Marie Callender's
Is Marie Callender's North Carolina Style Chicken & Grits healthy?
North Carolina Style Chicken & Grits
Longevity Score
74/100
Food Integrity Score
52/100
Limit When Possible
Mixed or weaker nutrition and ingredient signals suggest looking for better options when you can.
Quick answer
Limit When Possible
Marie Callender's north carolina style chicken & grits is rated limit when possible overall, with a Longevity Score of 74 out of 100 and a Food Integrity Score of 52 out of 100. Solid protein and black-eyed peas, but cheese grits, sweet BBQ sauce, and high sodium lower the alignment. Strengths include good protein from chicken breast, black-eyed peas, celery, and bell peppers add fiber and vegetables, and corn grits provide whole-grain-style base, while main considerations include sodium around 1,200 mg per meal, added sugar from brown sugar bbq sauce, and cheese and butter raise saturated fat.
Longevity Score 74/100Food Integrity Score 52/100
What helped the score?
- Good protein from chicken breast
- Black-eyed peas, celery, and bell peppers add fiber and vegetables
- Corn grits provide whole-grain-style base
What held the score back?
- Sodium around 1,200 mg per meal
- Added sugar from brown sugar BBQ sauce
- Cheese and butter raise saturated fat
Ingredients
Ingredient list
CHEDDAR GRITS (WATER, MILK, CORN GRITS, CHEDDAR CHEESE [MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES, ANNATTO {COLOR}], BUTTER [CREAM, SALT], SALT), BBQ SAUCE (WATER, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, BROWN SUGAR, BUTTER [CREAM, SALT], MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SPICES, SALT), COOKED CHICKEN (CHICKEN BREAST, WATER, OLIVE OIL, ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN PRODUCT [ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN, MODIFIED POTATO STARCH, CORN STARCH, CARRAGEENAN, SOY LECITHIN], DEXTROSE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE), COOKED BLACK-EYED PEAS, CELERY, RED BELL PEPPERS.
Formulations can vary — check the package label for the final word.
Key nutrition
Per serving: 354 g (1 meal)
- Calories32916% DV
- Protein18g36% DV
- Total Carbs40g15% DV
- Fiber5g18% DV
- Total Fat11g14% DV
- Saturated Fat6g30% DV
Source data, GTIN, and Healthy Food Guide analysis details
Product facts
- Product
- Marie Callender's North Carolina Style Chicken & Grits
- Brand
- Marie Callender's
- Category
- Prepared Meals (source: Frozen Dinners & Entrees)
- GTIN / UPC
00021131000233- Serving size
- 354 g (1 meal)
- Source data — ingredients
- Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
- Healthy Food Guide analysis
- Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
- Data last verified
How this product may fit different goals
The same food can look different depending on what matters most to you. Here is a general preview of how this product may align with several common goals.
Low-Spike Stability
MixedMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing Low-Spike Stability, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A tradeoff: Higher net carbs (35g)
This product has 3 additional signals for this goal.
Heart-Healthy Eating
MixedMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing Heart-Healthy Eating, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A tradeoff: Higher saturated fat (6g)
This product has 3 additional signals for this goal.
GLP-1 Eating Support
MixedMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing GLP-1 Eating Support, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A tradeoff: Higher sugar (8g)
This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.
Low Sugar Lifestyle
Watch-outsMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing Low Sugar Lifestyle, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Higher sugar (8g)
This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.
Appetite & Portion Awareness
MixedMetabolic Health
For someone prioritizing Appetite & Portion Awareness, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A tradeoff: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "sugar", "dextrose", "brown sugar". See ingredients for details.)
This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.
Athletic Fueling
SupportiveAthletic Performance
For someone prioritizing Athletic Fueling, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Available carbohydrates (40g)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Workout Recovery
SupportiveAthletic Performance
For someone prioritizing Workout Recovery, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: Recovery protein (18g)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Strength & Protein Focus
SupportiveAthletic Performance
For someone prioritizing Strength & Protein Focus, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.
A supportive signal: High protein (18g)
Vegetarian
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Vegetarian, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Meat/seafood ingredients (Mentions "chicken". See ingredients for details.)
Vegan
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Vegan, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "chicken", "milk", "butter". See ingredients for details.)
Plant-Based
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Plant-Based, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "chicken", "milk", "butter". See ingredients for details.)
Pescatarian
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Pescatarian, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Land-meat ingredients (Mentions "chicken". See ingredients for details.)
Low-Carb Lifestyle
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Low-Carb Lifestyle, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Higher net carbs (35g)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Keto-Style Eating
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Keto-Style Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Net carbs above typical keto snack range (35g)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Minimally Processed Eating
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Minimally Processed Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Sweetener signals (brown sugar, dextrose)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Whole-Food Focused Eating
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Whole-Food Focused Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Sweetener signals (brown sugar, dextrose)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Sweetener signals (brown sugar, dextrose)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Mediterranean-Style Eating
MixedDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Mediterranean-Style Eating, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A tradeoff: Higher saturated fat (6g)
This product has 4 additional signals for this goal.
Paleo-Style Eating
Watch-outsDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Paleo-Style Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.
A consideration: Grain/legume ingredients (Mentions "corn", "soy", "pea". See ingredients for details.)
This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.
Healthy Fat Focus
MixedDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Healthy Fat Focus, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.
A tradeoff: Higher saturated fat (6g)
This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.
Low Gluten Eating
NeutralDietary Patterns
For someone prioritizing Low Gluten Eating, the available Longevity and Food Integrity data do not show a strong matching signal for this product.
See how this product fits your goals
Choose what matters most to you and explore a more detailed interpretation of this product's nutrition, ingredients, and tradeoffs.
Common questions about this product
Is Marie Callender's North Carolina Style Chicken & Grits highly processed?
Food Integrity lists processing level as Highly processed. That reflects formulation and processing signals from the ingredient analysis — not a medical or regulatory classification.
Why are the Longevity and Food Integrity scores different?
Longevity emphasizes nutrition per serving and longer-term dietary alignment. Food Integrity emphasizes ingredients, additives, processing, and label transparency. The same product can score differently on those lenses.
How much fiber is in one serving?
Marie Callender's North Carolina Style Chicken & Grits shows about 4.96g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.
Does it contain added sugar?
Marie Callender's North Carolina Style Chicken & Grits: 8g total sugar per serving; sweetener signals include brown sugar, dextrose. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.
What helped the Longevity Score?
Key positives called out in the analysis include: Good protein from chicken breast; Black-eyed peas, celery, and bell peppers add fiber and vegetables; Corn grits provide whole-grain-style base.
What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?
Key concerns noted include: Sodium around 1,200 mg per meal; Added sugar from brown sugar BBQ sauce; Cheese and butter raise saturated fat.
Who might evaluate this product differently?
People prioritizing different goals (for example lower carbs, higher protein, or minimally processed eating) may weigh the same prepared meals differently. Use the goal preview on this page, then personalize in KarbCoach for your priorities.
Source data and Healthy Food Guide analysis
- Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
- Healthy Food Guide analysis (Longevity and Food Integrity) — Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards.
- How the Longevity Score is calculated
- How the Food Integrity Score is calculated
- Scoring models: KarbCoach Longevity and Food Integrity.
- Independent analysis. No manufacturer affiliation.
- Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions. Full sources and safety details.
Label accuracy and safety information
Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.
See how this item lines up with your goals
Healthy Food Guide covers this product in detail. In KarbCoach, your goals shape what matters most for your meals.
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