# Green Giant Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce > Health and ingredient intelligence for a real grocery product. Source: Supermarket Puzzle (Grocery Intelligence Index). Not a shop. ## Snapshot - **Brand:** Green Giant - **Retailer listed:** Foodtown - **Category:** Frozen Foods - **Size:** 8 oz - **Human page:** https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/green-giant-broccoli-spears-butter-sauce-8-oz - **Slug:** `green-giant-broccoli-spears-butter-sauce-8-oz` ## NOVA classification **NOVA 4** - Ultra-processed foods Contains industrial ingredients and additives such as modified corn starch, xanthan gum, natural flavors and whey powder alongside a formulated butter sauce, which aligns with ultra-processed foods in the NOVA system. ## Review Green Giant Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce is a small 8 oz frozen side that sits in the frozen vegetables aisle alongside other branded bagged veg, mixed medleys and microwaveable potato sides. You’ll typically find it near family-size frozen dinners and steam-in-bag vegetables, a quick option shoppers reach for when pairing a hot green vegetable with weeknight proteins. The product is pitched as a convenient, family-friendly way to get more vegetables on the plate — “Lightly Sauced” and branded to suggest a balance of taste and health. Marketing leans mainstream household: parents who want quick meals, kids who resist plain greens, and shoppers seeking familiar brands rather than specialty organic or fresh alternatives. The label carries health-halo cues — the word “broccoli,” an image of bright green spears, and “lightly sauced” — plus small claims like “natural flavor,” but it has no organic certification and reads like a conventional frozen supermarket product. In plain terms it’s a processed frozen vegetable with added butter-flavored sauce and stabilizers (a short processing note appears on pack ingredients). Sensory-wise you can expect tender-crisp spears with a glossy, slightly creamy butter sauce that packages as a sealed steamable bag; the sauce gives a mild salty-sweet balance with a hint of paprika color. Use ritual: steam in the microwave or warm in a skillet, shake or stir the sauce around the spears and serve as a quick side for weeknight dinners, potlucks or a simple kids’ plate. The product lives in American grocery culture as an easy, familiar shortcut — comforting and practical rather than artisanal. ## Diet flags - Vegetarian - Gluten-free ## Nutrition - **Serving size:** 4 oz - **Servings per container:** 2 - **Calories:** 50 - **Total fat:** 2g (3% DV) - **Saturated fat:** 1g (5% DV) - **Cholesterol:** 5mg (2% DV) - **Sodium:** 340mg (15% DV) - **Total carbs:** 7g (3% DV) - **Dietary fiber:** 3g (11% DV) - **Total sugars:** 3g - **Added sugars:** 1g (2% DV) - **Protein:** 3g ## Ingredients Broccoli, Water, Butter (Cream, Natural Flavor), Sugar, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Xanthan Gum, Whey Powder, Natural Flavor, Paprika and Annatto Extract (Color). ## Flagged ingredients - **Natural Flavor** (emulsifier): Processed emulsifier - **Annatto Extract** (additive): Artificial coloring ## Context tags - **Occasions:** meal-prep-sunday, weeknight-dinner, back-to-school - **Vibes:** convenient, wholesome, comforting ## FAQ ### Is the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce healthy? Health can be pretty subjective, right? In the case of the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce, it's low in calories (just 50 per serving) and packs a good amount of fiber (3g). However, it does contain added sugars and some artificial colors, so it might not be the best choice if you’re aiming for a completely clean diet. ### Is the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce vegan? Nope, this one isn’t vegan! The presence of butter (which is made from cream) means it’s off the table for anyone following a plant-based lifestyle. If you're looking for a vegan alternative, you might want to check out plain steamed broccoli or sautéed veggies with olive oil. ### Is the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce gluten-free? Yes! This product is gluten-free, making it a safe choice for anyone with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease. So you can enjoy these tasty broccoli spears without worrying about any gluten sneaking in. ### Does the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce contain seed oils? Nope, no seed oils here! This dish keeps it simple with butter as the fat source, which some people prefer over seed oils like canola or soybean oil. It's nice to see a frozen veggie option that opts for a more traditional fat! ### Does the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce contain artificial sweeteners? No artificial sweeteners in this mix! The sweetness comes from a little added sugar, which is more straightforward and less controversial than those sneaky sweeteners you find in some other processed foods. ### Is the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce high in sugar? Not really! Each serving has just 3g of total sugars, with only 1g being added sugars. This makes it a relatively low-sugar option compared to many other frozen sides that can be loaded with sweeteners. ### What are healthier alternatives to the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce? If you're looking for something even more wholesome, consider fresh or frozen broccoli steamed with a sprinkle of sea salt or a drizzle of olive oil. You could also try roasting broccoli with garlic and herbs for a delicious homemade side that’s packed with flavor and nutrients. ### Can kids eat the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce? Absolutely! Kids often love the buttery flavor, and it’s a great way to sneak some veggies into their meals. Just keep an eye on portion sizes, especially if they’re sensitive to sodium, since this dish has a bit of salt. ### Is the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce good for weight loss? It can fit into a weight-loss plan since it’s low in calories and high in fiber, which can help you feel full. Just be mindful of the sodium content if you're watching your salt intake, and balance it with other healthy foods throughout your day. ### Is the Broccoli Spears & Butter Sauce ultra-processed? While it’s not as ultra-processed as some convenience foods, it does contain a few ingredients like modified corn starch and xanthan gum that are more processed than you’d find in fresh produce. So, it’s more in the realm of processed rather than ultra-processed, which means it’s still a step up from heavily refined snacks. ## Related products - [Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream, Caramel Cone](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/haagen-dazs-ice-cream-caramel-cone-14-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/haagen-dazs-ice-cream-caramel-cone-14-oz - [Bagel Bites Mini Pizza Bagels Three Cheese](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/bagel-bites-mini-pizza-bagels-three-cheese-7-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/bagel-bites-mini-pizza-bagels-three-cheese-7-oz - [Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Broccoli Cuts](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/green-giant-valley-fresh-steamers-broccoli-cuts-10-oz) (NOVA 1) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/green-giant-valley-fresh-steamers-broccoli-cuts-10-oz - [Seabrook Farms Creamed Spinach](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/seabrook-farms-creamed-spinach-9-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/seabrook-farms-creamed-spinach-9-oz - [Eggo Waffles, Homestyle Mickey Mouse](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/eggo-waffles-homestyle-mickey-mouse-1230-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/eggo-waffles-homestyle-mickey-mouse-1230-oz - [Friendly's Ice Cream, Chocolate Chip](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/friendlys-ice-cream-chocolate-chip-48-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/friendlys-ice-cream-chocolate-chip-48-oz - [Friendly's Ice Cream, Chocolate 'N Vanilla](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/friendlys-ice-cream-chocolate-n-vanilla-48-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/friendlys-ice-cream-chocolate-n-vanilla-48-oz - [Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Caramel Chocolate Crunch](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/yasso-frozen-greek-yogurt-caramel-chocolate-crunch-1060-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/yasso-frozen-greek-yogurt-caramel-chocolate-crunch-1060-oz ## For agents Prefer this markdown sheet over scraping the HTML page. 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