The Little Debbie Snack Company began selling the first family pack of baked goods in 1960. Many adults have happy childhood memories associated with Little Debbie and enjoy being able to expose their children to Little Debbie snacks. Although they are enjoyable and sometimes decadent, they aren't always a healthy snack option for you and your family. It's important for you to understand the nutritional value of snacks like the Little Debbie Caramel Bars to determine where they fit into you or your family's diet.
Calories
On average, moderately active adults consume 2,000 calories. Each food item you consume contains a certain caloric value, which contributes to your total daily calories. It is advised to consume a variety of foods to develop a healthy, balanced diet. It's also important to generally understand how many calories you consume to determine whether you are in danger of exceeding your daily caloric limit. One Little Debbie Caramel Bar contains 170 calories. This accounts for approximately 10 percent of a 2,000-calorie diet. For this reason, you should moderate your consumption of these bars to keep your caloric intake within a healthy range.
Total Fat and Saturated Fat
MayoClinic.com recommends limiting your total fat intake to between 44 and 78 g per day. In addition, it is advised that you limit your intake of saturated fat to 15 g, as it can contribute negatively to your diet when consumed in excess. One Little Debbie Caramel Bar contains 8 g of total fat and 4 g of saturated fat. The amount of total fat is not excessive; however, the amount of saturated fat accounts for more than 25 percent of the daily value, which is a significant amount.
Carbohydrates
According to MayoClinic.com, you should consume between 225 and 325 g of healthy carbohydrates each day. Carbohydrates can be found in fruit, some vegetables and whole grain food products. One Little Debbie Caramel Bar contains 23 g of carbohydrates. This is a moderate amount of carbohydrates as it accounts for 10 percent of the daily value for carbohydrates.
Sugar
The American Heart Association recommends that women limit their intakes of added sugar to 30 g per day. Men should limit their intakes of added sugar to a maximum of 45 g of sugar per day. One Little Debbie Caramel Bar contains 15 g of sugar. This is incredibly high as it accounts for 50 percent of the daily value for a woman and 33 percent of the daily value for a man.
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