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Cracker Barrel sells more than 11 million orders of their Chicken N' Dumplins each year, and for good reason. You can't go wrong with an order (or two) of the Southern staple, which dates back to at least the 1870s. Contrary to popular belief, Chicken N' Dumplins is not a humble, Depression-era dish, but instead a classic of American cuisine, and before industrialized farming made chicken so cheap, it was a rather luxurious one, at that. Chicken N' Dumplins is made with juicy white meat chicken and flat strips of chewy dough, all covered in a hearty helping of the creamiest, richest chicken broth. Curious about the chain's version of the dish and how many calories it packs? Here's the truth about Cracker Barrel's Chicken N' Dumplins.
Transcript
00:00Let's be real. If you've ever casually browsed the aisles of a grocery store,
00:04chances are you've picked up a box, bag, or bottle to inspect the chart of nutritional facts
00:09or the list of ingredients on the packaging. Perhaps you do this because you have a specific
00:13food allergy or other dietary restrictions and have turned this into an important habit.
00:18Or maybe you want to make sure the product contains or omits something in particular.
00:23Who knows? It's also possible that you're just totally and utterly curious to see
00:27exactly what's in the item you're about to toss in your cart. The food and drink labels are an
00:31extremely helpful source of information for those who want to know how many calories,
00:36carbohydrates, or fats they're consuming per serving. They're also legally required to be
00:40there. Food labels are designed in a specific way, as they have to abide by certain regulations and
00:46communicate products' nutritional contents to shoppers. Here's why food and beverage
00:50packaging labels mean way more than some people may realize.
00:54Because nutritional labels don't list ingredients alphabetically,
00:57you might wonder if the order on your label has any significance. The short answer is yes.
01:02The ingredients you see on the labels of your food are indeed sorted in a very strategic manner.
01:07According to the Food and Drug Administration, the ingredients are actually listed in order of
01:12the predominance of their weight, from most to least. In other words, the ingredient used in
01:17the greatest amount is always listed first, and the list descends from there.
01:21To keep consumers safe and satisfied, which is a top priority of food manufacturers,
01:25the U.S. government requires all of the ingredients contained in packaged foods
01:29and non-alcoholic beverages to be made 100 percent transparent. That way,
01:33people know what they're eating and drinking. As a matter of fact, the FDA has an official record
01:38of more than 4,000 ingredients in a massive database that's fittingly named Substances
01:43Added to Food. The database includes key information about every single legal ingredient,
01:48such as additives and coloring, that can be added to our everyday foods and drinks.
01:52As we've all seen at one point or another,
01:54some ingredients that are listed on labels have long-winded, unfamiliar, and scientific names.
01:59Every single food and drink we consume, from freshly picked fruits and raw vegetables to
02:04pure spices to factory-made snacks, meals, and liquid refreshments, is composed of a variety
02:10of chemical compounds that directly influence color, texture, flavor, and nutritional value.
02:15However, all food ingredients, including flavor and color-enhancing additives such as vitamins,
02:20minerals, sugars, dyes, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and thickeners are well-regulated by protective
02:26federal organizations. This is so that shoppers can make informed decisions about what they put
02:31into their bodies and know that each label at the store is accurate. While the term additive may
02:36seem intimidating to some consumers, it's good to know that not all additives are necessarily
02:41a bad thing. In fact, the term is widely misunderstood. Many important naturally
02:46occurring and beneficial nutrients like fiber, antioxidants, and spices are added to packaged
02:51goods in order to improve freshness, add nutritional value, and boost texture and taste,
02:57as the FDA states. Of course, it's extremely important to understand the significance of
03:02certain ingredients, as well as to be aware of the many different terms for pretty much the
03:06same thing. For example, there are various types of added sugars that can be found in different
03:10types of products, including glucose, fructose, and sucrose, plus some less common types like
03:16galactose and maltose. Sugar is usually added to foods in order to sweeten the flavor, alter the
03:21overall texture, and or extend the shelf life. And for the most part, our bodies digest most sugars
03:26in basically the same way, according to Self. In any case, ingredients are what make up the
03:31foods and drinks we love and enjoy. Whether it's in the form of a quick snack, a sustainable meal,
03:36a tiny sip or giant gulp, or a way to keep ourselves hydrated and satisfied,
03:41they are what keep us alive and healthy. Now that you know the major significance
03:45of the order of ingredients on your favorite foods and beverages labels,
03:48you can hopefully shop a bit more confidently. Fun fact, next time you pick up a package of
03:53Goldfish crackers, take a brief moment to read the label. You'll notice that the
03:57first listed item is, of course, Smiles. Happy grocery shopping!
04:06you

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