Food Label for Spread: Nutella
Nutella is a treat, not a health food. It's tasty, but should be consumed sparingly. Benefit: Hazelnuts are a good source of healthy fats and some micronutrients, but their quantity is not high enough to be a major benefit. Concern: High in added sugar (19g, 38% DV). This contributes to empty calories and potential blood sugar spikes. Palm oil is the second ingredient, which is high in saturated fat (4g, 20% DV). While not as harmful as trans fats, it should be limited. Ingredients: Sugar and palm oil are the main ingredients. Palm oil production has environmental concerns, although this isn't a nutritional issue. Alternatives: Consider nut butter with lower sugar content, or make your own hazelnut spread with better quality ingredients. If you do buy this, pair it with whole-grain bread and some protein to mitigate the sugar spike.