Nutella: Healthy or Not?

HeidiCooksSupper

This is a great article discussing the pros and cons of Nutella by looking at its ingredients. Labeling foods as good or bad may be a false dichotomy but consider her conclusion:

"The bottom line: Why try to make out something is healthy when it’s not? And clearly not, when you look at the true list of Nutella ingredients. Just accept Nutella for the chocolatey treat it is! Have it on toast, croissant or crepes. It’s a good case of clever marketing that highlights the few positives — and says nothing about the bad things."

Here's the link: http://foodwatch.com.au/blog/additives-and-labels/item/nutella-the-full-correct-list-of-ingredients.html

softblondechick

I don't think Nutella is "healthy", but it is yummy!

giannigreco83

I'm from Europe and I've literally grown up with Nutella....not only in age unfortunately...in weight too.... it has a lot of sugar and not too many nutrients....but jeez it's way to tasty and addictive.... still now... sometimes I just eat a tablespoon of nutella before going to sleep...

cwolfman13

I wasn't aware that anyone actually thought of Nutella as a "health food."

SherryTeach

I eat small amounts of Nutella on water crackers as one of my main before-bed snacks. But then, I refuse to label food and "healthy" or "not healthy, good or bad, so I have no problem enjoying whatever Nutella (or wine, ice cream, etc.) that fits into a food plan that also includes lean meat, veg, fruit, dairy. And for whatever it's worth, my emotional health is positively affected by carefully selected treats.

neanderthin

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I wasn't aware that anyone actually thought of Nutella as a "health food."

It's pretty much a sugar bomb, with some character.

TavistockToad

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I wasn't aware that anyone actually thought of Nutella as a "health food."

This.

But it's sooooooooo delicious... Better yet is a spoonful of peanut butter topped with a spoonful of Nutella.....

DawnieB1977

TavistockToad wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I wasn't aware that anyone actually thought of Nutella as a "health food."

This.

But it's sooooooooo delicious... Better yet is a spoonful of peanut butter topped with a spoonful of Nutella.....

We had some Nutella for pancake day the other week, and I had it with peanut butter on a rice cake. Yum. It's the one food I can't have in the house because I will just eat and eat it!

I doubt anyone thinks it's 'healthy'.

shadow2soul

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I wasn't aware that anyone actually thought of Nutella as a "health food."

Same. I don't think I've ever seen it referred to as "healthy."

It is however yummy and slightly addicting. I won't keep a jar in the house, but if I ever really want some I go to the store and grab one of those Nutella to Go things. Prevents me from over indulging in it. In the house it is just way to tempting.

crys_todd

When I was a child Ferrero Rocher were my favorite candy (still are) but I only got them on special occasions because they are fairly expensive for candy.
When I was 21 my roommate bought a jar of Nutella and I tried it for the first time in my life. It was like the heavens had parted and unicorns and rainbows showered down on me. It was a jar of the deliciousness inside a Fererro Rocher! My mind was completely blown.

At not point in time was I ever under the delusion that a jar of candy center was at any point a health food though.

tinascar2015

She's right about it being high in sugar and palm oil, but Nutella isn't really made to be eaten out of the jar. Okay, I know some people do, and that's why I never have it in the house, but it really could be a lot worse. Plus, you're supposed to use it as a spread. It isn't a chocolate pudding. I think Nutella is seen as a delicious indulgence, not a food group.

TavistockToad

shadow2soul wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I wasn't aware that anyone actually thought of Nutella as a "health food."

Same. I don't think I've ever seen it referred to as "healthy."

It is however yummy and slightly addicting. I won't keep a jar in the house, but if I ever really want some I go to the store and grab one of those Nutella to Go things. Prevents me from over indulging in it. In the house it is just way to tempting.

I get the 30g single servings, enough to slather on a slice of toast!

softblondechick

Oh, you are not supposed to eat it with a spoon from the jar.....hmmm....whoops!

glevinso

softblondechick wrote: »

Oh, you are not supposed to eat it with a spoon from the jar.....hmmm....whoops!

Wait, then I have been doing it wrong for years. Shucks.

Lourdesong

crys_todd wrote: »

When I was a child Ferrero Rocher were my favorite candy (still are) but I only got them on special occasions because they are fairly expensive for candy.
When I was 21 my roommate bought a jar of Nutella and I tried it for the first time in my life. It was like the heavens had parted and unicorns and rainbows showered down on me. It was a jar of the deliciousness inside a Fererro Rocher! My mind was completely blown.

My 1st experience with Nutella was so similar. I was like "Ferrero Rocher filling in a jar! omg!"

I like Nutella plain, right from the jar. Or in a Ferrero Rocher. I've tried it on bread/toast but I'd just rather eat it right off of a spoon.

Francl27

Don't care. I love candy too. Typically I only use it on crepes, and usually a third of a serving or so. So good. I have some hazelnut butter too, and it was totally mediocre on crepes, but it's delicious on waffles, so that's what I use on those... but nothing compares to Nutella on crepes.

I grew up with Nutella also, coming from France, so that's probably why it's relatively easy for me to practice moderation with it.

alealessia_13

Grown up in Italy where Nutella originally comes from. Used to eat this breakfast: bread+butter+nutella EVERY SINGLE DAY for years!!! It was sooo yummy but as I grown up I stopped eating any chocolate for six months, after six months I had the need to eat somsthing very sweet so I was so happy on trying nutella again but suddenly when I put it in my mouth I felt so much sugar and I couldn't eat it anymore. Now I cannot even look at it thinking of how much 'healthy' nutella is. LoL

palwithme

According to the commercials Nutella will save your family life and your soul.

palwithme

alealessia_13 wrote: »

Grown up in Italy where Nutella originally comes from. Used to eat this breakfast: bread+butter+nutella EVERY SINGLE DAY for years!!! It was sooo yummy but as I grown up I stopped eating any chocolate for six months, after six months I had the need to eat somsthing very sweet so I was so happy on trying nutella again but suddenly when I put it in my mouth I felt so much sugar and I couldn't eat it anymore. Now I cannot even look at it thinking of how much 'healthy' nutella is. LoL

Is it just me or is European Nutella 1000 times better than the American version?

Bailey_432

Oh nutella, my true love! Seriously though, a jar of nutella, a spoon, a glass of milk, and I'm good to go!

Francl27

palwithme wrote: »

alealessia_13 wrote: »

Grown up in Italy where Nutella originally comes from. Used to eat this breakfast: bread+butter+nutella EVERY SINGLE DAY for years!!! It was sooo yummy but as I grown up I stopped eating any chocolate for six months, after six months I had the need to eat somsthing very sweet so I was so happy on trying nutella again but suddenly when I put it in my mouth I felt so much sugar and I couldn't eat it anymore. Now I cannot even look at it thinking of how much 'healthy' nutella is. LoL

Is it just me or is European Nutella 1000 times better than the American version?

I didn't notice any difference when I tried it here.

CooCooPuff

Wasn't Nutella sued over something like this a while back?

melimomTARDIS

nutella is lovely, and a serving is about the same calories as a hershey bar. So I think of it as a tub of melted candy bars, and enjoy accordingly.

Added- I have 2 very slim children, and nutella is a great high calorie food for keeping their weight up in the range its supposed to be. so its useful in that context, as a nice source of calories in a concentrated source.

SarenaWM

Well.. it's healthy for the soul?

Haha, I eat an organic chocolate hazelnut spread. Lesser of the evils.

mkakids

I hate the nutella comercials! They tout spreading nutella on toast as a "healthy breakfast". Drives me crazy. Its a melted candy bar! Delicous and definitely enjoyable occasionally....but not a health food

CherryChan81

that would be a dream come true!

hesn92

I didn't know it was marketed as a "health food" it's like chocolate spread for toast... Seriously?

Aviva92

i just made a nutella crepe and this thread popped up. so good!

lauracups

I was aware of its cult following, bought it "for the kids"....I can't have it in the house. I do recall hearing about a suit against it's marketing, as being "healthy" option. This was a while ago so I don't remember the source.

Mof3wc

I've never tried it myself (hazelnut allergy), I don't think I'd try it even if I could though. My niece and nephew (3 and 5) eat it every single day, and since their mother says she only feeds them healthy foods, she must believe that nutella is in fact good for them....

dbmata

HeidiCooksSupper wrote: »

This is a great article discussing the pros and cons of Nutella by looking at its ingredients. Labeling foods as good or bad may be a false dichotomy but consider her conclusion:

Completely fine, her conclusion was barely coherent, and incorrect.