Friday, July 8, 2011

Review: Nutella


Thanks to Mom Central, I got to try a sample of Nutella Hazelnut Spread. I've got to tell you, that stuff is FANTASTIC! I had tried Nutella before, then we stopped buying it. Why? To be honest, the nutrition statistics are not that great. HOWEVER... I think we are going to buy a jar of it when we go grocery shopping this weekend, anyway.




The bad news: Nutella IS extremely high in sugar and low in proteins, as compared to Jif Creamy Peanut Butter. (Most peanut butters come in and pretty close to the same nutrition facts.) When compared to peanut butter, there is no doubt that Nutella is not the best choice for morning nutrition.

The good news: When comparing calories, Nutella is only slightly higher than peanut butter. That gives you room to play with the negative points on the nutrition data if you are willing to rearrange some of your sugar and protein budget later in the day.

The ugly truth: I've come to the conclusion that every meal doesn't have to be perfect nutritionally. Yes, I would like to keep my sugar intake down. However, flavor DOES make a difference in our enjoyment of food. Every once in awhile, not making the best choice is okay. If one is eating an otherwise balanced diet, there should be room to play a little bit. If you are anything like me, breakfast is hard to eat in the first place. Making it fun and enjoyable goes a long way in getting me to eat.

I LOVE the recipe suggestions that came with my sample pack. Every one of them includes whole grains and fruit. Making a sandwich, roll-up, or wrap, is a fantastic idea. The nutty flavor pairs well with whole grain waffles, English muffins, and tortillas. I can't wait to try a wrap with banana, strawberry, and Nutella. What combination can you think of that would make a great breakfast?

You can enter to win a case of Nutella on their website. All you have to do is answer a few questions about the product, and you are entered. What a great opportunity to try Nutella if you have not done so already or to continue to enjoy a wonderfully delicious product if you are already a fan!

“I’m sharing my awesome with Momma Made It Look Easy and you can too.”

18 comments:

Donna @ The House on the Corner said...

I've always wondered about Nutella. I remember Olivia Newton John (back in the day) saying that she ate it on toast for breakfast. At that point I was sold ~ I was a really big ONJ fan ;-)

Dianne said...

I love Nutella, but we don't buy it because if we did I would eat it!
Thank you so much for the tip with using a binder for all my paperwork! Sounds like it would work for us. =)
Dianne

Heather said...

I haven't tried Nutella yet, but should especially for my picky tween who hates breakfast.

Stopping by from MMILE

Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

I am a big Nutella fan, but I also don't buy it too often. Too tempting to eat the whole jar! It's so good wrapped up in a crepe with some strawberries. Yum!

Karen Greenberg said...

Donna: That's funny. I think I missed the ONJ craze by a couple of years, but I can imagine that sales of Nutella went way up after she said she ate it.

Diane: I know what you mean about being tempted to eat it if it's around. I'm hoping I can be "good" about it and just have some with breakfast.

Heather: The information that came with the Nutella said it is great for kids that don't like to eat breakfast. It said, "What's the best breakfast? The one that will get eaten." I think this would be a great way to get something into your daughter in the mornings. I was one of those teens that didn't eat breakfast, but I may have went for a piece of toast with Nutella.

Grumpy: Yum! A crepe would be perfect because it is so light. I would add a tiny bit of whipped cream to your idea and call it dessert!

Alyssa said...

I love, love, LOVE Nutella. It's almost like a dessert spread. I don't think it necessarily has to be only a breakfast thing. During the school year though, I have certainly been guilty of taking a spoon and eating Nutella during finals week. Found your blog through FTLOB Comment Love Day. I hope you have a great Sunday!

Karen Greenberg said...

Alyssa: I agree that Nutella would make a fantastic dessert. One of my friends found a recipe to make Nutella cookies. Yum!

I could see using a spoon to eat Nutella during finals week.

Anne said...

I always have a stock of Nutella. It's such a versatile goody. So far, I've refused to feel guilty about it. It's my terrible vice. After going through your nutrition facts, I had a moment of anxiety. But then, like you very rightly said, somethings can be had just because they taste so good. One tsp can't hurt. Right? :-(

Karen Greenberg said...

Anne: I agree that one tsp. can't hurt. Now it's just a matter of keeping it at one tsp!

yogini cowgirl said...

I LOVE Nutella ... before the birth of my first daughter 2 years ago, there was always nutella in the house because I would often just have a nice piece of french bread for dinner ... sometimes with nutella and cheese (manchego ... i know, weird, but sooo tasty) ... sometimes with nutella and strawberries ... sometimes just nutella ... now I want it again ... wonder if I can keep the 2 year-old from discovering the loveliness :)

Karen Greenberg said...

yogini: You should share with the 2-year-old. That gives you a great excuse to get some and enjoy some fabulous desserts with summer fruit! ;-0)

Rebecca Bany said...

I hear lots of great things about Nutella. I need to try it.
www.rebeccabany.com

Jennifer said...

Nutella sounds like manna. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Eileen said...

Great review, Karen. We're happy you're a member of our Mom Central family!

Karen Greenberg said...

Thanks for stopping by Rebecca!

Jennifer: Too funny!

Eileen: Thank you. I'm glad to be a member.

Tami @ ThisMomsDelight.com said...

I tried it at work and it is yummy! - Maybe a little too yummy!

Karen Greenberg said...

I agree Tami! The good thing is Nutella encourages me to eat breakfast. A croissant with a little Nutella and a banana makes a wonderful start to the day!

Akshatha said...

Great blog and I agree with ya. Despite the healthy claim, you cannot have a lot of Nutella..it's gonna clog your arteries. Do check out my review on the same topic here and tell me what you think. :)

http://www.open-eat.com/2012/06/many-wonders-of-nutella.html