How many calories are in 4 oz of Kozy Shack rice pudding?

Rice pudding is a sweet, creamy dessert made from rice, milk, sugar, and spices. It’s a popular comfort food around the world. Kozy Shack is a brand that makes pre-packaged rice pudding in a variety of flavors. If you’re wondering how many calories are in 4 oz of Kozy Shack rice pudding, read on for a detailed breakdown.

The Nutrition Facts for Kozy Shack Rice Pudding

To determine the calories and other nutrition information in Kozy Shack rice pudding, we’ll need to examine the nutrition label. Here are the nutrition facts for 4 oz (1/2 cup) of original Kozy Shack rice pudding:

Nutrition Facts 4 oz (1/2 cup)
Calories 160
Total Fat 3.5 g
Saturated Fat 2 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 15 mg
Sodium 115 mg
Total Carbohydrate 28 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Total Sugars 17 g
Protein 3 g

As you can see, there are 160 calories in 4 oz (1/2 cup) of original Kozy Shack rice pudding. Now let’s break down where those calories come from.

Calories from Fat vs. Carbs

The calories in rice pudding come from two main sources – fat and carbohydrates. Let’s calculate the calories from each:

  • Fat: There are 3.5g total fat in 4 oz of Kozy Shack rice pudding. Since there are 9 calories per gram of fat, this equals 31.5 calories from fat (3.5g x 9 calories).
  • Carbs: There are 28g total carbs. Carbs contain 4 calories per gram, so there are 112 calories from carbs (28g x 4 calories).

Adding up the calories from fat (31.5) and carbs (112), we get a total of 143.5 calories. The remaining calories come from protein. There are 3g protein, and each gram of protein contains 4 calories. So there are 12 calories from protein (3g x 4 calories).

In summary:

  • Calories from fat: 31.5
  • Calories from carbs: 112
  • Calories from protein: 12
  • Total calories: 160

As you can see, most of the calories in Kozy Shack rice pudding come from carbohydrates. The sugar and rice contribute 112 of the 160 calories per serving.

Comparing Flavors

The nutrition information above is for original Kozy Shack rice pudding. Different flavors will have slight variations in calories and nutrients. Here’s a comparison of 4 oz servings of popular Kozy Shack rice pudding flavors:

Flavor Calories Total Fat Total Carbs
Original 160 3.5g 28g
Vanilla 170 3.5g 29g
Coconut 180 4g 30g
Rice Pudding with Raspberries 140 2g 24g

As you can see, flavors like coconut tend to be slightly higher in calories, fat, and carbohydrates compared to plainer flavors like original or raspberry. But all the flavors deliver around 140-180 calories per 4 oz serving.

Daily Calorie Needs

To put the 160 calories per serving of rice pudding in context, let’s look at recommended daily calorie intakes. According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines:

  • Women need between 1,600-2,400 calories per day
  • Men need between 2,000-3,000 calories per day

These recommended intakes vary based on age, body size, and activity level:

Gender Age Sedentary Moderately Active Active
Women 19-30 1,800-2,000 2,000-2,200 2,400
Women 31-50 1,800 2,000 2,200
Men 19-30 2,400-2,600 2,600-2,800 3,000
Men 31-50 2,200-2,400 2,400-2,600 3,000

Based on these standard calorie recommendations, the 160 calories in 4 oz of Kozy Shack rice pudding represents:

  • 10% of a 1,600 calorie diet
  • 8% of a 2,000 calorie diet
  • 7% of a 2,400 calorie diet

The percent is lower for higher calorie diets. So 4 oz of rice pudding makes up a reasonable portion of your daily calories, but doesn’t completely break the calorie bank.

Nutrition Pros and Cons

Now that we know the calorie count, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of rice pudding from a nutritional standpoint:

Pros

  • Provides calcium – 10% DV in 4 oz serving
  • Contains healthy carbohydrates for energy
  • Relatively low in fat compared to some desserts
  • Can be made with milk for extra protein and nutrients
  • Variety of flavors available

Cons

  • High in added sugars – 17g per 4 oz serving
  • Not a significant source of fiber or protein
  • Higher carb count can spike blood sugar
  • Easy to overeat since it’s soft, sweet, and creamy
  • Often made with white rice rather than whole grains

Overall, rice pudding can be an occasional sweet treat as part of an otherwise balanced diet. Sticking to reasonable portion sizes and balancing it out with more nutritious foods can keep rice pudding from becoming too much of a calorie bomb.

Tips for Enjoying Rice Pudding While Managing Calories

Here are some tips to keep rice pudding from derailing your healthy diet:

  • Stick to the standard serving size of 4 oz or 1/2 cup
  • Measure portions carefully to avoid overeating
  • Eat slowly and mindfully to savor the flavor
  • Choose flavored varieties like raspberry over heavier options like coconut
  • Enjoy rice pudding as part of a meal, not as a sweet snack
  • Balance it out by pairing with fruit or other healthier foods
  • Consider making your own with brown rice and less added sugar
  • Treat rice pudding as an occasional dessert, not an everyday one

Using some restraint and sensible portions, rice pudding can be worked into an overall healthy diet that includes plenty of veggies, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains.

The Bottom Line

So how many calories are in 4 oz of Kozy Shack rice pudding? The original flavor contains 160 calories, with most coming from carbohydrates. Other flavors range from 140-180 calories per 4 oz serving. While rice pudding is a sweet treat, watching your portions and balancing it out with more nutritious foods allows you to enjoy it guilt-free as part of a healthy diet.

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