A few years ago, I spent a few weeks on vacation in Europe. I hiked, explored beautiful villages, tried local food, and indulged in way too much of the Italian favorite, Nutella. I had Nutella for breakfast and dessert, and it was a delicious chocolate-flavored snack.
When I came home, I would sometimes buy a jar of Nutella and eat it deliciously. But I was wondering if Nutella is good for your health. As I learned more about the ingredients, I realized it wasn’t a good choice. I made my own recipe for making my own Nutella at home, but it usually takes longer than what I make.
I decided to find a healthier, pre-made, low-sugar version of this spread.
What is Nutella?
Chocolate hazelnut spread has been popular since the early 1800s, when importation laws made chocolate scarce. To increase the chocolate, chocolatiers began adding rich hazelnuts to create the spreadable treat. They called it gianduia and it remained popular for many years.
During World War II, chocolate availability was again affected by rationing. Italian chocolatier Pietro Ferrero revived the idea of adding hazelnuts to stretch chocolate. Thus Nutella was born. Today, spreads are still very popular in Europe and the United States.
Unfortunately, the American version contains high amounts of sugar and questionable ingredients. It was marketed as a healthy breakfast food, but its high sugar content meant it was lumped in with donuts and pastries.
Is Nutella good for your health?
The commercials might make you think that Nutella is a healthy food worth having on your breakfast (and lunch, and dinner) table. It doesn’t contain many ingredients and they all seem rather harmless. Unfortunately, these simple ingredients hide some problems.
Nutella ingredients: sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, skim milk powder, whey powder, soy lecithin, vanillin
It seems like simple and relatively healthy ingredients, right? At least we can pronounce them all! Heck, even a 5-year-old could pronounce all those ingredients. But digging a little deeper into the ingredients reveals a hidden problem with this spread.
Nutella Ingredients
Unfortunately, there are several ingredients that disqualify Nutella as a health food. It has no nutritional value and no health benefits. In fact, the amount of added sugar and artificial flavors means it’s something to avoid. If you don’t eat candy bars for breakfast or feed your kids candy bars, it might be a good idea to skip the Nutella.
sugar
The first ingredient is refined sugar… It is a considerable amount. Two tablespoons of this chocolate spread contains 21 grams of sugar, or 5 cubes of sugar! That’s more than most candy bars and donuts!
To make matters worse, the sugar is not organic. Nutella uses sugar derived primarily from beets, a highly refined sugar that often contains high amounts of pesticides. Sugar beets are also often GMO. It’s hardly a health food.
There is a time and place for consuming sugar (in moderation, of course). But it’s important to choose organic and non-GMO sugar.
palm oil
Palm oil is a healthy fat commonly found in a variety of applications, including foods, detergents, and beauty products. This oil grows in tropical regions (mainly Southeast Asia) and is often harvested unsustainably. This causes deforestation, habitat destruction, water pollution and human rights violations.
Fortunately, not all palm oil harvesting harms the environment. If supplied properly, it can be a very nutritious ingredient. Palm right done Raise awareness of properly sourced palm oil and encourage consumers to choose ethical and healthy options. Nutella uses 100% certified sustainable palm oil that is RSPO certified (one of the few good things about it).
Soy Lecithin
Another controversial ingredient in this spread is soy. Unless it comes from organic sources, soybeans are a heavily sprayed crop (often GMO). It is treated with hexane, a harsh solvent and gasoline byproduct. Soybeans also contain xenoestrogens, which are powerful endocrine disruptors. Many experts believe that these xenoestrogens may be partly responsible for the increased rates of reproductive problems.
Although it is difficult to completely avoid soy lecithin, there are healthier alternatives. For example, sunflower seeds do not have the same problem.
commercial dairy products
Nutella also contains non-organic “skim milk powder.” Don’t misunderstand. I have no problem with ethically produced dairy products, but you won’t find that in Nutella.
Commercially sourced dairy products come from cows raised in harsh conditions and fed GMO grains and antibiotics. It is also pasteurized and homogenized. By the time it becomes “powdered milk,” it is full of oxidized cholesterol that forms during the dehydration process. This is one of the most harmful types of cholesterol.
hazelnuts
Hazelnuts are a wonderful and nutritious food that originated near the Black Sea. Unfortunately, many modern hazelnuts grown in the United States and Canada are sprayed with commercial pesticides. Always choose organic hazelnuts to avoid pesticide contamination.
cocoa powder
Cocoa is another nutritious food to include in a healthy diet. Contains heart-healthy antioxidants. Unfortunately, most of the world’s supply is harvested in unethical ways, including child slave labor. It’s ironic and sad that forced child labor and slavery created the foods we love.
According to BBC investigationThese child slaves work 80 to 100 hours a week without pay. They lack food, have no education and most cannot see their families. About 1.8 million children work in the cocoa fields of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
I do not buy or consume any products, no matter how healthy, that come from children forced into slavery and inhumane conditions. Fortunately, Nutella uses cocoa produced without child labor and supports healthy cocoa production.
vanillin
It would be easy to look at these ingredients and think it’s just a technical name for real vanilla. But that’s not the case. Real vanilla extract is essentially a tincture made from vanilla beans (here’s how to make it). It tastes great and contains B vitamins.
Vanillin is not very healthy. It is an artificial vanilla flavor mixed with sugar or corn syrup. Stores sometimes say “imitation vanilla” on the label. It is often derived from things like wood pulp. There are very few things I want in food!
Nutella: A health wash?
If you thought Nutella was good for you, you’re not alone (even if you don’t). no way 2012 lawsuit Nutella’s parent company, Ferrero USA, has been found guilty of making misleading health claims in its advertising and packaging.
The result was agreed upon at $3 million. The company was forced to reimburse consumers who bought it because they thought it was healthy. Additionally, Ferrero USA had to change its packaging, website, and marketing to reflect the higher sugar content.
Is there any healthy Nutella?
I know you might think Nutella is too delicious. Can’t we enjoy it in moderation?
And generally we can enjoy it in moderation. But when it comes to mixing refined and highly processed ingredients, I just can’t accept it.
I made a homemade Nutella recipe using a food processor. But I don’t always have time to make it. It’s nice to have healthier store-bought options. Fortunately, I discovered a healthy alternative: Nutiva’s Organic Hazelnut Spread.
Healthy alternative to Nutella
Nutiva’s organic, non-GMO verified, dairy-free, gluten-free spread has all the flavor of Nutella without the harmful junk. My kids enjoy these nostalgic treats in moderation!
My family loves Nutiva spread for the following reasons:
- The sugar content is much lower.: 40% less sugar than other options. Popular brands contain 21 grams of sugar per serving. Nutiva only has 12g.
- Ethically Sourced: Most hazelnut spreads contain palm oil and cocoa, which can be problematic if not ethically sourced. All of Nutiva’s ingredients, including palm oil and cocoa, are ethically sourced (rainforest and animal friendly).
- more nutritious: Unlike other brands, it contains 450mg of Omega 3 per serving! (That’s more per serving than sardines and tuna included. And my kids definitely prefer chocolate!)
- Certified Organic, Non-GMO Verified and Gluten Free: Other brands are not organic and contain potentially genetically modified ingredients.
- Dairy Free: We are not vegan, but we prefer dairy-free alternatives when the source of dairy is commercial dairy.
How to enjoy hazelnut spread
Whether you make your own Nutella or save time and money and buy a pre-made organic version, there are so many delicious ways to eat this spread.
- Dip it into banana chips: My kids love eating banana chips.
- In smoothies: They found creative ways to use it in smoothies. Their favorites are the hazelnut butter and jelly smoothie and the chocolate hazelnut banana smoothie.
- Topping pancakes or waffles: My oldest child loves making pancakes for the family on Saturdays. Kids top it with this spread and some sliced strawberries.
- mocha coffee: Make natural creamer by mixing 1 teaspoon of chocolate hazelnut spread with coffee.
- Nut Butter Substitutes: Can’t eat or don’t like peanut butter or other nut butters? Use this delicious chocolate hazelnut spread in any recipe that calls for nut butter.
- hot chocolate: This recipe is one of the easiest ways to make delicious, creamy hot chocolate.
- Sprinkle on ice cream: Warm up the spread and sprinkle it on top of ice cream for a delicious snack!
Replacing Nutella
By switching to a healthier version of Nutella, you can still enjoy this delicious snack without the added sugar, artificial flavors, and questionable ingredients. Still, I recommend that you enjoy it in moderation. But with healthier versions, you can at least enjoy foods that are more nutritious and less sugary!
you can get Nutiva Chocolate Hazelnut Spread here. There are other healthy options on the market now. I like this too Artisana Organics Features ethically sourced, sustainable ingredients. Plus, it’s sweetened with coconut sugar.
Are you a Nutella fan? Would you like to switch to a better alternative?
