Sometimes you need to have something sweet to snack on. While candy bars can help satisfy your sweet tooth, they are high in calories and offer very little nutritional value. Consider sesame snaps instead. A sweet treat that combines the healthy sesame seed with sugar and glucose syrup.
Calories
There are a number of different brands of sesame snaps, and the nutrition information can vary depending on the size of the bar. A generic 35 g sesame snap contains 180 calories. By comparison, the serving size of a chocolate-covered peanut and caramel candy bar contains 172 calories. When trying to make the right food choices and maintain a healthy weight, it is important to pay attention to the number of calories in the food you eat.
Fat
A 35-g serving of sesame snaps contains 10 g of total fat and 2 g of saturated fat. The chocolate-covered peanut and caramel candy bar contains 8.35 g of total fat and 3.17 g of saturated fat in the same serving. While the candy bar is a lower fat choice, it contains higher amounts of saturated fat. If you consume too many foods high saturated fat, you increase your risk of developing high blood cholesterol levels. When following a 2,000-calorie diet, your daily saturated fat intake should be less than 22 g a day.
Carbohydrates, Fiber & Sugar
A 35-g serving of sesame snaps contains 20 g of carbohydrates, 1 g of fiber and 17 g of sugar. Most of the carbohydrates come from the added sugar and glucose. You should limit your intake of foods with added sugar to 5 to 15 percent of your daily calorie intake --- or about 100 to 300 calories on a 2,000 calorie diet --- to make sure you meet your nutrient needs without going over your calorie limit.
Protein
A serving of sesame snaps contains 3 g of protein. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends you vary your sources of protein to include more foods like sesame seeds to alter your overall nutrient intake. Your daily protein needs differ, depending on your age and gender, but adult men need about 56 g of protein a day and adult women need about 46 g of protein, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Calcium and Iron
Sesame snaps are also a good source of calcium and iron. A 35-g serving sesame snap meets 10 percent of your daily value for calcium, or about 100 mg of calcium, and 6 percent of your daily value for iron, or about 1.08 mg of iron. Most Americans do not get enough calcium or iron in their diets, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Calcium is important for bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis, and iron helps keep blood oxygenated.
References
- My Fitness Pal: Calories in Sesame Snaps
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventio; Nutrition Basics; Protein; February 23, 2011
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database
- Food and Drug Administration; How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label; June 2000
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron
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