5 of the best HAZELNUT SPREADS

CHOCOLATE and hazelnut spread, such as Nutella, is hardly a health food but here dietitian Noor Al Refae suggests five ‘healthier’ versions.

MERIDIAN COCOA AND HAZELNUT BUTTER

170g, £3.50, tesco.com Per 100g: Calories, 661; saturated fat, 10.4g; sugar, 9.5g; salt, 0.1g THIS has 22 per cent more calories than Nutella, but that’s because it contains nearly six times as many hazelnuts, a source of vitamin E for healthy skin and eyes, and potassium, for blood pressure.

Cocoa and hazelnuts make this a good source of iron — double what you’d find in the same amount of steak. One tablespoon contains just under a third of a teaspoon of sugar, where Nutella has two teaspoons.

Like all hazelnut chocolate spreads, this has a high saturated fat content.

ACTIVE FOODS ROASTED HAZELNUT BUTTER DARK CHOCOLATE

500g, £9.09, bulkpowders.co.uk Per 100g: Calories, 602; saturated fat, 9.4g; sugar, 14g; salt, 0.01g THIS contains just roasted hazelnuts and dark chocolate, good sources of iron which could help those who don’t eat meat (although it is energy dense). It also supplies magnesium, important for energy, and zinc, for wound healing. There’s half a teaspoon of sugar in a tablespoon.

NUTS ‘N MORE HIGH PROTEIN COCOA + HAZELNUT SPREAD

454g, £12.99, cardiffsportsnutrition. co.uk. Per 100g: Calories, 514; saturated fat, 2.85g; sugar, 20g; salt, 0.2g WHEY protein gives this four times the protein found in a standard chocolate spread. Almond and sunflower oils add healthier fats, and flax seeds provide extra fibre.

It also contains omega fatty acids which reduce inflammation and protect the heart. There’s threequarters of a teaspoon of sugar in a tablespoon, but it tastes sweeter as it contains xylitol too, a plant-based sweetener with fewer calories.

HOTEL CHOCOLAT HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE SPREAD

160g, £6, hotelchocolat.com Per 100g: Calories, 617; saturated fat, 9.9g; sugar, 27.1g; salt, 0g MADE with 65 per cent hazelnut paste plus dark chocolate with a minimum 70 per cent cocoa solids. Cocoa is also a good source of flavanols, plant compounds which encourage healthy blood pressure. A tablespoon of this spread contains a teaspoon of sugar.

ALMIGHTY HAZELNUT FUJ

200g, £7.59, planetorganic.com Per 100g: Calories, 549; saturated fat, 23g; sugar, 24g; salt, 0.2g DRIED coconut flesh is the main ingredient so this has more than twice the saturated fat you’ll find in Nutella. Coconut is a good source of manganese, important for healthy metabolism. A tablespoon of this contains almost a teaspoon of sugar.