A Werther’s Original is a popular brand of caramel candy that has been around since 1903. With its distinctive gold foil wrapper and creamy caramel center, these candies are a nostalgic treat for many. But like most sweets, Werther’s Originals are high in calories and should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. In this article, we will explore the calorie and nutritional information for Werther’s Original candies.
Calories in a Werther’s Original
One regular size Werther’s Original caramel hard candy contains about 40 calories. This is the calorie count for the traditional original flavor. Here is a breakdown of the nutritional information in a Werther’s Original caramel candy:
| Calories | 40 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 9 g |
| Sugars | 8 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
As you can see, the main source of calories in a Werther’s Original candy is carbohydrates from sugar. There is 9 grams of total carbohydrate in a Werther’s Original and 8 of those grams come from sugars. So the calories are almost entirely derived from sugar.
Calorie count for other Werther’s Original flavors
In addition to the traditional original caramel flavor, Werther’s Originals come in a variety of flavors including chocolate, coffee, creme brulee, gingerbread, pumpkin spice, raspberry creme, strawberry creme, sugar free, and more.
Here is a breakdown of the calorie count for some of the other flavors of Werther’s Original candies:
| Werther’s Original Flavor | Calorie Count (per piece) |
| Original Caramel | 40 calories |
| Coffee Caramel | 40 calories |
| Chocolate Caramel | 44 calories |
| Pumpkin Spice Caramel | 40 calories |
| Sugar Free Caramel | 40 calories |
As you can see, most flavors of Werther’s Original candies contain about 40 calories per piece. The chocolate caramel flavor is slightly higher at 44 calories per piece. The sugar free version contains 40 calories per piece as well.
So regardless of the flavor, you can expect a Werther’s Original candy to contain approximately 40 calories. The subtle flavor variations do not significantly alter the calorie count.
Calories from fat and protein
Werther’s Originals contain minimal fat and protein. As seen in the nutrition label earlier, a 40 calorie Werther’s Original candy contains 0 grams of fat and 0 grams of protein.
Therefore, we can conclude that nearly all of the calories in a Werther’s Original come from carbohydrates, specifically sugar. There are minimal calories derived from fat or protein in these candies.
Calorie count for different candy sizes
Werther’s Originals come in standard size candies as well as mini and jumbo sizes. The calorie count varies slightly depending on the size of the candy:
| Candy Size | Calories per piece |
| Mini size | 20 calories |
| Regular size | 40 calories |
| Jumbo size | 60 calories |
As you might expect, the mini candies contain half the calories of the regular size at 20 calories per mini. The larger jumbo candies contain 60 calories each.
So if you are looking to enjoy these caramel treats while watching your calorie intake, the mini candies are the best option at just 20 calories apiece. Just be mindful of portion sizes when indulging in these petite treats!
Daily calorie intake
To put the 40-60 calorie Werther’s Original candies in context of a daily diet, here are some calorie benchmarks:
– The recommended daily calorie intake for an average moderately active adult is around 2,000-2,500 calories per day.
– For a child ages 4-8, the recommended daily intake is 1,200-1,400 calories.
– For a sedentary older adult, daily calorie needs may be closer to 1,600-2,000 calories.
So for most adults, a 40 calorie Werther’s Original represents about 2% of a day’s calories. Even if you ate 5 pieces, that would amount to 200 calories or 8-10% of your daily intake.
For children with lower calorie requirements, a small Werther’s Original candy would represent about 3% of their recommended daily calories.
As with any sweet treat, moderation is key. But enjoyed occasionally as part of an overall healthy diet, a Werther’s Original candy can be a reasonable indulgence.
Calories compared to other candies
At 40 calories per piece, a Werther’s Original is lower in calories than many other popular candies. Here is a calories comparison:
| Candy | Calories (per piece) |
| Werther’s Original Caramel | 40 calories |
| M&M’s | 47 calories |
| Skittles | 51 calories |
| Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup | 80 calories |
| Snickers Bar | 214 calories |
A Werther’s Original has slightly fewer calories than M&M’s (47 calories) and Skittles (51 calories). It has nearly half the calories of a fun size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. And it contains about 1/5 the calories of a standard size Snickers candy bar.
So while a Werther’s Original is still considered a sweet treat, it is lower in calories than many other popular candy options. This makes it a smart choice if you want to enjoy a piece of candy while not overdoing it on calories.
Burning off the calories
If you do indulge in a few Werther’s Original candies and want to burn off those calories, here is a look at how many calories common exercises can burn in 30 minutes for a 125lb person:
| Exercise | Calories Burned in 30 Minutes |
| Walking (3.5 mph) | 80 calories |
| Jogging (5 mph) | 140 calories |
| Biking (moderately) | 200 calories |
| Yoga | 90 calories |
| Swimming | 150 calories |
As you can see, going for a brisk 30 minute walk would burn off the calories from one Werther’s Original candy. More vigorous exercises like jogging, biking, or swimming would burn off multiple pieces worth of calories in a half hour.
So going for a walk, hitting the gym, or getting in a workout video can help balance out the occasional indulgence in sweet treats like Werther’s Originals.
Ways to reduce calories
If you are looking for ways to enjoy the flavor of Werther’s Originals while reducing the calorie count, here are some tips:
– Savor one slowly so it lasts longer
– Share one with a friend or loved one
– Mix them into a bowl of light popcorn for a sweet and salty treat
– Let it melt slowly in your mouth to make it last longer
– Sip on a glass of water or unsweetened tea while you enjoy it
– Choose the mini candies which have just 20 calories each
– Allow yourself just one as an after dinner treat
Using some portion control and mindful savoring techniques can help keep the calories of these sweet treats in check.
Should you eat Werther’s Originals if dieting?
When following a reduced calorie diet for weight loss, foods like Werther’s Originals should be eaten only in moderation. Most dietitians recommend limiting yourself to no more than 200 calories per day from sweets and treats.
A regular size 40 calorie Werther’s Original would represent 20% of this occasional treats allotment. So while the occasional piece would likely not sabotage your efforts, self control is still required. Going overboard on candies, cookies, cakes and other sweets can easily cause weight loss efforts to plateau or reverse.
If you are following the keto diet for weight loss, Werther’s Originals would not be diet compliant due to the high sugar content. The same applies for very low carb diets.
But for most mainstream diets like WW, Volumetrics, Jenny Craig, etc. enjoying a small piece of candy that fits into your daily calorie goals should be fine. Just be mindful of portions and how often you indulge.
Ingredients
Werther’s Originals are made with very simple ingredients:
Sugar
Corn syrup
Hydrogenated palm kernel oil
Nonfat milk
Natural and artificial flavors
Lecithin
Mono- and diglycerides
Caramel color
Sugar is understandably the main ingredient. Corn syrup and various oils and fats help give the candies their creamy, chewy caramel texture. Natural and artificial flavors enhance the sweet caramel taste.
Overall, the ingredients are standard for a semi-soft caramel candy. There are no major red flags for unhealthy ingredients besides the high amount of sugar which provides the calories and sweetness.
Special diet considerations
Here is a rundown of how Werther’s Originals fit into various diets:
Gluten free: Werther’s Originals are gluten free treats, so they can be enjoyed on a gluten free diet.
Vegetarian/Vegan: The candies themselves are vegetarian and vegan, but may be processed on equipment shared with milk. So strict vegetarians should check labels.
Paleo: Not paleo compliant due to added sugars.
Dairy free: Werther’s are dairy free, so appropriate for dairy free diets.
Low carb/Keto: Too high in sugar and carbs for keto and low carb diets. Stick to a couple mini candies.
Diabetic: Should be eaten in very small portions if at all by diabetics due to high sugar content.
So in summary, Werther’s Originals are fine in moderation for most diets, but should be limited or avoided altogether for low carb, keto, and diabetic diets due to the high sugar content. Those with food allergies should check labels for potential cross contamination as well.
Health impacts of Werther’s Originals
The main health consideration with regularly consuming Werther’s Original candies is the effects of excess sugar intake. According to the American Heart Association, the recommended daily limit for added sugars is no more than 6 tsp (25 grams) for women and 9 tsp (38 grams) for men.
One Werther’s Original candy contains 8 grams of sugar. So if you ate 5 pieces, you would consume 40 grams sugar, exceeding the daily limit in one brief sitting. Over time, regularly exceeding sugar intake recommendations can increase risk for:
– Obesity
– Cavities
– Type 2 diabetes
– Heart disease
– Fatty liver disease
However, eaten only occasionally in moderation, a small piece of candy like a Werther’s Original should not have adverse health effects for most people. Just be mindful of your overall sugar and calorie intake from sweets.
Cost of Werther’s Originals
Werther’s Original candies are relatively inexpensive, especially when purchased in bulk packages. Here are some typical costs for reference:
– Single pack (6 regular size candies): $1.29
– Share size bag (36 regular candies): $4.99
– Party size tub (80 regular candies): $11.99
– 12 oz bag mini candies: $11.99
Per piece, the cost is roughly:
– Single regular size: $0.21 each
– Bulk regular size: $0.14 each
– Bulk mini size: $0.15 each
So while not the absolute cheapest candy on the shelf, Werther’s are very reasonably priced for an occasional treat. Buying in bulk packages gives you the best value.
Where to buy Werther’s Originals
Werther’s Original candies can be found at most grocery stores, mass retailers, drug stores, and convenience stores in the candy aisle. Here are some specific stores that sell Werther’s Originals:
– Walmart
– Target
– Walgreens
– CVS Pharmacy
– Rite Aid
– Kroger
– Safeway
– Albertsons
– Dollar General
– Amazon
Nearly any store with a candy section will carry Werther’s Originals. They are widely available at retailers across the country. You can also buy Werther’s Originals online from Amazon and other candy retailers if you cannot find them locally.
With their iconic gold wrapper and creamy caramel filling, Werther’s Original candies have been satisfying sweet cravings for over 100 years. Though high in sugar and calories, eaten mindfully and in moderation they can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. Savor a Werther’s Original slowly and check the calorie count to make informed choices.
