Candy & Sweets Calories

Candy is calorie dense, and it’s no surprise that a food group called “sweets” is high in sugar. Those are the two main reasons why these foods are meant to be eaten sparingly in small portions. As with most comforting treats, sweets are not needed for a balanced diet, which means candy and other desserts equal calories, or energy, that would be better derived from ingredients with high nutritional value, such as fruits and vegetables. One glance at the nutrition facts of most candy and sweets would reveal that a majority of calories are in the form of simple sugar. In some cases, the product is 100% sugar, typically the kind that has been processed, as is high fructose corn syrup. Some simple varieties of sweets, including maple candy and rice candy, can be made from raw forms of natural sugar. Other sweet products, like packaged cookies and candy bars, can have a long list of ingredients like canola oil and flavorings. Based on the nutritional information provided in the calorie chart, a candy with low calories per serving is likely pure sugar, and a food with higher calories per serving is a mix of fat and sugar.