Broth has 16 kcal per 100 g — essentially water with 306 mg sodium. The PURE study (O'Donnell et al., NEJM 2014) showed sodium follows a J-curve, optimal at 3–5 g/day. A 300 ml bowl of broth contributes meaningful sodium without meaningful calories — track the salt, not the kcal.
How should I track Chicken Broth Soup, canned, with water?
Prepared foods like Chicken Broth Soup, canned, with water can be tricky to track because the actual serving you get often differs from the label. Restaurant and deli portions are typically 30–50% larger than the stated serving size. A meta-analysis of dietary reporting (Wehling & Lusher, Am J Clin Nutr 2021) found that people underreport calorie intake by 25–30% on average — and prepared meals are a major contributor. The safest approach: weigh your actual portion as served. Also note that homemade and store-bought versions of the same dish can differ significantly in calories due to cooking methods and ingredients used.