Ahh, marketing

There is a commercial on television for Nutella, a chocolate hazelnut spread that is quite possibly the most delicious thing you consider a condiment.  What cracks me up about this commercial is how they spin it to make Nutella a healthy food.  Mom is running around, busy, trying to get her kids out the door complaining about how difficult it can be to get them to eat a healthy breakfast.  She goes on to say that she is grateful for Nutella because now she can get her kids the healthy start to the day they need.  By spreading Nutella on whole grain bread.  The kids gobble it up.

Of course they do.  I would eat Nutella spread on a piece of cardboard.  Or shoe leather.  Or a rice cake.  I just wouldn't then turn around and say it is healthy.  Would the same mother allow the kids to put frosting on their bread?  What about melted chocolate?  This commercial drives me so crazy that I looked up the nutrition information for Nutella as well as some other foods.  Allow me to compare.

Nutella has 200 calories and 21 grams of sugar for each serving of 2 tablespoons.

2 tablespoons of chocolate chips has 110 calories and 9 grams of sugar.
2 tablespoons of canned chocolate frosting has 140 calories and 16 grams of sugar.

Now, I fully understand that calories alone don't determine if a food is healthy or not.  Usually I consider fat, protein, fiber and vitamins as well.

Nutella has 11 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, 1gram of fiber, 4% of your daily requirements of calcium and iron.

Chocolate chips have 5 grams of fat, 1 gram of protein, 1 gram of fiber and 4% daily requirement of iron and 2% calcium.

The frosting has 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of protein, 1 gram of fiber and 4% daily requirement of iron.

After comparing the numbers, I would probably go with the chocolate chips for overall health because of the low fat and calorie count.  I wonder if Nestle should consider marketing chocolate chips as health food.  All they have to do is put them on whole grain bread.