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So today, I am starting a new segment on my blog called FitBusters. I’d like to thank my brother-in-law for giving me the idea! I will spotlight a food that APPEARS to be healthy, but, after a closer look, really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

This Friday, I will be highlighting Nutella. I don’t get it. Nutella exploded onto the market 3-4 years ago. We saw a commercial with a mother spreading Nutella onto a slice of bread for her children to eat for breakfast. The commercial had an undertone of providing the children with a healthy breakfast- highlighting that the Nutella is made from quality ingredients like hazelnuts, skim milk, and a hint of cocoa. Here’s the commercial:

Sounds pretty good, right? But then you flip over the jar and read the nutrition label:
Why didn’t the mom mention the sugar or palm oil? They are the first ingredients listed on the label, meaning they are the most used ingredients in the product. In fact, when you look at the amount of sugar in Nutella, it contains 21g. That roughly 5 teaspoons of sugar per serving, about the same amount of sugar as a S’Mores Poptart! Imagine pouring 5 teaspoons of sugar onto a piece of bread and eating it. Does that seem healthy?  

Of course, Nutella has some small health benefits, which would come along with most products made out of nuts, but, overall, I would not consider it a healthy product. Did you know that Nutella was actually sued for making health claims and had to pay out $3 million dollars? You can read the article here.

Bottom line- Nutella is a treat and shoud not be used as a “healthy” topping. It should be used sparingly.

If you’d like to try a healthier alternative, check out Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter blend.

By Justin’s own words, “So this is a warning that my chocolate hazelnut butter may not taste like what you’re used to – sugar. What it will taste like is a delicious combination of premium hazelnuts and organic chocolate for an addictive, skip the bread and eat it with a spoon delicacy.” And here are the nutrition facts:

It contains less calories, fat, saturated fat, and half the sugar! Try it out and let me know what you think!
Written by:
Joy Diggs, MS, CPT, RD, LD, WLS
Digg Deep Fitness
www.diggdeepfit.com
Certified Personal Trainer
Registered and Licensed Dietitian
Certified Weight Loss Specialist

Article by Joy Diggs

Digg Deep Fitness was founded by personal trainer and registered dietitian, Joy Diggs. Diggs earned her B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science from University of North Carolina and her M.S. in Nutrition from Georgia State University. After completing a dietetic internship at The Ohio State University, she passed the exam to become a registered dietitian. Additionally, she is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

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