Fettuccini Alfredo is a classic Italian dish that is comprised of thin pasta topped with a cheesy, buttery sauce. It is a staple dish at many Italian restaurants and can be made at home using pasta with jarred or homemade sauce. While fettuccini Alfredo can be tasty, it's not ideal for all diet plans, as it is rich in carbohydrates and fat. Note that nutritional values may vary among recipes.
Calories
Fettuccini Alfredo is a calorie-dense pasta dish, as each cup of this food contains 330 calories. That amount of calories comprises 16.5 percent of the daily recommended intake of 2,000, so fettuccini Alfredo may not be an ideal choice for dieting. If you want to burn the calories in 1 cup of fettuccini Alfredo, you could do so with 34 minutes of jogging or 54 minutes of low-impact aerobics.
Fat
One reason fettuccini Alfredo is high in calories is that it's high in fat. Each cup contains 11 g total fat. Of this fat, 4 g come from saturated fat, a type of fat that can increase your cholesterol levels, which elevates your risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends eating less than 16 g saturated fat each day, and between 50 and 70 g total fat daily.
Carbohydrates
As with other pasta dishes, fettuccini Alfredo provides a large amount of carbohydrates. Each cup of this pasta contains 31 g carbohydrates, which are your body's primary source of energy. High-carbohydrate foods can be good choices for athletes or those engaged in strenuous physical activity.
Protein
Your body needs protein to build and repair vital tissues, and fettuccini Alfredo is a rich source of this nutrient. Each cup of cooked fettuccini Alfredo contains 26 g protein, which is more than four times the amount in an egg. The Institute of Medicine suggests eating at least 8 g of protein per 20 lbs. of body weight every day for optimal health.
Sodium
Fettuccini Alfredo is high in sodium, which can be detrimental to your health. Each cup provides 810 mg sodium, an amount comprising 35 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,300 mg. Too much sodium can promote water retention and increased blood pressure.
Cholesterol
Another nutritional concern of fettuccini Alfredo is that it is high in cholesterol. Just 1 cup of this dish contains 60 mg; the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends consuming 200 mg or less each day to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Vitamins and Minerals
Fettuccini Alfredo may not be the most nutritious food, but it provides some vitamins and minerals. Each cup contains 10 percent of the RDA for calcium and 8 percent of the RDA for iron and vitamin A.
References
- MyFitnessPal: Calories in Betty Crocker Chicken Helper Fettuccine Alfredo
- MayoClinic.com: Exercise for Weight Loss, Calories Burned in 1 Hour; December 2009
- American Heart Association: Know Your Fats; June 2011
- Harvard School of Public Health: Protein, Moving Closer to Center Stage
- Cleveland Clinic: Cholesterol Guidelines; 2011
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