Jam: how many calories?

Jam carries 278 calories per 100 grams; a typical portion (20 g) comes to 56 calories. The tables below give the same figure in cups, spoons and slices.

100 g278kcal
  • Protein0.4 g
  • Carbs69.0 g
  • Fat0.1 g
  • Fibre1.1 g
1 portion · 20 g56kcal
  • Protein0.1 g
  • Carbs13.8 g
  • Fat0.0 g
  • Fibre0.2 g

Where do the calories come from?

  • Protein 1%
  • Carbs 99%
  • Fat 0%

Each macro's grams are multiplied by its own calorie value: 4 for protein and carbohydrate, 9 for fat. Fibre sits inside the carbohydrate figure and alcohol is not in the list at all, which is why the three shares add up to exactly one hundred.

What do these numbers mean on the plate?

Jam carries 2.8 calories per gram: 36 grams are enough for 100 calories. This is the band of cheese and desserts — the smaller the portion, the more the eye is fooled, because a small amount looks like few calories.

A typical portion is 20 g. Because tables are written per 100 grams, counting the portion as 100 grams too is a common mistake; for Jam that means overstating the calories by 400%.

In calories, one portion (20 g · 56 kcal) comes to: 20 g Dried dates. Dried dates page

One portion every day adds up to 20,294 calories a year — roughly a 2.6 kg difference. This is a linear estimate and an upper bound: as weight changes, daily needs change with it. Build your own timeline

For oils the calories per gram are almost constant; the only thing that changes is how full the spoon is. And part of what goes into the pan stays in the food.

Household measure equivalents

MeasureGramCaloriesProtein
Teaspoon (5 ml)6.7 g18 kcal0.0 g
Dessert spoon (10 ml)13 g37 kcal0.1 g
Tablespoon (15 ml)20 g55 kcal0.1 g
Glass (200 ml)266 g739 kcal1.1 g

Cup and spoon equivalents come from the food's bulk density, not from volume: a cup holds 200 millilitres, not 200 grams. Packing and how finely something is chopped move these numbers by 10-20%. Convert your own measure

How much of the daily reference intake?

NutrientDaily reference100 g1 portion · 20 g
Calories2,000 kcal14%3%
Fat70 g0%0%
Carbs260 g27%5%
Protein50 g1%0%
Fibre25 g4%1%

The reference values are the figures EU Regulation 1169/2011 gives for an average adult — the %RI column on labels rests on the same numbers. They are not a personal target; the fibre row is not in the regulation, the 25 grams there is EFSA's adequate intake for adults. Work out your own calorie needs

Where does it sit within its group?

It is number 3 of the 10 foods in the Oils, sauces and sweeteners group by calories per 100 grams. The group averages 490 kcal; Jam is 43% below that average.

Lighter options at the same 20 grams

FoodCaloriesDifferenceProtein
MustardGood swap13 kcal−42 kcal0.9 g
Ketchup20 kcal−35 kcal0.3 g

The “good swap” mark only appears when an option lowers the calories without also lowering protein and fibre per 100 calories. Unmarked rows save calories but give up nutrient density. Try it with your own portion

How long does it take to burn one portion (20 g)?

  • Walking — brisk (5.6 km/h)14 min
  • Running — 8 km/h (7:30 min/km)6 min
  • Cycling — 16-19 km/h8 min

These minutes are the NET burn for a 70 kg body: the resting calories that would have been spent sitting on the sofa anyway are already taken out of the total. A heavier body gets the same work done in less time. Calculate with your own weight

Foods with similar calories

Which claims could its label carry?

EU Regulation 1924/2006 ties every label claim to a numeric threshold. Jam meets 1 of them:

  • Fat-free100 g → 0.1 g fat · threshold: at most 0.5 g

The thresholds apply to a product's OWN analysis; the values here come from average composition tables. So this list is not an authorisation, only an estimate of which side of the threshold a product sits on. For drinks the energy and fat thresholds are per 100 millilitres and lower. Interpret your own label

Apply these numbers to your own portion

The values are averages taken from standard composition tables; a 10-15% difference between two products with the same name is normal, and the cooking method can double that gap. This page is for information and is not medical advice.