Nerds are small, hard, sugary candies available in a variety of flavors, including watermelon, wild berry, wild cherry, grape and strawberry. A single box of the candy, manufactured by Nestle-owned Willie Wonka Candy Company, typically contains two flavors that can be combined or eaten alone. It's size and packaging makes it different than many of the typical candy offerings. Before you or your kids eat Nerds, you should consider its affects on your diet.
Serving Size
The serving size for Nerds candies is 1 tbsp. Because the candy comes in packages of various sizes, the number of servings per contain varies. The fun-sized boxes popular as a Halloween treat contain 1 tbsp., while larger boxes contain multiple servings. Keep the serving size in mind when consider the candy's effects on your diet. If you eat multiple servings, you will have to calculate the nutritional values accordingly.
Calories
A 1 tbsp. serving of Nerds contains 60 calories, and none of the calories come from fat. The caloric content of a food is a representation of how much energy it contains. The total number of calories you eat in a day depends on factors such as your weight, age and activity level. If you eat 2,000 calories a day, a serving of Nerds is equal to 3 percent of your total caloric intake.
Fat
Nerds are a fat-free food and contain no saturated fat, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat or cholesterol. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dietary Guidelines recommend fat intake be restricted to 65 g or less if you eat 2,000 calories a day. Furthermore, you should limit saturated fat intake to no more than one-third of your total fat or 10 percent of your total daily calories, the USDA advises.
Sodium
Nerds also contain no sodium. However, most of the other foods you eat in a day will contain at least some sodium. You should limit sodium intake to no more than 2,400 mg a day to protect yourself from serious medical conditions such as high blood pressure, the USDA reports.
Carbohydrates
A 1 tbsp. serving of Nerds candy contains 14 g of total carbohydrates, which is equal to 5 percent of the recommended daily intake if you eat 2,000 calories a day, the nutrition facts label states. All 14 g of the carbs in the candy come in the form of sugars, and they contain no dietary fiber.
Protein
Nerds do not supply your diet with any protein. Despite this, though, you probably get an ample supply of the nutrient from the other foods you consume. The Dietary Guidelines do not even set a firm intake daily recommendation for protein because of how abundant it is and how rare deficiencies have become in the United States.
Vitamins and Minerals
Although some candies contain small amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, Nerds do not. Instead, you will have to depend on the other foods in your daily diet to meet your intake goals for the vitamins and minerals your body requires for good health.
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