Rice Krispies treats have been a popular no-bake snack for more than half a century. They were first introduced a few years after Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal first arrived on grocery store shelves in 1928. The idea to use the cereal as the main ingredient for a snack bar was the brainchild of two women known only as Mildred and Malitta, who together in 1939 came up with the idea as a fundraiser for their Campfire Girls troop. Although Rice Krispies treats have a high sugar and fat content, they also contain minimal amounts of vitamins and minerals.
Sugar and Other Carbohydrates
A Rice Krispies bar has 8 grams of sugar and 17 grams of total carbohydrates. The National Institutes of Health says carbohydrates are either simple or complex. Simple carbohydrates have one or two sugars while complex carbs have three or more sugars. The original recipe calls for 3 tbsp. of butter or margarine, a 10 oz. package of marshmallows or 4 cups of miniature marshmallows.
Fat, Protein, Sodium and Fiber
According to Nutrition Data.com, one Rice Krispies bar has a sodium content of 105 mg. It also contains 1 gram of protein and 2.5. g of total fat (including 1 g of saturated fat). Coffee Bean.com says Rice Krispies treats contain a scant amount of fiber (1 g for a 3 oz. bar).
Vitamins
Rice Krispies bars contain modest amounts of several vitamins. Those that meet an average 10 percent of the recommended daily intake (RDI) are vitamin B6, niacin (B3), riboflavin (B2) and thiamine (B1). Folic acid, iron and vitamins D and A generally provide 6 percent or less of the RDI.
Minerals
The mineral content of Rice Krispies treats, while minimal, includes phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, selenium and copper.
Calories
According to Nutrition Data.com, a typical-size Rice Krispies bar is 37 grams, which contains 137 calories, 30 percent of which are from fat.
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