Many years ago, I vacationed in Europe for a few weeks. I hiked, explored beautiful towns, tried local food, and ate way too much of Italy’s favorite, Nutella. I had Nutella for breakfast and dessert and it tasted like chocolate.
When I got home, I would sometimes buy a jar of Nutella and enjoy it. But is Nutella good for your health? As I learned more about the ingredients, I realized it wasn’t a good option. I’ve created my own recipe for homemade Nutella, but it often takes longer than the recipe.
I was determined to find a healthier, pre-made, low-carb version of this spread.
What is Nutella?
Chocolate hazelnut spread has been popular since the early 1800s, when chocolate was in short supply due to import laws. To enhance the chocolate they already had, chocolatiers began adding the rich hazelnut content to create easy-to-spread treats. They called it Gianduia and it remained popular for many years.
During World War II, the availability of chocolate was again affected by rationing. Italian chocolatier Pietro Ferrero has revived the idea of adding hazelnuts to stretch chocolate. Thus Nutella was born. Today, this spread is still very popular in Europe and the United States.
Unfortunately, the American version contains large amounts of sugar and questionable ingredients. It’s marketed as a healthy breakfast food, but it’s high in sugar, so I eat it with donuts and pastries.
Is Nutella good for your health?
Commercials may make you think that Nutella is a healthy food worthy of having on your breakfast (or lunch or dinner) table. It doesn’t contain many ingredients, all of which appear to be somewhat harmless. Unfortunately, these simple elements hide some problems.
Nutella Ingredients: Sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, skim milk powder, whey powder, soy lecithin, vanillin.
Sounds like a simple and relatively healthy ingredient, right? At least you’ll be able to pronounce them all! Heck, even a 5-year-old can probably pronounce all of these elements! But if you dig a little deeper into the ingredients, you’ll discover a hidden problem with this spread.
Nutella ingredients
Unfortunately, several ingredients disqualify Nutella as a health food. It has no nutritional value or health benefits. In fact, it’s something you should avoid as it has tons of added sugar and artificial flavors. If you don’t eat candy bars for breakfast or don’t want your kids to eat them, it’s probably also a good idea to skip the Nutella.
sugar
The first ingredient is refined sugar, but the amount is by no means small. Two tablespoons of this chocolate spread contains 21 grams of sugar, or the equivalent of 5 sugar cubes. That’s more than most candy bars or donuts.
To make matters worse, the sugar is not organic. Nutella primarily uses sugar from beets, which is highly refined sugar and often contains large amounts of pesticides. Sugar beet is also often GMO. It cannot be called a health food.
There’s a time and a place for sugar (in moderation, of course). However, it is important to choose sugar that is organic and non-GMO.
palm oil
Palm oil is a healthy fat commonly found in many things, including foods, detergents, and beauty products. This oil grows in the tropics (mainly in Southeast Asia) and is often harvested using unsustainable methods. This contributes to deforestation, habitat destruction, water pollution and human rights violations.
Thankfully, not all palm oil harvesting has a negative impact on the environment. If properly sourced, it can be a very nutritious ingredient. Palm Done Right raises awareness about properly sourced palm oil and encourages consumers to choose ethical and healthier options. Nutella is made from 100% RSPO certified sustainable palm oil (one of the few positives about Nutella).
soy lecithin
Another controversial ingredient in this spread is soy. Unless it comes from an organic source, soybeans are a highly sprayed crop (often GMO). Processed with hexane, a strong solvent, and gasoline byproducts. Soy also contains xenoestrogens, which are powerful endocrine disruptors. Many experts believe that these xenoestrogens may be partly responsible for the increased rate of reproductive problems.
It’s difficult to avoid soy lecithin completely, but there are healthier alternatives. For example, sunflower seeds do not have the same problem.
commercial dairy products
Nutella also contains non-organic “skimmed milk powder.” Don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with ethically sourced dairy products, but not with Nutella.
Commercially supplied dairy products are made from cows raised in poor conditions and fed GMO grains and antibiotics. It is also pasteurized and homogenized. By the time it becomes “powdered milk,” it contains plenty of oxidized cholesterol, which is produced during dehydration. This is one of the most harmful types of cholesterol.
hazelnut
Hazelnuts are a wonderful 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 also a nutritious food that is essential to a healthy diet. Contains heart-healthy antioxidants. Unfortunately, much of the world’s supplies are harvested using unethical methods, including child slave labor. It’s ironic and sad that forced child labor and slavery create our favorite sweets.
According to a BBC investigation, these child slaves work 80 to 100 hours a week without pay. They are underfed, uneducated and most never see their families. An estimated 1.8 million children work in cocoa fields in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
I refuse to purchase or consume products made from children forced into slavery or inhumane conditions, no matter how good something is for my health. . Thankfully, Nutella uses cocoa that is produced without child labor and supports healthy cocoa production.
vanillin
It’s easy to glance at this ingredient 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 has a great flavor and also contains B vitamins.
Vanillin is not very healthy. It’s an artificial vanilla flavor mixed with sugar and corn syrup. In stores, the label may say “imitation vanilla.” It often comes from things like wood pulp, and doesn’t match much of what I want in my food.
Nutella: Healthy Cleanse?
You’re not alone in thinking Nutella is healthy (even though it’s not). In a 2012 case, Nutella’s parent company, Ferrero USA, was found guilty of making misleading health claims in its advertising and packaging.
The result was a $3 million settlement. The company was forced to refund customers who bought the product thinking it was healthy. Ferrero USA also had to change its packaging, website, and marketing to reflect the high sugar content.
Is there a healthy Nutella?
You might think that Nutella is very delicious. Isn’t it okay to enjoy it in moderation?
And usually I say, “Yes, I can enjoy things in moderation.” But when it comes to blends of sophisticated, highly processed ingredients, I’m not on board with it.
I made a recipe for homemade Nutella made in a food processor. But I don’t always have time to make them. It’s great to have healthier options available in stores. Thankfully, I found a healthy alternative: Nutiva’s Organic Hazelnut Spread.
Healthy Alternative to Nutella
Nutiva’s organic, certified non-GMO, dairy-free, and gluten-free spreads have all the deliciousness of Nutella without the harmful junk. My kids enjoy this nostalgic treat in moderation.
Here’s why our family loves Nutiva spreads.
Significantly less sugar: Contains 40% less sugar than other options. This popular brand contains 21 grams of sugar per serving. Nutiva weighs only 12 grams. 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, this one contains 450 mg of Omega-3 per serving. (That’s more than what’s found in sardines or tuna…and my kids definitely prefer chocolate!) Certified Organic, Non-GMO Verified, and Gluten-Free: Other brands are not organic and are genetically Contains potentially recombinant ingredients. Dairy-free: Although we are not vegan, we prefer dairy-free alternatives when the dairy source is commercial dairy.
Delicious ways to eat hazelnut spread
Whether you make your own Nutella or save time and money and buy organic, ready-made, there are many delicious ways to enjoy this spread.
Dip in Banana Chips: My kids love to dip in 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. Toppings for pancakes and waffles: My oldest son likes to make pancakes for the family on Saturdays. The children sprinkle this spread with sliced strawberries. Mocha Coffee: Try blending 1 teaspoon of chocolate hazelnut spread into your coffee for a natural creamer. Nut Butter Alternatives: Can’t (or don’t want) peanut butter or other nut butters? Use our delicious Chocolate Hazelnut Spread for recipes that call for nut butter. Hot Chocolate: This recipe is one of the easiest ways to make delicious and creamy hot chocolate. Drizzle over ice cream: Warm up the spread and drizzle over ice cream for a delicious treat.
replace nutella
By switching to a healthier version of Nutella, you can enjoy this delicious treat without any added sugar, artificial flavors, or questionable ingredients. Still, we recommend enjoying it in moderation. But with healthier versions, you can at least enjoy something more nutritious and less sugary.
You can purchase Nutiva Chocolate Hazelnut Spread here. There are several other healthy options on the market today. We also like this one from Artisana Organics, which features ethically sourced and sustainable ingredients. It is also sweetened with coconut sugar.
Are you a Nutella fan? Would you like to switch to a better alternative?
