The spread still appeals to the French as much as ever. Originally, it was aimed more at children. But adults are getting into it too. And not sparingly!
According to a market study published in 2021 by the firm Businesscoot, 300,000 jars are sold every day in our country. Every second, we consume a total of no less than 3 kilos. And manufacturers can thank the episodes of containment due to the Covid epidemic.
Between 2019 and 2020, sales jumped 9.9%. The teaspoon plunged into the pots having been for some French people the means of consoling themselves from this period of confinement. Nutritionally, we won’t teach you anything by telling you that it’s not the best.
True calorie bomb, it contains about 539 calories per 100 g. In addition, it contains everything that is not recommended for both the line and for health. Namely sugar and fat.
Should we definitely exclude it from our diet? Not necessarily. By applying a few simple rules, you can manage your consumption without fearing for your health. “Anything that is consumed occasionally is not a drama! It is the daily repetition that becomes problematic. And of course, you have to take the quantities into consideration. Eating a teaspoon or two of spread from time to time, or finishing the pot with a spoon several times a week, it’s not the same thing!“, recalls Ariane Grumbach dietitian nutritionist.
In effect, the food balance must be taken into account over several days, and globally, and not meal by meal.
Tip n°1: 2 teaspoons per week, no more
The first reflex to adopt is therefore to do not exclude it from your diet plan but to integrate it in small quantities obviously. Two teaspoons per week for example.
Tip n°2: do not eat directly from the pot
The second tip is to watch how you consume it. “Never even the potbecause these products are addictive, and if you have the pot in your hands, you can easily exceed reasonable doses !”, underlines the specialist. We therefore take a precise and predetermined quantity of it, and we eat it pure or on a slice of bread, but tasting it slowly. And not by swallowing it with guilt. The more a food is prohibited, the more it arouses envy. Knowing that you can indulge in this little pleasure on a regular basis will clear your mind of any fixation.
Tip 3: the list of ingredients starts with chocolate or hazelnuts
Finally, the most important thing is of course its composition. Some brands have been singled out for several years for their impact not only on our health but also on the environment. I’Palm oilan ingredient decried in particular for its destructive effect on forests in tropical regions, is present there in large quantities. “Manufacturers are beginning to replace this oil with others. But if the ecological problem is thus dismissed, it is still fat. The most important thing when choosing this type of product is to look the list of ingredients. The first correspond to the largest in quantity. It must be chocolate or hazelnuts. If the fat or sugar comes first, avoid the product.“
By following these simple tips, you can continue to enjoy your favorite treat.
