A slice of bread with peanut butter spread on it.
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Chocolate hazelnut spreads such as Nutella can be a delicious way to add variety to your sandwiches and baked goods. However, you might not want to give up on peanut butter just yet, since it has a number of advantages over chocolate hazelnut spreads when it comes to nutrition. You should consider these chocolate hazelnut spreads more of a treat than a go-to food, due to their high sugar content.
Macronutrients
A 2-tablespoon serving of chocolate-flavored hazelnut spread contains 200 calories, while the same amount of peanut butter only provides 188. Peanut butter also provides more protein, with 8 grams compared to 2 grams, and contains fewer carbohydrates, with 6 grams compared to 23 grams. The chocolate hazelnut spread is a bit lower in fat, with 11 grams compared to 16 grams in peanut butter. However, all but 3 grams of the fat in peanut butter come from healthy unsaturated fat.
Vitamins
Peanut butter is a better source of vitamins than chocolate hazelnut spreads, since each 2-tablespoon serving provides you with 21 percent of the daily value for niacin and 14 percent of the DV for vitamin E and chocolate hazelnut spreads aren't a particularly good source for any vitamins. You need niacin for proper nervous system function, and turning the food you eat into energy, and vitamin E is an antioxidant important for forming new cells and immune function.
Minerals
Choosing peanut butter over chocolate hazelnut spread will make it easier for you to meet your recommended intake of minerals, as well. The spread doesn't contain very much of any of the essential minerals, but peanut butter provides 12 percent of the DVs for phosphorus and magnesium in every serving. Phosphorus is essential for muscle, nerve and kidney function, and you need magnesium for forming proteins and for regulating your blood sugar and blood pressure.
Sugar Content
Most Americans eat a lot more than the recommended amount of added sugar, which is no more than 100 calories, or 25 grams, per day for women and no more than 150 calories, or 37.5 grams, per day for men, according to the American Heart Association. Chocolate-flavored hazelnut spread contains 20 grams of sugar per serving, while peanut butter only contains 3 grams.
FAQs
The chocolate hazelnut spread is a bit lower in fat, with 11 grams compared to 16 grams in peanut butter. However, all but 3 grams of the fat in peanut butter come from healthy unsaturated fat.
What is healthier, peanut butter or Nutella? ›
While Nutella might win in terms of sweetness and indulgence, peanut butter is the clear winner from a nutritional standpoint. It's not just a healthier choice; it's a versatile food that supports a healthy lifestyle.
Is there anything nutritious about Nutella? ›
Although Nutella contains a small amount of calcium and iron, it's not very nutritious and high in sugar, calories and fat. Nutella contains sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, milk powder, lecithin and synthetic vanillin.
Can you replace peanut butter with Nutella? ›
Nutella has a very different balance of nuts and oil and also incudes cocoa and milk, so is not a direct substitute for peanut butter. But we would recommend trying Nigella's Nutella Cheesecake.
What spread is healthier than Nutella? ›
Pyure Hazelnut Spread: The Leading Alternative to Nutella
In contrast, Pyure Hazelnut Spread emerges as a low-carb and low-sugar alternative. Its standout feature is its extraordinary 90% reduction in sugar compared to Nutella, with just two grams per serving.
Why is Nutella considered unhealthy? ›
One of its main ingredients, palm oil, is loaded with saturated fats. These can contribute to cardiovascular disease. While it is OK to consume some palm oil, it should be in small amounts. Given its popularity, the palm oil content of Nutella can easily reach an unhealthy level.
Is Nutella bad for cholesterol? ›
Health teacher Mr. Jeffrey Raucci remarks “For others who eat it as a snack and are not very active, there are a lot of saturated and trans fats in the ingredients which can lead to high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.” Eating too much Nutella can cause many health problems.
Is it OK to eat Nutella daily? ›
Correction: it's harmless. Nutella is not “nu*tritionally complete” — you don't want to make it the main portion of your diet — but it's harmless and will have no negative effect on you when eaten in moderation (unless you're allergic to nuts — then you should avoid it).
Is Nutella better for you than avocado? ›
Avocado has 20 important nutrients and provides antioxidants and health-protective fat, she said. Nutella contains more additives — including sugar — than it does hazelnuts, she said. "Comparing these two is like comparing 1 cup of fresh blueberries (85 calories) to 10 gummy bears (85 calories)," she said.
Does Nutella count as a protein? ›
In comparison to Nutella's 7.3g of protein per 100g peanut butter provides around 24-26g. 26g total fat and just over the recommended 3g/100g saturated fat at 5g saturated fat per 100g.
Nutella is usually described as a hazelnut chocolate spread. But, in reality, it comprises of just 13% hazelnuts, the rest being refined white sugar, palm oil, milk powder, and cacao powder. Nutella is not a nut butter. It is a sweet palm oil spread perfumed with a small amount of hazelnut and cacao.
Which is more tasty Nutella or peanut butter? ›
Peanut butter is salty and Nutella is sweet but it blends in quite good.
How much peanut butter is in Nutella? ›
Nutella does not have peanuts in it, so yes, it is safe for those with peanut allergies. The ingredients are sugar and palm oil (more than 50%), as well as hazelnuts, cocoa, skimmed milk, whey, soy lecithin, and vanilla.
What is the healthiest spread you can buy? ›
Peanut, almond, and cashew butters are mostly high in healthy MUFAs, and they provide some protein and fiber. People with peanut or tree-nut allergies might try sunflower seed butter instead.
Which Nutella is the best? ›
Swedish Nutella is the most chocolately. and people who prefer a less sweet, and more nutty spread will tend to like German and Swiss Nutella the best, (although the German Nutella ranked better than the Swiss one). Belgian Nutella: of course, it's still Nutella, but it's the least favorite out of all 5 types tested.
Which is healthier Nutella or cream cheese? ›
Highlights: For the same serving size, Nutella has double the amount of sugar and 3 times more fat than the chocolate cream cheese spread. The chocolate cream cheese spread has a much longer ingredients list than Nutella, with many additives, including an emulsifier, a preservative and flavourings.
What spread is healthier than peanut butter? ›
In general, almond butter is healthier than most other nut butters because almonds have less saturated fat than other nuts. Instead, they are full of monounsaturated fats, which are tied to reduced heart disease and better blood sugar control.
Can I eat Nutella and still be healthy? ›
If you are actually looking for a healthy spread, Nutella is not it. You are better off running some hazelnut through your food processor and adding a little honey and pinch of salt. Toss in some cacao if you want the chocolate vibe.
What is healthier peanut butter or hazelnut butter? ›
Of all the nut butters, hazelnut typically has the creamiest texture. While it usually has fewer calories, it contains a higher amount of fat than peanut butter and almond butter. Per serving, it contains less calcium than peanut or almond butter, and is rich in vitamin E and magnesium.
Is peanut butter healthier than chocolate? ›
Peanut butter may contain fat, but most of it is the good sort of fat that you need to function and help to lower bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol, where a chocolate spread is high in saturated fat and all that sugar doesn't help either.
