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How many Calories in a Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage?

Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausages are a popular pre-cooked sausage option that can be conveniently heated and added to a variety of dishes. With its blend of pork, spices, and sweet flavors, this sausage makes a tasty addition to pasta, sandwiches, pizza, and more. However, many health-conscious consumers want to know the calorie count before enjoying these sausages. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of the calorie content in Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausages.

Calorie Count in a Single Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage

According to the nutrition information on the Johnsonville website, one link of Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage contains the following calories and macronutrients:

Serving Size Calories Total Fat Saturated Fat Trans Fat Cholesterol Sodium Total Carbohydrate Dietary Fiber Total Sugars Protein
1 sausage link (85g) 230 18g 7g 0g 45mg 580mg 8g 0g 4g 10g

As you can see, one 85 gram link of Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage contains 230 calories. It also provides 18g of total fat, 45mg of cholesterol, 580mg of sodium, 8g of carbohydrates, and 10g of protein.

Calorie Breakdown

To further analyze the 230 calories in one sausage link, we can break it down as follows:

  • Fat: 18g * 9 calories/g = 162 calories from fat
  • Carbohydrates: 8g * 4 calories/g = 32 calories from carbs
  • Protein: 10g * 4 calories/g = 40 calories from protein

So out of the total 230 calories, approximately 70% (162 calories) comes from fat, 14% (32 calories) from carbs, and 17% (40 calories) from protein. This reflects the relatively high fat content of these sausages.

Calorie Content in Different Serving Sizes

The calorie count will vary based on how many links of the Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausages you consume. Here is the calorie content for different serving sizes:

Serving Size Calories
1 sausage link (85g) 230
2 sausage links (170g) 460
3 sausage links (255g) 690
4 sausage links (340g) 920
Entire 14 oz package (396g) 1068

As you increase the number of sausage links, the calories scale accordingly. Consuming the entire 14 oz package of approximately 5 links would provide over 1000 calories. Keep this in mind if you are tracking your calorie intake.

Calories in Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage vs Other Sausages

How does the calorie count of Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage compare to other popular sausage varieties?

Sausage Type Calories per 85g link
Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage 230
Johnsonville Original Breakfast Links 190
Johnsonville Chicken Apple Sausage 140
Johnsonville Ultimate Breakfast Sausage 250
Johnsonville Chorizo Style Sausage 260

The Sweet Italian variety contains more calories per link than Johnsonville’s Original Breakfast Links and Chicken Apple Sausages, but fewer calories than the Ultimate Breakfast and Chorizo Style options. The Sweet Italian Sausage has moderate calorie density for a Johnsonville sausage.

Compared to Other Brands

How do Johnsonville Sausages compare to other major brands?

Brand Sausage Type Calories per 85g link
Johnsonville Sweet Italian 230
Jimmy Dean Italian Style Pork Sausage 260
Oscar Mayer Smoked Sweet Italian Sausage 220
Aidells Spicy Italian Style Sausage 260

Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausages are very comparable in calories to Oscar Mayer’s similar smoked sweet Italian offering. They are moderately lower in calories than equivalent sausages from Jimmy Dean and Aidells. Overall, Johnsonville provides a competitively mid-range calorie option.

Factors Affecting Calorie Count

There are several factors that impact the calorie content in Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausages, including:

Ingredients

The ingredients and cuts of pork used influence the fat, carbohydrate and protein content. Higher fat pork cuts will mean more calories from fat per serving.

Cooking Method

How the sausages are cooked makes a difference. Grilling, pan-frying, boiling, etc. can slightly alter the calorie density of the final product.

Portion Size

As shown earlier, the portion amount (number of links) greatly affects the total calories consumed.

Additions and Condiments

What other ingredients the sausages are served with impacts calories. Adding high-calorie toppings like fatty sauces or cheeses will increase the calorie count.

How to Reduce Calories in Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage

If you are looking to reduce the calories in this already moderately-high calorie sausage, here are some tips:

Portion Control

Stick to a single link or about 85 grams per serving to keep calories in check.

Healthy Cooking

Choose lower calorie cooking methods like grilling, broiling or baking instead of frying in oil.

Limit Added Fats

Avoid adding extra high-fat toppings and condiments like creamy sauces, cheese, bacon, etc.

Increase Veggies

Bulk up meals by adding extra non-starchy vegetables to help fill you up on fewer calories.

Alternative Proteins

In some dishes, replace half the sausage with lower calorie proteins like beans, lentils or tofu.

Healthiest Ways to Eat Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage

Here are some of healthiest recipe ideas for enjoying Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage while keeping calories under control:

Sausage and Veggie Sheet Pan Meals

Roast sausage links with vegetables like zucchini, peppers, onions, broccoli, Brussels sprouts etc. for a one-pan dish.

Sausage Pomodoro

Saute onion and garlic, add sliced sausages and tomato sauce. Toss with whole wheat pasta.

Sausage and White Bean Soup

Simmer lean sliced sausage with onion and garlic in broth. Add canned white beans and spinach at the end.

Sausage, Apple and Sweet Potato Hash

Combine cooked, diced sausage with diced sweet potato, apple, onion, peppers and seasonings.

Sausage Frittata or Quiche

Add chopped sausage to egg mixtures along with vegetables then bake.

Nutrition Tips for Consuming Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage

Here are some final nutrition tips to consider when eating Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausages:

  • Watch portion sizes and limit to one 85g link per serving
  • Balance with non-starchy vegetables and fiber-rich carbohydrate foods
  • Avoid heavy cream-based sauces and high-fat cheese toppings
  • Compare sodium content to other sausages and aim for lower sodium options
  • Consume along with healthy mixed meals instead of alone as a snack
  • Pair with whole grains like brown rice or quinoa instead of refined grains

Conclusion

Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage contains 230 calories per 85g link. Consuming multiple links at a time can add up in calories, so portion control is key. These sausages have a moderately high calorie density due to their high fat content. However, there are many delicious and nutritious ways to incorporate them into a healthy diet. By focusing on veggie-heavy recipes and low-calorie cooking methods, you can still enjoy the signature sweet Italian flavor of Johnsonville sausage without overdoing the calories and fat.