Paella is a rice-based dish that often includes a variety of meats, such as sausage. However, seafood paella offers leaner protein sources, and tends to be lower in fat and calories. Still, this is not a low calorie food, so check nutrition facts carefully if you're dieting.
Calories
The nutrition information provided by LIVESTRONG's food database MyPlate shows a 1.5 cup serving of seafood paella contains anywhere from 200 to 220 calories. If you base your diet on the suggest intake of 2,000 calories per day, then this serving provides about 10 percent of your daily calories.
Based on the calorie expenditure information in MyPlate, you'd have to do the 10-Minute Total Body Workout about two times (depending on your weight and the effort you put in) to burn off the calories in 1.5 cups of seafood paella.
Fat
The nutrition facts at MyPlate note that 1.5 cups of seafood paella contain anywhere from three to 4.5 grams of fat. Of this fat, zero to 0.5 grams come from saturated fat. MayoClinic.com explains that unsaturated fat is healthy, and may aid in reducing your cholesterol levels.
Carbohydrates
Seafood paella is rich in carbohydrates, according to MyPlate. The website notes that each 1.5 cup serving contains 28 to 29 grams of carbohydrates. Of these carbohydrates, 0.5 to three grams come from sugar, and two to three grams come from fiber, a nutrient that helps you feel full.
Protein
Due to the meat and seafood in this dish, seafood paella is rich in protein. A 1.5 cup serving of seafood paella contains 13 to 17 grams of protein. According to Healthline.com, the average man should consume 56 grams of protein a day, while the average women should consume 46 grams of protein a day for optimal health.
More About MyPlate
The free LIVESTRONG MyPlate calorie tracker app for iPhone and Android has helped millions of people lose weight the healthy way — by getting support from an active community as they track their eating and exercise. Consistently a top-rated app, MyPlate offers the latest technology in an easy-to-use tool that includes millions of foods and recipes, 5-minute in-app workouts and a robust support community.