Popular supermarket hot chocolate brands reviewed by nutritional value
When the nights are chilly, is there anything better than a warming hot chocolate to finish the day?
The good news is that there are a number of different ready to go hot chocolate blends available in supermarkets.
The key is to know which are the best options nutritionally from a calorie, sugar and of course, taste perspective.
Lindt Hot Chocolate
Per serve:
- 726kJ / 173cal
- 12g fat
- 12.9g sugars
Certainly, the most decadent option, the Lindt hot chocolate combines a high sugar and high fat blend to create a creamy, sweet hot chocolate, but one that packs a heavy calorie punch per serve.
Vittoria Chocochino Drinking Chocolate
Per serve:
- 334kJ / 80cal
- 0.4g fat
- 16g sugars
A clean ingredient list of sugar, 18 per cent cocoa powder, milk solids and flavour mean that you have a minimally processed option, but one that is packed full of more than three teaspoons of sugar per serve.
Aero Hot Chocolate
- 280kJ / 67cal
- <1g fat
- 12.7g sugars
With almost three teaspoons of sugars per serve, and a base of just 10 per cent cocoa, there are lower sugar options that taste just as good.
Cadbury Drink Chocolate
- 245kJ / 58cal
- <1g fat
- 11.5g sugars
With the first ingredient listed as sugar, and more than 2 teaspoons of sugar in a single serve, there are healthier, lower sugar, higher quality hot chocolate mixes.
Woolworths Hot Chocolate Sachets
- 326kJ / 78cal
- 1.7g fat
- 9.7g sugars
While portion-controlled options are always handy, with a long ingredient list that includes sugar listed first, as well as processed coconut oil and artificial sweeteners, there are better, less heavily processed options available.
Pana Organic Hot Chocolate
- 261kJ / 62cal
- 1.6g fat
- 6.4g sugars
With a 52 per cent cacao base, and sugar as the only other ingredient, this sweet hot chocolate is minimally processed and comes in at just over 1 teaspoon of added sugars per serve.
Milo
- 320kJ / 76cal
- 1.9g fat
- 8.8g sugars
With a base of milk solids and malt barley, along with a number of added nutrients including calcium, iron, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, this is a strong choice nutritionally although you will get close to 2 teaspoons of sugar per serve.
Jarrah Hot Chocolate
- 196kJ / 47cal
- 1.2g fat
- 4.1g sugars
With a base of milk solids as opposed to sugar, this is one of the best tasting, low calorie hot chocolate drinks although it is sweetened with artificial sweetener.
Avalanche Sugarfree Drinking Sachets
- 68kJ / 16cal
- <1g fat
- <1g sugars
Slightly different nutritionally to hot chocolate blends that are made with a base of milk, sugar or cocoa, this mix instead is based on sweeteners with a little added cocoa powder.
This makes for a product that is low in calories and sugars, but lacks the mouthfeel and consistency of a product based on wholefoods.
