While it’s good to treat yourself, we sometimes forget how high in calories this chocolate can be.
The end of year holidays are approaching, and with them, the irrepressible pleasure of chocolates. Let’s be clear: there is no question of depriving gourmets of this ultimate delight. But, for information purposes, it is good to know the caloric density of a food when you have to eat it more often than usual. Especially when it comes to a small confectionery that can be enjoyed without hunger and of which it is almost impossible to limit yourself to one. We are talking here about the famous Ferrero Rocher. A classic of classics which is, in reality, much more caloric than you think. Dr Raphael Gruman, nutritionist, recalls its composition. Hang in there…
“A ball (of Ferrero, Editor’s note) weighs about 10 grams” immediately frames the doctor. Yes, it’s really very small. Inside, we find the famous hazelnut, “the positive side of the product”and hazelnut paste with “lots of praline”. “We are therefore dealing with a fairly fatty product.” To summarize, the doctor explains: “50% of the product is sugar, the other half is fat, oil. The fat content is extremely high with more than 40 grams of lipids per 100 grams.” Ferrero fans won’t say the opposite, it’s fatty and sweet but that’s also why it’s so good. Finally “good” in taste because for the figure and health, it is not at all.
The problem with Ferrero Rocher is its energy density. Energy density refers to the amount of calories contained in one gram of food. It indicates how much “energy” a food provides in relation to its weight. When this density is low, the food provides few calories for a lot of volume. This is the case for vegetables, fruits, etc. Conversely, when it is high, the food provides a lot of calories in a small volume. Like in chocolate. Even if you eat little, the calories add up quickly. “You have to be careful (with Ferrero Rocher, Editor’s note) because if you consume them very often or in too large quantities, you will gain weight,” warns the nutritionist. Before recalling the number of calories in just one of these chocolates…
A Ferrero Rocher therefore weighs approximately 10 grams. Well in this one little ball, we find 75 calories. You read that right. “It is an extremely high-calorie product. With 5 scoops of Ferrero Rocher, you have made a complete meal in terms of calories” illustrates the specialist in video. Knowing that you only ate fat and sugar, no good nutrients for your health. This is actually not what we come for when we eat such a delicacy. But still…
For comparison, a Lindor represents 78 calories, a Raffaello 67 calories while a Schoko-Bons is a little less bad at 33 calories. The general recommendation from nutritionists is to limit yourself to 1 to 2 chocolates per day to indulge yourself while remaining reasonable. It is important to eat them consciously as a real moment of pleasure and not automatically. Eating chocolate mindfully helps the brain register what you eat and activate satiety signals, which naturally reduces quantities. When we peck without thinking about it, we feel less pleasure and we eat more, because the sugar-fat duo stimulates the reward without satiating us. Really savoring chocolate allows you to enjoy the taste while avoiding excess.
