following ingredients:
– Bread cubes
– Onions
– Celery
– Parsley
– Sage
– Thyme
– Chicken broth
– Butter
– Salt
– Pepper
The combination of bread, vegetables, herbs, and seasonings gives this stuffing its signature flavor. The bread cubes provide carbohydrates and texture, while the vegetables add important nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and fiber. The herbs and broth impart savory flavor.
Serving Size Details
Here are some details on the serving size and calorie count for Boston Market’s fresh vegetable stuffing:
– Serving size: 1/2 cup (113g)
– Servings per container: 8
– Amount per serving:
– Calories: 120
– Total fat: 3g (4% DV)
– Saturated fat: 0.5g (3% DV)
– Trans fat: 0g
– Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
– Sodium: 360mg (15% DV)
– Total carbohydrate: 23g (8% DV)
– Dietary fiber: 2g (7% DV)
– Total sugars: 3g
– Protein: 3g
As you can see, a single 1/2 cup serving provides 120 calories, which is 6% of a standard 2000 calorie daily diet. The percentage daily values (%DV) are based on a 2000 calorie diet. This serving size information makes it easy to understand how the stuffing fits into your overall daily calorie and nutrient goals.
How Stuffing Fits Into a Healthy Diet
Boston Market’s fresh vegetable stuffing can be part of a healthy, balanced diet when consumed in moderation. Here are some tips for enjoying stuffing as part of an overall healthy eating pattern:
– Watch portion sizes – Stick to the 1/2 cup serving size to keep calories under control. Measure portions to avoid overeating.
– Enjoy as a side dish – Pair a sensible portion of stuffing with lean protein foods and non-starchy vegetables for a balanced meal.
– Choose healthy cooking methods – If making stuffing from scratch, cook it in the oven or stove top instead of stuffing inside fatty meats.
– Limit added butter and sodium – Go easy on adding extra butter and salt if making the stuffing yourself. Herbs make great low-sodium flavor boosters.
– Increase fiber – Add extra vegetables, dried fruits, or whole grains to homemade stuffing for more fiber.
– Don’t forget exercise – Balance out your stuffing indulgence with regular physical activity to help burn off extra calories.
Stuffing vs Dressing
Stuffing and dressing are very similar savory bread-based side dishes, but there is a key difference in how they are prepared:
– Stuffing is cooked inside the cavity of poultry like turkey or chicken. The stuffing cooks alongside the meat, absorbing the poultry juices.
– Dressing is baked separately in a casserole dish rather than inside a bird. It has a drier, fluffier texture than stuffing.
Both stuffing and dressing typically consist of a carb-rich base like bread, vegetables, herbs, broth, eggs, and seasonings. In terms of nutrition, stuffing and dressing are very similar, with calories and nutrients dependent on the specific ingredients used in each recipe.
High Calorie Ingredients to Moderate
While Boston Market’s fresh vegetable stuffing is relatively low in calories, some stuffing and dressing recipes can be quite high in calories depending on the ingredients used. Here are some common high-calorie stuffing ingredients to moderate:
– Sausage – Pork or turkey sausage crumbles can add up to 150 calories per 1/4 cup.
– Butter – Each tablespoon of butter packs 100 calories and 11g fat. Limit to 1-2 tbsp per recipe.
– Cream – Heavy cream or milk adds calories and saturated fat. Opt for low-sodium broth instead.
– Nuts – While healthy, nuts like pecans, walnuts and chestnuts are very high in calories. Limit to 2 tbsp per serving.
– Fried onions – Opt for fresh or caramelized onions instead of fried onion crisps or strings to slash calories.
– Large portion size – Heaping mounds of stuffing can easily provide 300+ calories per serving.
Healthier Stuffing Alternatives
If you are looking for lower calorie stuffing options, here are some ideas for lighter, healthier recipes:
– Wild rice stuffing – Use wild rice or a wild rice blend as the base instead of white bread.
– Quinoa stuffing – For a gluten-free option, make stuffing with quinoa or quinoa bread cubes.
– Cauliflower rice stuffing – Replace bread with riced cauliflower for a low carb, low calorie stuffing.
– Veggie based – Bulk up the veggies and use minimal bread. Try stuffing made with diced zucchini or spaghetti squash.
– Chicken sausage – Use lean chicken sausage instead of pork sausage to reduce fat and calories.
– Herbed bread cubes – For flavor, toast bread cubes with fresh herbs instead of butter.
– Vegetable broth – Use low sodium vegetable broth instead of heavy cream or butter for moisture.
Storing and Freezing Leftover Stuffing
Since stuffing is traditionally served during the holidays, you may have leftovers. Here are some tips for storing and freezing leftover stuffing or dressing:
– Refrigerate promptly – Leftover stuffing should be refrigerated within 2 hours. Divide into shallow containers for fast cooling.
– Use within 3-4 days – For best quality and food safety, eat refrigerated stuffing within 3 to 4 days.
– Reheat thoroughly – Reheat stuffing to an internal temperature of 165°F. Reheating helps kill any bacteria.
– Freeze for longer storage – For longer storage, freeze stuffing for up to 2-3 months. First cool completely, then transfer to freezer bags or airtight containers.
– Thaw in refrigerator – Thaw frozen stuffing slowly in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Do not thaw at room temperature.
– Avoid sogginess – To avoid soggy stuffing, don’t add too much broth when reheating. Crisp under the broiler for 5 minutes.
Conclusion
In summary, a 1/2 cup serving of Boston Market’s fresh vegetable stuffing provides 120 calories and makes a tasty and satisfying side to a healthy meal when enjoyed in moderation. Look for ways to lighten up stuffing recipes by using less butter, salt, cream and high-calorie ingredients. With some simple ingredient swaps and healthy prep methods, it’s easy to enjoy flavorful stuffing as part of a balanced diet.
