# Does anyone actually divide up chef boyardee cans into 2 servings **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725 "2010-05-25T18:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/1 "2010-05-25T18:12:25Z")
The label says a can has 2 servings but I always eat a whole can for a meal. Is this why I am fat? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/2 "2010-05-25T18:22:55Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/3 "2010-05-25T18:24:11Z")
The fact that, as an adult, you “always eat a whole can” is an indicator that the rest of your diet probably ain’t too hot either. I have eaten this stuff, at the rate of maybe a can or two every couple of years. For the most part I prefer unprocessed, home-cooked meals with fresh ingredients. I’m guessing Chef Boyardee alone isn’t responsible for your fatness. [Rodney Dangerfield]Hey, give my regards to Mrs. Boyardee.[RD] ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/4 "2010-05-25T18:26:22Z")
but the can says it has a whole serving of vegetables that means it must be healthy ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/5 "2010-05-25T18:44:26Z")
They mention that in the commercials. I think it’s only true because the stuff includes a bunch of tomato sauce. Now, while that’s technically a vegetable, that doesn’t mean it’s somehow healthy. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/6 "2010-05-25T18:52:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > They mention that in the commercials. I think it’s only true because the stuff includes a bunch of tomato sauce. Now, while that’s **technically a vegetable** , that doesn’t mean it’s somehow healthy. No, it’s technically a fruit. From a practical perspective it’s treated as a vegetable. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/7 "2010-05-25T18:56:20Z")
I think this id done becasue if you realized how much sodium is in the whole can, you wouldn’t eat it. But people read it and say oh okay, then realize they mean 2 servings. heh. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/8 "2010-05-25T19:29:44Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The fact that, as an adult, you “always eat a whole can” is an indicator that the rest of your diet probably ain’t too hot either. Good Lord, I hope the OP’s “I always eat a whole can for a meal” means “I always eat a whole can when I eat Chef Boyardee for a meal” and not “I always eat a whole can of Chef Boyardee whenever I eat a meal.” > [@](#): > > I have eaten this stuff, at the rate of maybe a can or two every couple of years. For the most part I prefer unprocessed, home-cooked meals with fresh ingredients. Dude. It’s made by a _chef_! That’s better than home-cooked! I think of the creations of the Chef Boy as kid food. And if you’re a little kid, a whole can probably is too much. Chef Boyardee is the kid of thing I usually keep a can or two of in the cupboard, to have on hand for those rare occasions when I want some quick, easy comfort food. But as a steady diet, it would be neither healthy nor satisfying. But, when I do eat some for a meal, a can doesn’t really fill me up by itself, let alone half a can. (So it wouldn’t hurt to supplement it with something healthy, like salad). From a calorie point of view, a whole can of Beefaroni isn’t that big a chunk of your recommended daily intake (though from a sodium point of view it’s pretty bad). ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/9 "2010-05-25T19:59:54Z")
Every once in a great while I get a craving for the cheese ravioli with meatballs. It’s a “mama made it for me when I was sick” thing. I not only eat a whole can, I’ll frost the bowl with canned parmesan cheese before I nuke it. I use some white Wonderbread to sop the bowl when I’m finished. Yes, as a matter of fact I AM fat. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/10 "2010-05-25T20:16:01Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I not only **eat a whole can** , I’ll frost the bowl with **canned parmesan cheese** before I nuke it. I use some \*\*white Wonderbread \*\*to sop the bowl when I’m finished. Bolded are the three things wrong with this sentence. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/11 "2010-05-25T20:19:00Z")
I disagree. Canned pasta **demands** canned “Parmesan” cheese-food-like product and spongy white bread. This isn’t hawt cewsine, this is comfort food. Just like mother used to nuke. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/12 "2010-05-25T20:29:39Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Just like mother used to nuke. I just realized I’m old. My mother used to pour the can into a saucepan and heat it on the stove! I don’t think we had one of them fancy new microwhatsits until I was a teenager. Oh, and Chef-boy-ar-dee is crap. Spaghetti-o’s all the way!! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/13 "2010-05-25T20:43:24Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I just realized I’m old. My mother used to pour the can into a saucepan and heat it on the stove! I don’t think we had one of them fancy new microwhatsits until I was a teenager. > > Oh, and Chef-boy-ar-dee is crap. Spaghetti-o’s all the way!! I tasted Spaghetti-o’s once, which was enough for my entire life. My friends loved the stuff, so I had to try it. What an awful taste! ---
**Author:** ![boozilu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@boozilu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boozilu)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/14 "2010-05-25T20:46:20Z")
On a related note, I used to buy frozen Pizzeria Uno pizzas, until I realized each \*personal \*pizza was **3 servings**. Who is really going to share that with 2 other people --you get it because you’re single and don’t feel like cooking! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/15 "2010-05-25T20:54:14Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Good Lord, I hope the OP’s “I always eat a whole can for a meal” means “I always eat a whole can when I eat Chef Boyardee for a meal” and not “I always eat a whole can of Chef Boyardee whenever I eat a meal.” Certainly that’s how I do it when I (rarely) have a can. That’s food-as-fuel stuff; dump it in a bowl, sprinkle some red pepper on it, nuke it and starvation is averted for another day. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/16 "2010-05-25T21:33:43Z")
Most canned stuff is listed as two servings. It’s to fool people with calorie counts. You look at the back and say “Oh only 140 calories per serving” it’s not that big of a can so chances are that this one can is a single serving in your eyes… but that colorie count is based on there somehow being 2 or more servings in that can. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/17 "2010-05-25T21:49:34Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Most canned stuff is listed as two servings. It’s to fool people with calorie counts. You look at the back and say “Oh only 140 calories per serving” it’s not that big of a can so chances are that this one can is a single serving in your eyes… but that colorie count is based on there somehow being 2 or more servings in that can. Food portions in general don’t have much to do with reality in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/18 "2010-05-25T21:50:22Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > Most canned stuff is listed as two servings. I think the can of Rosarita refried beans I have in the fridge is 2-1/2 servings. (I guess I’m about 1/3 through it.) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/19 "2010-05-25T21:52:51Z")
Beefaroni with a dash of tobasco. Yum! ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725/20 "2010-05-25T21:55:44Z")
I might eat the entire contents of a can, but I would never eat the whole can. Is that why I have an iron deficiency? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-actually-divide-up-chef-boyardee-cans-into-2-servings/540725.md?page=2)