Is Nutella healthy for kids?

Nutella: snack check

• Added sugar
  19 g added sugar per 2 tbsp (nutella.com label)
• Highly processed
  Lecithin (emulsifier) and vanillin, an artificial flavor (label)
• Low protein and fiber
  2 g protein, 1 g fiber per 2 tbsp; under 5 g / 2.8 g (FDA)
• Not on choking lists
  AAP/CDC list nut butters by name; this is a hazelnut spread

Each check is a yes-or-no fact with its source: a green check means the flag does not apply, an amber mark means it does. The count is not a health score. Our sources and how we check them.

Numbers: Nutella Hazelnut Spread (classic) label, nutella.com, checked Oct 23, 2026. Checked October 2026.

What's in it

The US label lists sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, skim milk, cocoa, lecithin as an emulsifier, and vanillin, an artificial flavor. One serving is 2 tablespoons (37 g): 200 calories, 11 g of fat (4 g saturated), 22 g of carbohydrates, 21 g of total sugars (19 g added), 1 g of fiber, 2 g of protein, and 15 mg of sodium. Hazelnuts (a tree nut) and milk are two of the FDA's nine major food allergens. Ferrero says there are no peanut ingredients in Nutella and that it is made in a peanut-free facility.

For kids 4–8

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 say no amount of added sugar is recommended for children 5–10 and that one meal should have no more than 10 g of added sugar. A full label serving has 19 g; a thin layer of 1 tablespoon has about 9.5 g. It is not named on the AAP or CDC choking lists, which name nut butters such as peanut butter. Spreading it thin on bread or toast, rather than eating it by the spoonful, is a common step for young children.

Swaps and pairings

Neither protein (2 g) nor fiber (1 g) reaches the FDA's 10% Daily Value mark of 5 g and 2.8 g per serving. Pairing a thin layer with whole-grain toast, a glass of milk, or plain yogurt adds both. Plain peanut or other nut butters with no added sugar on the label are another option; check the Nutrition Facts panel, since some brands add sugar.

Store-bought vs homemade

Homemade hazelnut-cocoa spreads let you choose how much sugar goes in, so the numbers depend on the recipe. Store-bought hazelnut spreads from other brands vary; compare the "Includes Xg Added Sugars" line per 2 tablespoons.

Is Nutella bad for kids?

We don't rate foods as good or bad. The label facts: 19 g of added sugar, 2 g of protein, and 1 g of fiber per 2 tablespoons. The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines recommend no added sugar for kids 5–10 and no more than 10 g per meal.

How much sugar is in Nutella?

21 g of total sugars per 2-tablespoon (37 g) serving, of which 19 g are added sugars, per the label on nutella.com. Sugar is the first ingredient.

Does Nutella have peanuts?

Ferrero says there are no peanuts or peanut ingredients in Nutella spreads and that Nutella is made in a separate peanut-free facility. It does contain hazelnuts and milk, both major allergens under FDA rules.

How much protein is in Nutella?

2 g per 2 tablespoons, with 1 g of fiber. That is below the FDA's 10% Daily Value mark of 5 g protein and 2.8 g fiber.

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