If you’ve ever spread a little Nutella on toast for the grandkids, you know that sparkle in their eyes when the chocolate hits their taste buds. It’s delicious—no denying that! But if you’ve started paying closer attention to labels (like so many of us have), you might be surprised to learn what’s really inside that jar.
Nutella’s first two ingredients are sugar and palm oil—not hazelnuts. In fact, only about 13% of the jar is nuts! The rest is mostly refined sugar and processed fats. It’s tasty, sure, but it’s more of a dessert than a nut butter. A couple of tablespoons pack nearly 200 calories and more than 20 grams of sugar—about the same as five teaspoons!
Now, let’s look at macadamia nut butter. It’s creamy, rich, and naturally a little sweet—without the sugar rush. Made from just roasted macadamias (and maybe a pinch of sea salt), it’s loaded with healthy monounsaturated fats, the kind that help keep our hearts strong and our joints happy. It’s also a good source of magnesium and antioxidants, which support energy and healthy aging.
For a real treat, choose one with cocoa powder added. Yummy!
Next time your littles ask for a snack, try one of these ideas:
- spread chocolate macadamia butter on apple slices
- swirl it into oatmeal
- blend it into smoothies
- spread it on pancakes
They still get a treat—but it’s one that fuels their growing bodies instead of spiking their blood sugar.
So next time those little faces ask for something “sweet,” hand them something that loves them back. Because healthy habits can start right at Grandma’s kitchen table.
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