Determining the calorie count of a Hello Fresh meal like bulgogi pork tenderloin requires looking at the individual ingredients and calculations. Hello Fresh provides some nutritional information on their website, but the specifics can vary based on portion sizes and substitutions. By examining the typical bulgogi pork recipe and its components, we can estimate the calories per serving and for the entire meal kit.
Calories in Hello Fresh Ingredients
Here are some of the main ingredients in a typical Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin meal kit with estimated calorie amounts:
- Pork tenderloin (4 oz) – 122 calories
- Bulgogi sauce (2 Tbsp) – 60 calories
- White rice (1/2 cup uncooked) – 160 calories
- Green beans (1 cup) – 45 calories
- Sesame seeds (1 Tbsp) – 50 calories
The exact calorie count may vary slightly depending on the specific cuts of pork, rice portion sizes, and veggie substitutions. But this provides a good estimate of the main components.
Calories in the Bulgogi Pork Tenderloin
The star of the Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin meal is the pork itself glazed with the bulgogi sauce. A typical serving is 4 oz of pork tenderloin with around 2 Tbsp of the savory bulgogi sauce.
So for the pork tenderloin alone, we’re looking at:
- Pork tenderloin (4 oz) = 122 calories
- Bulgogi sauce (2 Tbsp) = 60 calories
That brings the total for just the sauced pork tenderloin to around 182 calories per serving.
Calorie Breakdown for Pork
Let’s break down those pork tenderloin calories a bit further:
- Protein: About 25g protein x 4 calories/gram protein = 100 calories
- Fat: Around 3g fat x 9 calories/gram fat = 27 calories
So the majority of the calories in pork come from its high protein content. While the tenderloin is a lean cut, it still has a bit of fat as well. But protein accounts for most of its calories.
Calories in Bulgogi Sauce
The bulgogi sauce is a sweet, umami-rich Korean barbecue glaze. Its calorie breakdown looks like:
- Carbohydrates: About 12g carbs x 4 calories/gram carb = 48 calories
- Fat: Around 1g fat x 9 calories/gram fat = 9 calories
- Protein: 3g protein x 4 calories/gram protein = 12 calories
So the majority of the bulgogi sauce’s calories come from sugar and carbohydrates to provide its sweet flavor. But it also contains a bit of fat and savory protein for well-rounded umami flavors.
Calories in Hello Fresh Side Dishes
In addition to the sauced pork tenderloin, Hello Fresh provides pre-portioned side dishes like rice and vegetables. These contribute additional calories to the full meal.
White Rice
A typical serving of white rice with this Hello Fresh meal is 1/2 cup uncooked. Since rice approximately doubles in volume when cooked, this equates to around 1 cup cooked rice.
The calories in 1/2 cup uncooked white rice are:
- Carbohydrates: About 80g carb x 4 calories/gram carb = 320 calories
But cooked rice contains significantly less dense calories due to absorption of water. So 1 cup cooked white rice is around 160 calories.
Green Beans
The veggie side with this meal is often around 1 cup of green beans. Green beans are very low calorie, with only:
- 45 calories in 1 cup green beans
Green beans provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber without spiking calories.
Sesame Seeds
Finally, sesame seeds are frequently sprinkled on top of the Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin meal. Around 1 Tbsp of sesame seeds adds:
- 50 calories
Sesame seeds provide protein, fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats. So they make a nutritional garnish with added calories from their high fat content.
Full Meal Calorie Estimate
Putting together the calorie counts for the individual components, here is the full estimated calorie amount for a typical serving of Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin:
| Food | Calories |
|---|---|
| Pork Tenderloin with Bulgogi Sauce | 182 |
| White Rice | 160 |
| Green Beans | 45 |
| Sesame Seeds | 50 |
| Total Calories Per Serving | 437 |
So in total, a single serving of Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin with white rice, green beans, and sesame seeds comes out to around 437 calories.
Full Meal Calorie Breakdown
Here is the caloric breakdown of the macro-nutrients for the entire Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin meal:
- Protein: About 44g protein x 4 calories/gram protein = 176 calories
- Carbs: Around 69g carbs x 4 calories/gram carb = 276 calories
- Fat: About 14g fat x 9 calories/gram fat = 126 calories
So the majority of calories for this meal come from carbohydrates, followed by protein and a smaller amount of fat. The rice provides a good portion of the carbs, while the pork contributes more protein.
Calories for Full Meal Kit
Most Hello Fresh meal kits contain enough ingredients for two or more servings. So how many total calories are in the full bulgogi pork tenderloin meal kit?
The typical meal kit contains:
- 2 pork tenderloins (around 12 oz total)
- Bulgogi sauce (likely around 1/4 cup)
- 1 cup uncooked white rice (2+ servings)
- 12-16 oz green beans (2-4 servings)
- Sesame seeds (maybe 2-4 Tbsp)
If we estimate around 3 servings total, then multiply the per-serving calorie counts by 3, we get:
| Food | Calories (Per Serving) | Calories (Total for 3 Servings) |
|---|---|---|
| Pork Tenderloin with Bulgogi Sauce | 182 | 546 |
| White Rice | 160 | 480 |
| Green Beans | 45 | 135 |
| Sesame Seeds | 50 | 150 |
| Total Calories | 437 | 1,311 |
So for the complete Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin meal kit with around 3 servings, the total calorie count comes out to approximately 1,311 calories.
Comparing Calories to Other Meals
Compared to some other meal options, Hello Fresh’s bulgogi pork tenderloin provides a relatively well-balanced calorie count.
Here’s how it compares to some alternatives for a single serving:
| Meal | Calories |
|---|---|
| Hello Fresh Bulgogi Pork Tenderloin | 437 |
| Beef burger and fries from McDonald’s | 530 |
| Domino’s cheese pizza (2 slices) | 320 |
| Chickpea curry bowl with rice | 480 |
The Hello Fresh meal comes in on the lower end for calories compared to fast food like a burger and fries. It’s fairly similar to a veggie curry bowl. And it provides more balanced nutrition than just pizza.
For the full meal kit, the 1,311 calories breaks down to about 437 calories per serving if splitting between 3 people. That provides close to 1/3 of the recommended daily caloric intake of around 2,000 calories for most adults.
Nutritional Benefits
In addition to a balanced calorie count, the Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin meal provides many other beneficial nutrients.
- Protein: The pork and sesame seeds provide filling protein to help you stay satisfied.
- Fiber: The white rice, veggies, and sesame seeds contain fiber for digestive health.
- Vitamins and minerals: Green beans provide vitamin K, vitamin C, and manganese.
- Healthy fats: Pork contains some monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for well-rounded nutrition.
By combining lean protein, complex carbs, fiber-rich vegetables, and sprinkles of seeds and sauces, Hello Fresh offers a meal balanced in macros, vitamins, and minerals.
Ways to Modify Calories
If trying to reduce calories, there are some simple ways to tweak this Hello Fresh meal:
- Use cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
- Increase portion of green beans and reduce rice.
- Use just 1 tsp sesame seeds instead of 1 Tbsp.
- Flavor pork with spices instead of sugary bulgogi sauce.
- Swap in shirataki noodles for the rice.
And to increase calories if you are very active, you could:
- Add extra white rice or quinoa.
- Double the pork tenderloin serving.
- Top with avocado slices.
- Include a side of edamame.
- Fry egg and place on top.
Getting creative with simple substitutions or additions can easily adjust the calories up or down with this Hello Fresh meal.
Conclusion
Based on the typical recipe, ingredients, and nutrition info, a single serving of Hello Fresh bulgogi pork tenderloin contains approximately 437 calories. This comes mostly from carbohydrates and protein, with a bit of healthy fat as well. For the full meal kit serving 3 people, the total adds up to around 1,311 calories.
This Hello Fresh meal provides a relatively well-balanced caloric intake compared to some fast food or take-out options. And it delivers filling protein, fiber, vitamins, and important nutrients. With simple tweaks like cauliflower rice or an extra veggie serving, you can easily modify the calories up or down as needed.