Protein content
A 1 cup serving of puffed wheat contains 1.8 g of protein - only a minor source of protein, about 4% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is more of an energy food than a protein food.
| Serving | 1 cup (12 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 1.8 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 14.7 g |
| Calories per serving | 44 kcal |
| Protein density | 16% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 4% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Grains |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #173913 |
A typical 1 cup serving of puffed wheat contains 1.8 grams of protein (14.7 g per 100 g), which makes it only a minor source of protein. That covers roughly 4% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 16% of the calories in puffed wheat come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 111 grains in the database, puffed wheat ranks 107th by protein per serving, and 666th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against hominy, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.6 g less protein (hominy has 2.4 g per 1 cup).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving above is measured by volume at 12 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Puffing makes it extremely light, so a cup weighs very little.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #173913 - "Cereals ready-to-eat, wheat, puffed, fortified" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Puffed wheat has 14.7 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup serving (12 g) provides 1.8 g.
No. Puffed wheat is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 1 cup serving of puffed wheat contains 1.8 g of protein, about 4% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Puffed wheat is only a minor source of protein, and about 16% of its calories come from protein, which makes it more of an energy food than a protein food. Set against hominy, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.6 g less protein (hominy has 2.4 g per 1 cup).
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