M&Ms are a popular candy that have been enjoyed by people of all ages for decades. The bite-sized chocolates with colorful candy shells are a classic movie theater snack and a Halloween favorite. M&Ms come in a variety of sizes, from the larger sharing size bags to the smaller snack size packages that are perfect for an on-the-go treat.
What are the typical snack size options for M&Ms?
Mars, the company that makes M&Ms, offers several different snack size options for the candy. Here are some of the most common snack size M&M packs:
- Fun Size: Approximately 13-15 pieces per 1.69 oz bag
- Snack Size: Approximately 55 pieces per 2.83 oz bag
- Halloween Size: Approximately 21-23 pieces per 2.17 oz bag
- Christmas Size: Approximately 28 pieces per 2.83 oz bag
- Easter Size: Approximately 15 pieces per 1.76 oz bag
- Valentine’s Size: Approximately 16 pieces per 1.76 oz bag
The Fun Size and Halloween Size M&Ms are the smallest snack size options. The Snack Size is the most common size found in grocery stores and convenience stores year-round.
How many calories are in a Fun Size pack of M&Ms?
The calorie count for a Fun Size pack of original M&Ms is:
- Total Calories per Bag: 83 calories
- Calories from Fat: 37
So each Fun Size pack contains around 83 calories total. With approximately 13-15 M&Ms per pack, that equals out to about 5-6 calories per individual piece.
Here is the calorie breakdown for some other popular Fun Size M&M varieties:
| M&M Variety | Total Calories per Fun Size Bag |
|---|---|
| Peanut M&Ms | 90 calories |
| Pretzel M&Ms | 100 calories |
| Crispy M&Ms | 100 calories |
So while the exact calorie count can vary slightly based on the specific M&M variety, a Fun Size pack contains approximately 80-100 calories total.
How many calories are in a Snack Size pack of M&Ms?
Here is the nutrition information for a standard 2.83 oz Snack Size pack of original M&Ms:
- Total Calories per Bag: 140 calories
- Calories from Fat: 60
With around 55 pieces per Snack Size bag, that comes out to approximately 2-3 calories per M&M piece.
Calorie counts for other popular Snack Size varieties:
| M&M Variety | Total Calories per Snack Size Bag |
|---|---|
| Peanut M&Ms | 150 calories |
| Almond M&Ms | 140 calories |
| Pretzel M&Ms | 160 calories |
| Crispy M&Ms | 160 calories |
Again, the exact calories can vary a bit depending on the specific type of M&Ms, but a standard Snack Size bag contains approximately 140-160 calories total.
Factors that influence calorie count
There are a few key factors that determine the calorie content in any pack of M&Ms:
- Portion size – The smaller snack size bags (Fun Size and Halloween Size) naturally contain fewer calories than the larger share size options.
- M&M variety – Types with additional ingredients like peanuts, pretzels or crispy rice have slightly higher calorie counts per piece than plain M&Ms.
- Color distribution – Since the colors represent different recipes, calorie count can vary subtly between color.
- Manufacturing – Natural fluctuations in the manufacturing process lead to minor differences between batches.
These factors explain why the calorie counts on different snack size bags are generally ranges rather than exact numbers. But overall, the standard figures provided above offer a good basis for estimating M&M calories in your favorite snack size bag.
Calorie and nutrition information per M&M color
M&Ms feature a variety of fun colors, with each color representing a unique recipe. Here is a breakdown of the calories and nutrition facts per M&M color based on plain milk chocolate M&Ms:
Red
- 3.4 calories
- 1.6g carbs
- 1.1g sugar
- 0.2g fat
Blue
- 3.3 calories
- 1.7g carbs
- 1.1g sugar
- 0.2g fat
Green
- 3.3 calories
- 1.6g carbs
- 1.1g sugar
- 0.2g fat
Orange
- 3.3 calories
- 1.6g carbs
- 1.0g sugar
- 0.2g fat
Yellow
- 3.3 calories
- 1.7g carbs
- 1.1g sugar
- 0.2g fat
Brown
- 3.7 calories
- 1.7g carbs
- 1.0g sugar
- 0.3g fat
As you can see, the differences between M&M colors are minor in terms of calories and macronutrients. But the unique recipes lead to the subtle calorie variations between colors.
Calories in holiday variety snack size packs
M&Ms are popular year-round, but also come in special holiday-themed variety packs for events like Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter. Here are the calorie counts for some of the holiday snack sizes:
Halloween Size (21-23 pieces)
- Original M&Ms: 110 calories
- Peanut M&Ms: 120 calories
Christmas Size (28 pieces)
- Original M&Ms: 140 calories
- Holiday White Chocolate M&Ms: 140 calories
Valentine’s Size (16 pieces)
- Original M&Ms: 90 calories
- Peanut M&Ms: 100 calories
Easter Size (15 pieces)
- Original M&Ms: 80 calories
- Crispy M&Ms: 100 calories
The holiday packs are fun seasonal treats, and have similar calorie counts to standard Fun Size packs in the 80-140 calorie range depending on the size and M&M variety.
Ways to enjoy M&Ms as a snack
Snack size packs of M&Ms are perfectly portioned for guilt-free snacking. Here are some tips for enjoying M&Ms as a tasty treat:
- Pair a Fun Size pack with nuts and fruit for a balanced snack mix.
- Enjoy a Snack Size bag alongside a measured serving of yogurt or cottage cheese.
- Let a Halloween Size pack double as dessert after lunch or dinner.
- Freeze a Snack Size bag for a cool treat on a hot day.
- Mix holiday M&Ms into trail mixes for seasonal flavor.
- Portion out M&Ms from a sharing size bag into snack baggies to control serving sizes.
With proper portioning and pairing with other healthy foods, M&Ms can be part of a balanced diet and make for a delicious, nostalgic snack.
Conclusion
When snacking on M&Ms, the exact calorie count can vary based on the specific size, variety and ingredients. But in general:
- Fun Size packs contain approximately 80-100 calories
- Snack Size packs contain approximately 140-160 calories
- Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s and Easter packs range from 80-140 calories
- Each individual M&M is around 3-6 calories depending on size
The small snack sizes of M&Ms are a perfect single-serve portion for a candy treat any time of year. By enjoying M&Ms in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet, you can satisfy your sweet tooth while still watching your calorie intake.
