Facts about Nutella

[Domo]

They tried to pass it off here as healthy. Each spread contains some skimmed milk, two whole hazelnuts and some cocoa. Perfect for slowly releasing energy throughout the day, we were told. Guess they decided to omit some details!

 

[lisaviolet]

I
.I wish I was one of the lucky one's who didn't like it.

Well colour me lucky.

North Americans kill me. We *know* so much. People go on and on about what's in this - what's in that and we are the ones the most obese.

My mother always said moderation - moderation - moderation. Well she didn't actually say it three times.

 

[pioneer89]

.

My mother always said moderation - moderation - moderation. Well she didn't actually say it three times.

Excess is fine, taken in moderation.

Personally, I can't fathom that a lawyer convinced a judge that an entire class of people believed that Nutella was healthy.

Then again, my MIL swears anything with the word 'Granola' or 'Yogurt' is healthy.

 

[DLgal]

It's a little better than Nutella, but not by much. 8 grams of sugar and 6 grams of protein means 56 calories from sugar and protein. Where does the rest of it come from? Answer: fat. There's less fat in Nutella than the Skippy Chocolate Peanut Butter.

I'm not against either one. But, honestly, one is not superior to the other. All foods are fine, in moderation. We need to get away from calling foods "bad" or "good." Concentrate on eating things as close to the way nature made them as possible and you will be fine.

Fat from natural peanut butter is healthy fat. All fat is not created equal. A peanut butter sandwich on whole grain bread is a healthy, balanced meal containing a good ratio of fat, carbs, and protein.

A peanut butter sandwich made with the chocolate PB actually has 2 less fat grams per serving, one less gram of protein, and only 5g more sugar (compared to skippy natural creamy pb). I challenge you to find another thing that can be used to accompany peanut butter on a sandwich that provides sweetness (naturally...no "sugar free" stuff) with under 5g of sugar per serving. Honey, bananas, ANY kind of jelly or jam...all those will have way more sugar than 5g per serving.

Sugar is a much worse evil than fat, but not everyone is wise to that yet.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Excess is fine, taken in moderation.

Personally, I can't fathom that a lawyer convinced a judge that an entire class of people believed that Nutella was healthy.

Then again, my MIL swears anything with the word 'Granola' or 'Yogurt' is healthy.

Nutella mixed with vanilla Greek yogurt makes a great fruit dip. And it's healthy!!!!!!


I too cannot believe how anyone believes Nutella is healthy. In my house it sits on the shelf right by the powdered sugar, chocolate chips, and cookie butter. Sometimes we put it on toast for a snack, but my favorite thing to use it for is make a Nutella mousse and use that in a pie, eat straight, or fill cupcakes with (top cupcakes with straight Nutella and crushed hazelnuts).

"Healthy desserts" always make me cringe. You know, something like make a cake but use applesauce instead of butter and voila -- it's healthy!!! No, it's not healthy, it just has less calories in it. And less taste.

Sent from me.

 

[luvmy3]

Nutella mixed with vanilla Greek yogurt makes a great fruit dip. And it's healthy!!!!!!


I too cannot believe how anyone believes Nutella is healthy. In my house it sits on the shelf right by the powdered sugar, chocolate chips, and cookie butter. Sometimes we put it on toast for a snack, but my favorite thing to use it for is make a Nutella mousse and use that in a pie, eat straight, or fill cupcakes with (top cupcakes with straight Nutella and crushed hazelnuts).

"Healthy desserts" always make me cringe. You know, something like make a cake but use applesauce instead of butter and voila -- it's healthy!!! No, it's not healthy, it just has less calories in it. And less taste.

Sent from me.

I make a kick butt applesauce cake with lots of flavor. I don't make it because its healthy, I make it because it tastes good

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I make a kick butt applesauce cake with lots of flavor. I don't make it because its healthy, I make it because it tastes good

I've made applesauce cake too, but the point was to use applesauce. I'm talking about make a devil's food cake or brownies but use applesauce instead of butter as a substitution and suddenly it becomes health food. And definitely does not taste the same as brownies made with butter.

Sent from me.

 

[luvmy3]

I've made applesauce cake too, but the point was to use applesauce. I'm talking about make a devil's food cake or brownies but use applesauce instead of butter as a substitution and suddenly it becomes health food. And definitely does not taste the same as brownies made with butter.

Sent from me.

Oh, gotcha. I thought the idea to add applesauce to boxed mix makes it more moist, not necessarily more tasty or healthy. I've never tried it so I have no idea.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Oh, gotcha. I thought the idea to add applesauce to boxed mix makes it more moist, not necessarily more tasty or healthy. I've never tried it so I have no idea.

I did it back in my "butter is evil" days.

I also have a recipe for flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. They really are incredible but I am under no delusion that they are "healthy," even though the recipe was originally given to me as "gluten-free so they are healthy!!"

Sent from me.

 

[luvmy3]

I did it back in my "butter is evil" days.

I also have a recipe for flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. They really are incredible but I am under no delusion that they are "healthy," even though the recipe was originally given to me as "gluten-free so they are healthy!!"

Sent from me.

I'm a firm believer that its okay for desserts to never be healthy

 

[timmac]

I haven't read through the entirety of this thread yet, but I'd argue that the issue isn't that nutella claims to be a "health food" per se, but they sure as heck implied it, at least at one time. And while I don't think they outright said so, there was definitely room for an obvious comparison to peanut butter.

Even apart from what the manufacturer did or didn't claim, I was amazed how often it was mentioned as being a favorite by bloggers and the like; the same people who touted whole foods, clean foods, organics, and whatever else. Not that I have any issue with any of that per se, but my point is, empirically, a lot of people were once (or still are?) somehow under the impression it's a health food.

As others have no doubt already pointed out, sugar and palm oil do not a health food make

Adding after reading the thread: To respond to the PPs concerned about levels of fat vs total calories in nutella v peanut butter, you have to consider the whole picture, the types of fats and sugars, and perhaps even more importantly, the level of processing that the food has undergone. Peanut butter is, relatively speaking, a lot less processed than nutella... it's basically crushed peanuts, and the fat is predominantly unsaturated (about 80%). Nutella's fat comes largely from palm oil, which clocks in at 41% saturated (assuming it's not hydrogenated at all). And it's got added sugar.

 

[design_mom]

Does anyone actually think nutella is nutritious like peanut butter? I equate it with frosting. Yummy frosting, but there isn't anything healthy about it.

Nutella used to tout itself as a "delicious hazelnut spread made with skim milk and a HINT of cocoa".

That's some hint.

I definitely think that Nutella has played up (overhyped) the nutritious angle in their marketing. I'd never had Nutella before this summer when DD had it at a friend's house. She came home begging for Nutella -- which I thought was similar to peanut butter, only made with Hazelnuts.

I put it on the shopping list and DH went to the store that week. When we opened it up, I thought "This isn't anything like peanut butter. This is like chocolate frosting!" As soon as I read the label, I could obviously tell it was more sugar than anything. If anyone who has tasted it or read the label thinks it's a nutritious food then I think they're crazy... but if they've just HEARD about it, like Jennasis said, as "delicious hazelnut spread made with skim milk and a HINT of cocoa" then I don't blame them for being confused.

We still have some, but it's strictly for snacking... not masquerading as healthy.

 

[ellone]

Adding after reading the thread: To respond to the PPs concerned about levels of fat vs total calories in nutella v peanut butter, you have to consider the whole picture, the types of fats and sugars, and perhaps even more importantly, the level of processing that the food has undergone. Peanut butter is, relatively speaking, a lot less processed than nutella... it's basically crushed peanuts, and the fat is predominantly unsaturated (about 80%). Nutella's fat comes largely from palm oil, which clocks in at 41% saturated (assuming it's not hydrogenated at all). And it's got added sugar.

I will agree that fresh ground peanut butter is just crushed peanuts, but Jif, Skippy and the like are not that. Those have added sugar & oils. Most people when they get peanut butter get those, not the fresh ground peanuts.

 

[timmac]

I will agree that fresh ground peanut butter is just crushed peanuts, but Jif, Skippy and the like are not that. Those have added sugar & oils. Most people when they get peanut butter get those, not the fresh ground peanuts.

That's a fair point too

 

[Imzadi]

Nobody said it was a health food, but it sure is yummy!

Didn't Nutella have a commercial a few years ago saying it was a delicious "healthy" breakfast option?

There was a class action lawsuit against Nutella for implying it was healthy. They lost big time. I actually got $20 from it.

Yes, the FDA made them change their commercials.

I am still seeing those commercials! A Mom sooooo proud that she is giving her kids a nutritious breakfast....Nutella on whole wheat toast! It makes me gag!

If you listen closely, now that actress says how she's giving her kids a "wholesome" breakfast, not "nutritious." That it's made with wholesome ingredients like hazelnuts & cocoa. She doesn't mention the pound of sugar in it or that it is one of the most unhealthy things to do to break your fast in the morning. It is foods like this that is making Type 2 Diabetes one of the fastest growing epidemics in the U.S. amoungst kids now, such that what was previously called "adult-onset" Diabetes is "Type 2" diabetes because kids as young as 6 years old, with NO family medical history of it, are now getting it. Nothing like blowing a kid's pancreas at age 6.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

I will agree that fresh ground peanut butter is just crushed peanuts, but Jif, Skippy and the like are not that. Those have added sugar & oils. Most people when they get peanut butter get those, not the fresh ground peanuts.

Very true! Peanut butter is very good for you. But it can't have a bunch of added things in it!

 

[Imzadi]

Skippy makes a Dark Chocolate Peanut butter that seriously tastes like melted Reese's cups. That has replaced Nutella in our house because my son was obsessed with it and eating WAY too much (with pretzels, on toast, English muffins, etc). The peanut butter has only 8g of sugar per 2TBSP serving and 6g protein and 200 cal. I use it to make sandwiches for my son for school because he no longer likes the pb&jelly combination. This stuff has less sugar than even the low sugar grape jam I used to use so it's a win-win.

I did not need to know this. I don't care for the hazelnut in Nutella. Melted Reese's cups, in moderation are another story!

Excess is fine, taken in moderation.

Oh, Tag Fairy!

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

The name Nutella is a little misleading. It implies that it is mostly nuts, which was what I thought until I tried it. I had to try a whole jar to determine it was mostly sugar!

 

[PrincessBelle39]

The sugar in Nutella doesn't bother me at all. Everything in moderation.

Its the Palm Oil that is my concern. Our family stopped eating it for this reason.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

The sugar in Nutella doesn't bother me at all. Everything in moderation.

Its the Palm Oil that is my concern. Our family stopped eating it for this reason.

Yes! I don't mind sugar. Even a little high in fat doesn't bother me for sweet things like this. Everything in moderation because sugar and fat are not bad for you.

Palm oil on the other hand.. bleh!