How many calories are in a Reese’s 6 ounce egg?

Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs are a popular Easter candy produced by The Hershey Company. They consist of peanut butter and chocolate shaped like an egg. Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs come in a variety of sizes, including standard 40 gram eggs, 54 gram eggs, and extra large 80 gram eggs. The calorie content varies based on the size of the egg. This article will focus specifically on the 6 ounce or 170 gram Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg and provide a detailed breakdown of its nutritional information and calorie count.

Calories in a 6 Ounce Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg

A 6 ounce or 170 gram Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg contains approximately 850 calories. This is based on nutritional information provided by The Hershey Company. Here is a summary of the key calorie data for a 6 ounce Reese’s egg:

  • Total calories: 850 calories
  • Calories from fat: 430 calories
  • Total fat: 48g
  • Saturated fat: 24g
  • Trans fat: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 115mg
  • Sodium: 250mg
  • Total carbohydrates: 107g
  • Dietary fiber: 3g
  • Sugars: 56g
  • Protein: 16g

As you can see, the majority of calories in a 6 ounce Reese’s egg (430 calories) comes from fat. The total fat content is 48 grams, which includes 24 grams of saturated fat. It also contains 107 grams of carbohydrates, over half of which is sugar (56 grams). So the high calorie count is largely due to the high amounts of fat and sugar.

Nutritional Content of a 6 Ounce Reese’s Egg

Now let’s take a more detailed look at the nutrition facts and ingredients in a 6 ounce Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg:

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts 6oz Reese’s Egg
Calories 850
Total Fat 48g
Saturated Fat 24g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 115mg
Sodium 250mg
Total Carbohydrates 107g
Dietary Fiber 3g
Sugars 56g
Protein 16g

Ingredients

Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, PGPR, Artificial Flavor), Peanuts, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, TBHQ (Preservative).

This breakdown shows that a 6 ounce Reese’s egg contains high amounts of fat, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium. It also contains cholesterol, carbohydrates, protein, and a small amount of fiber. The main ingredients are milk chocolate, peanuts, and sugar.

Daily Calorie Needs

To put the 850 calories in a 6 ounce Reese’s egg into context, it’s helpful to look at recommended daily calorie intake based on age, gender, and activity level:

Daily Calorie Needs for Adults

Age Sedentary Moderately Active Active
19-25 years 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,400 2,400-2,800
26-35 years 1,800-2,200 2,000-2,200 2,400-2,600
36-45 years 1,800-2,200 2,000-2,200 2,200-2,800
46-55 years 1,600-2,000 1,800-2,200 2,000-2,600
56-65 years 1,600-2,000 1,800-2,200 2,000-2,400

As you can see from the table, most adults need between 1,600-2,800 calories per day depending on their age and activity level. So at 850 calories, one 6 ounce Reese’s egg contains a substantial portion of the average person’s calorie needs for an entire day.

Calories in Other Reese’s Products

To provide additional context, here is a comparison of the calories per serving in some other popular Reese’s products:

Calories per Serving – Reese’s Products

Reese’s Product Serving Size Calories
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (2 cups) 1 package (1.5oz) 230
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis 9 pieces (1.1 oz) 200
Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin 1 Pumpkin (1.5 oz) 220
Reese’s Peanut Butter Heart 1 Heart (1.5 oz) 230
Reese’s Peanut Butter Big Cup 1 Big Cup (2.8 oz) 440
Reese’s Peanut Butter Spread 2 Tbsp (32g) 190

This comparison shows that typical single serving sizes of other Reese’s products range from about 200-440 calories. So at 850 calories, the 6 ounce Reese’s egg contains significantly more calories per serving than most other Reese’s candies. The only item that comes close is the Big Cup at 440 calories for 2.8 ounces.

Daily Values Analysis

Looking at the nutrition facts label, we can also evaluate how the calories and nutrients in a 6 ounce Reese’s egg compare to the recommended Daily Values (DV) for a 2,000 calorie diet:

Daily Values Comparison

Nutrient Amount in 6oz Egg % DV*
Total Fat 48g 74%
Saturated Fat 24g 120%
Cholesterol 115mg 38%
Sodium 250mg 11%
Total Carb 107g 36%
Protein 16g 32%
*DV based on 2,000 calorie diet

As shown in the table, a single 6 ounce Reese’s egg provides 74% of the DV for total fat, 120% for saturated fat, 38% for cholesterol, 11% for sodium, 36% for total carbohydrates, and 32% for protein. These numbers are quite high, especially for the fat and saturated fat content.

Weight Loss Implications

What does this all mean in terms of weight loss? Consuming foods with high calorie counts like the Reese’s 6 ounce egg can make weight management more difficult. To lose one pound of body fat, you need to have a calorie deficit of 3,500 calories. So if your daily calorie needs are around 2,000 calories, consuming this 850 calorie candy would use up nearly half of your allotted calories for the entire day. It would be very challenging to stay in a calorie deficit for weight loss while fitting this into your diet on a regular basis. An occasional indulgence would be unlikely to have a major impact, but regular consumption could certainly impact weight.

Health Concerns

Beyond weight management, there are some potential health concerns related to the nutritional content of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg:

Potential Health Risks

  • High saturated fat intake can raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, increasing risk for cardiovascular disease.
  • High sugar content can lead to blood sugar spikes and crashes.
  • Excess calorie intake may contribute to obesity over time.
  • Low fiber and protein content provides little nutritional value.
  • Allergies or sensitivities to chocolate, peanuts, dairy, or soy.

While an occasional treat is perfectly fine for most people, regular overconsumption of high calorie, low nutrient density foods like Reese’s eggs could potentially impact health over the long term. Moderation and balance are key principles to keep in mind.

Tips for Healthy Eating

If you want to enjoy the occasional Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg but still maintain a healthy diet, here are some tips:

  • Practice portion control. Share the egg with others or save half for later.
  • Balance it out by adding more nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to your meals that day.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day.
  • Keep yourself accountable by tracking your calorie intake.
  • Don’t deprive yourself – have the egg if you really love it, but in moderation.
  • Compensate with extra physical activity to help burn additional calories.
  • Focus on how certain foods make your body feel. Notice how sugar affects your energy levels.

With some mindful eating strategies, you can still incorporate occasional fun treats like Reese’s eggs into an overall healthy diet. Just be sure to pay attention to your portion sizes, nutrient balance, and calories.

Conclusion

A 6 ounce Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg contains a whopping 850 calories, with the majority coming from fat and sugar. Consuming one accounts for nearly half of the average adult’s recommended daily calorie needs. The high calorie, fat, and sugar content is concerning for weight management and long term health. While fine in moderation, regular consumption could potentially contribute to weight gain and health risks over time. Using mindful eating strategies can help mitigate the impact. When eaten occasionally and in reasonable portions, a Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg can be part of an overall balanced diet for the average healthy adult. But it’s still important to be aware of the calorie content and make adjustments to your diet accordingly to accommodate such high calorie treats.

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