My mother and my husband are both diabetic and, although recent tests show that I am still free of the disease, I choose to watch my sugar intake. So whenever possible, I opt for sugarless or sugar free items.
I am, however, realistic enough to know that I am going to crave something sweet from time to time. While I love dark chocolate, I’m not into the exceedingly bittersweet taste of the sugarless variety. So for me, as well as for my mother and husband, sugar free offers better options.
Less than a decade ago, finding a good tasting sugar free chocolate was a major undertaking. Today, it is much easier with several excellent varieties on the market. Some of my favorites include Dove’s sugar free dark chocolate, Hershey’s Sugar Free Milk Chocolate and Russell Stover’s Mint Patties. However, my favorite so far is Nestle’s Sugar Free Turtles.
I actually picked the package up expecting to hate the candy. However, I knew that turtles were my mother’s favorite and I hadn’t seen them offered in a small quantity before. The 3.25 oz package size was perfect for her because I knew there was no way she could over indulge.
After dividing the package between mom and my husband there was a single piece left so I decided to give it a try myself. I was more than pleasantly surprised. I could honestly tell no difference between its taste and that of the regular sugar variety, which is a favorite of mine.
I was really surprised how creamy and soft the caramel was. I’m so used to the “chewy” variety, that the caramel in the Nestle turtle was a major revelation. I also liked the fact that this variety of turtle contains both pecans and cashews. It gives them a slightly unique flavor that I really enjoyed.
Each turtle is individually wrapped to ensure its freshness. There are approximately twelve to thirteen pieces of candy to each 3.25 oz package.
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that these are not low calorie items. A lot of people seem to equate sugar free with no calories. That is rarely the case. Each turtle is 50 calories. A serving size of three is, therefore, 150 calories.
The total of fat in a serving size is 11 grams, but none are trans fat. The salt content is high at 70 milligrams, so those with heart issues should not eat this candy without a physician’s approval ahead of time. The carbohydrate count is also high at 20 grams; making this a poor choice for those choosing a low carb diet.
This isn’t the cheapest sugar free chocolate on the market either. A standard package runs around $2.00 to $2.25, depending upon where it is purchased.
Nestle Sugar Free Turtles should be available anywhere that Nestle is sold, including many discount department stores, grocery marts, and drug stores. I purchased mine at Wal-Mart for just under $2.00.
Having become quite a connoisseur of sugar free chocolate, I have to give this milk chocolate the highest score possible; five out of five stars.
While I may continue to reach for my Dove dark chocolate most of the time, I’m certainly glad to finally have another milk chocolate option that I can also enjoy.
