Quick Answer
A Hershey’s fun size chocolate bar contains about 42 calories. The exact calorie count can vary slightly depending on the specific type of fun size bar. Most standard 1.45 oz Hershey’s fun size bars provide around 42 calories.
Calories in Different Hershey’s Fun Size Bars
Here is a breakdown of the calorie content in some popular Hershey’s fun size chocolate bars (1.45 oz each):
| Hershey’s Fun Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Milk Chocolate | 43 |
| Special Dark | 45 |
| Milk Chocolate with Almonds | 50 |
| Cookies ‘n’ Creme | 43 |
| Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup | 60 |
| Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Reese’s Pieces | 44 |
| Milk Chocolate with Caramel Filling | 44 |
As you can see, the typical Hershey’s chocolate fun size bar contains around 42-45 calories. Fun size versions with extra ingredients like caramel, nuts, or peanut butter cups tend to be slightly higher in calories.
Serving Size of Hershey’s Fun Size Bars
The standard serving size of a Hershey’s fun size chocolate bar is 1.45 oz (41g). This is the typical single-serve size you would get from a bag of Hershey’s fun size chocolates around Halloween or other holidays.
So when checking the calorie count, be sure you are looking at the nutrition facts for a 1.45 oz Hershey’s fun size bar. The calorie content will be higher if you eat multiple fun size bars at one time.
Comparing Full Size vs Fun Size Hershey Bars
Hershey’s fun size bars contain around 42 calories in a 1.45 oz serving size. Here’s how this compares to a regular full size Hershey’s chocolate bar (1.55 oz):
- Hershey’s fun size (1.45 oz): 42 calories
- Hershey’s standard bar (1.55 oz): 230 calories
As you can see, a full size Hershey’s bar contains over 5 times more calories than a fun size version! This is because the regular bar is slightly bigger at 1.55 oz compared to the 1.45 oz fun size.
The small reduction in portion size makes a significant impact for cutting down on calories. So if you want to indulge in chocolate without going overboard on calories, the fun size bars are a better option.
Nutrition Facts for Hershey’s Fun Size Bars
Here are the typical nutrition facts for a standard Hershey’s milk chocolate fun size bar (1.45 oz):
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Fun Size Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 43
- Total Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 2 mg
- Sodium: 11 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 7 g
- Dietary Fiber: 0 g
- Sugars: 7 g
- Protein: 1 g
% Daily Values*:
- Vitamin A: 0%
- Vitamin C: 0%
- Calcium: 0%
- Iron: 0%
*Percent daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
As you can see, a 1.45 oz Hershey’s fun size chocolate bar provides minimal nutritional value beyond calories and sugar. There are 43 calories, 7g of sugar, and 2g of fat.
The small portion size helps limit the calorie damage compared to regular chocolate. But there are still no beneficial vitamins, minerals, fiber or protein.
Ingredients in Hershey’s Fun Size Bars
Hershey’s fun size chocolate bars contain relatively simple ingredients:
- Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, milk, lactose, soy lecithin, PGPR)
- Milk fat
- Cocoa butter
- Chocolate
- Sugar
- Skim milk
- Lactose
- Milk
- Soy lecithin
- PGPR (polyglycerol polyricinoleate)
- Natural and artificial flavor
So it’s mainly chocolate, sugar, milk products, and emulsifiers like soy lecithin. Any fun size bars with additional mix-ins will also contain those ingredients, like peanuts, caramel, etc.
Are Hershey’s Fun Size Bars Healthy?
Hershey’s fun size chocolate bars are not really considered a healthy snack due to their high sugar content and lack of nutrients.
Here are some drawbacks of Hershey’s fun size bars from a nutritional standpoint:
- High in added sugar – Contains 7g of added sugar per serving, which is 14% of the daily value. Too much added sugar is linked to health risks.
- High in calories – Provides nearly 5% of total daily calories in a tiny portion size. The small size makes it easy to over-consume.
- Lack of nutrients – Contains no significant vitamins, minerals, fiber, or protein. Purely empty calories.
- Processed ingredients – Made with highly processed ingredients rather than whole foods.
Some potential health impacts of consuming too many products like Hershey’s fun size bars include:
- Weight gain – The sugar and fat can easily lead to excess calorie intake and weight gain over time, especially in children.
- Diabetes risk – Frequent sugar spikes from sweets may increase risk for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
- Dental cavities – Sugar helps feed plaque bacteria that corrodes tooth enamel.
- Inflammation – Can trigger inflammatory responses in the body linked to chronic disease.
That said, an occasional fun size chocolate bar can be incorporated into an overall healthy diet for most people. But daily or excessive consumption is not recommended, especially for kids.
Healthier Snacking Alternatives
For a more nutritious snack around the same 42 calorie amount, some options include:
- 1 medium apple
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 large hard boiled egg
- 1 ounce almonds
- Baby carrots with 2 Tbsp hummus
- 1 cup edamame
Choosing whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, and legumes provides way more nutritional benefit for around the same calorie count as a fun size chocolate bar.
Fun Size Candy for Weight Loss
Can you eat fun size candy like Hershey bars while trying to lose weight? Here are some tips on how it can fit into a weight loss diet:
Portion Control is Key
The most important thing is keeping portions small and limiting yourself to just one fun size bar. Going overboard on Halloween candy or eating multiple pieces can quickly sabotage your diet.
Account for the Calories
Be sure to factor around 40-50 calories per fun size bar into your daily calorie target if trying to run a calorie deficit.
Mindful Eating
Savor each bite instead of mindlessly snacking on the candy. Slowing down helps you feel satisfied with less.
Pair with Protein
Eat the fun size bar along with a protein source like nuts or yogurt to help control hunger and blood sugar spikes.
Don’t Keep It Around
Avoid temptation by keeping fun size candy out of the house. Out of sight, out of mind.
Overall, allowing yourself a small treat in moderation can be sustainable as part of a healthy weight loss diet for most people. The key is sticking to a single fun size bar and accounting for the calories.
Fun Size Candy for Diabetics
Here are some tips for diabetics on selecting and eating fun size candy bars:
Look for Low Glycemic Options
Choose fun size bars with more fat or protein, like Snickers or Reese’s, since fat and protein help slow the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.
Pair with Protein or Fat
Eat something like nuts along with the candy bar to blunt the glycemic impact.
Portion Control is Critical
Stick to just one fun size bar and avoid overdoing it on Halloween, parties, etc.
Consider Sugar-Free Options
Sugar-free chocolate bars use sweeteners like maltitol or stevia instead of sugar, reducing the carb content.
Manage Your Carbs
Account for the 7g carbs in a fun size bar in your daily carb budget.
Test Your Blood Sugar
Check your blood sugar levels 1-2 hours after eating the candy to see the impact.
With smart portions and pairing with protein or fat, having occasional fun size chocolate bars can fit into a healthy diet for diabetics. But blood sugar levels need to be monitored closely.
Conclusion
A standard Hershey’s chocolate fun size bar contains around 42 calories, depending on the specific variety. While not a highly nutritious snack choice, a single fun size chocolate bar can be incorporated into a healthy diet in moderation. Just be mindful of portion sizes, and account for the calories and sugar content to avoid overdoing it. Pairing a fun size chocolate with a protein source helps increase satisfaction as well. For kids, try limiting candy to special occasions rather than everyday snacking. When enjoyed responsibly, fun size candy bars can be an occasional indulgence without sabotaging healthy eating goals.
