Gumbo, a Creole stew usually containing okra, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, roux — a mixture of flour and fat — and seafood, as well as sausage or other meat, is a hearty meal. The calories in gumbo may contribute to your daily nutritional goals, but the exact number varies based on ingredients.
Calories
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A one-cup serving of of gumbo contains 320 to 450 calories. The calories will vary depending on the types of meat and seafood included in the stew, as well as the vegetables used. Based on a 2,000-calorie diet, the number of calories in gumbo equals 16 to 22.5 percent of what you would consume in a day.
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Protein
Many of the calories in gumbo come from protein; a serving of gumbo contains 28 to 37 grams of protein. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for this macronutrient is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight (0.36 grams per pound), according to Harvard Health Publishing.
Fat
Gumbo often contains high amounts of fat -- one serving of gumbo generally has 17 to 27 g. The Mayo Clinic recommends limiting fat to 44 to 78 grams per day to avoid obesity and health problems associated with having overweight.
Carbohydrates
One serving also provides you with 13 to 21 grams of carbohydrates. You should consume at least 130 grams of carbohydrates to meet your energy needs every day, according to the National Academies. All recommendations are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Harvard School of Public Health: "Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo"
- Recipe Goldmine: "New Orleans Best Gumbo"
- Food Reference: "Gumbo Origin and History"
- Harvard Health Publishing: "How Much Protein Do You Need Every Day?"
- Mayo Clinic: "Fat Grams: How to Track Fat in Your Diet"
- National Academies: "Report Offers New Eating and Physical Activity Targets To Reduce Chronic Disease Risk"