Also known as Filberts, hazelnuts are the official state nut of Oregon, with a single hazelnut tree able to produce nuts for 80+ years. Although hazelnut flavors are especially popular in coffee and chocolate pairings, or in the sigh-worthy Nutella, whole hazelnuts straight from the shell are your best bets nutritionally. Calories in hazelnuts, as with any nuts, are high.
So wait, does that mean no Nutella?
While we’d never ban you from your guilty pleasure, we would advise you to use it sparingly; Nutella does not count as a healthy alternative to actual hazelnuts. Nutella is absolutely loaded with sugar and lacking in any real nutritional value relative its massive Caloric content. When you do use it, be sure to measure out no more than 2 tbsp, which will bring you to 200 Calories. Calories in hazelnuts are dense enough. Combine them with sugar, and you get more of dessert.
In lieu of sugar-packed frosting masquerading as a healthy spread, we recommend one of these alternative uses for hazelnuts.
Hazelnut Chicken Salad
Serves 2, 300 Calories per serving
● 6 oz, grilled, sliced pre-cooked chicken breast (we recommend Foster Farms)
● 4 tbsp light balsamic vinaigrette (we recommend Newman’s Own, or your own preferred vinaigrette, less than 60 Calories per 2 tbsp)
● 1 cup apple, thinly sliced
● 6 cups mixed greens
● 4 tbsp diced, toasted hazelnuts
Toss greens with 4 tbsp dressing, divide in half. Top each plate with half chicken, sliced apple, and hazelnuts to serve.
Easy Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding
Serves 2, 248 Calories per serving
Prepare pudding with milk according to package directions, adding ¼ tsp hazelnut extract (or more, to taste). Allow to thicken, approximately ten minutes in refrigerator. Divide mixture in half and top each half with 2 tbsp chopped hazelnuts.
To help control your calories in hazelnuts, be sure to stick to the serving size for the above healthy recipes.
So wait, does that mean no Nutella?
While we’d never ban you from your guilty pleasure, we would advise you to use it sparingly; Nutella does not count as a healthy alternative to actual hazelnuts. Nutella is absolutely loaded with sugar and lacking in any real nutritional value relative its massive Caloric content. When you do use it, be sure to measure out no more than 2 tbsp, which will bring you to 200 Calories. Calories in hazelnuts are dense enough. Combine them with sugar, and you get more of dessert.
In lieu of sugar-packed frosting masquerading as a healthy spread, we recommend one of these alternative uses for hazelnuts.
Hazelnut Chicken Salad
Serves 2, 300 Calories per serving
● 6 oz, grilled, sliced pre-cooked chicken breast (we recommend Foster Farms)
● 4 tbsp light balsamic vinaigrette (we recommend Newman’s Own, or your own preferred vinaigrette, less than 60 Calories per 2 tbsp)
● 1 cup apple, thinly sliced
● 6 cups mixed greens
● 4 tbsp diced, toasted hazelnuts
Toss greens with 4 tbsp dressing, divide in half. Top each plate with half chicken, sliced apple, and hazelnuts to serve.
Easy Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding
Serves 2, 248 Calories per serving
● 1 small (3.4 oz) package Jello sugar-free, instant chocolate pudding
● 2 cups nonfat milk
● hazelnut extract
● ¼ cup chopped hazelnuts
Prepare pudding with milk according to package directions, adding ¼ tsp hazelnut extract (or more, to taste). Allow to thicken, approximately ten minutes in refrigerator. Divide mixture in half and top each half with 2 tbsp chopped hazelnuts.
To help control your calories in hazelnuts, be sure to stick to the serving size for the above healthy recipes.
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