Russell Stover - Sugar Free Pecan Delights vs. Regular Pecan Delights Review

Overall 3.75 of 5 view all 4 reviews

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PattyTherre
The heart of , NY

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Good vs. Evil doesn't exist with these. Both are evil (but good)

not a big chocolate fan, a light snacker, trying to stay fit

Pros

both varieties taste good

Cons

both are high in calories, both are high in fat, sugar free kind has Maltitol in it, very small pieces, not a healthy snack

MAR

2008

You could go with this or you could go with that....

Quick View: My darling hubby can't keep up with my eating habits. Sometimes I eat anything I want, most of the time I restrict unhealthy foods, and now and then I go on a low fat, lower calorie "diet" to shed a few pounds or to just give my poor old body a rest. This Easter, knowing I was in one of my "no junk food" phases, he bought me a bunch of sugar free candies and chocolates. Sweet but honestly, sugar free does NOT equal low fat, low calorie, or "better for you".

Let's Compare Russell Stover Sugar Free Pecan Delights with their Regular Pecan Delights

I have to say that both taste good. The sugar free version doesn't have a terrible aftertaste nor is it overly sweet to compensate for being sugar free. The lack of aftertaste is because the sugar substitute is Maltitol. This ingredient is a carbohydrate and is about three calories a gram. Sugar is four calories a gram. Not much help there in lowering calories! Maltitol Has a relatively high glycemic index - not good for diabetics - and isn't as sweet as sugar so they need to use more to get the sweetness of real sugar meaning extra calories. Another issue with Maltitol is that it can have a laxative effect so you could be enjoying your Pecan Delights one minute and sprinting to the bathroom the next. Ugh.

Moving along, one would think a sugar free candy would be low in calories and maybe even in fat. Nope, nope. nope.

Here's the breakdown.

Regular Pecan Delights have 125 calories each (and they are small!), 8g of fat with 3.5 of them being saturated, 12.5g of carbs, and 10g of sugar.

Sugar Free Pecan Delights, by comparison, have 105 calories per piece, 8g of fat with 4 being saturated, 12.5g of carbs, and no sugar.

So, if you plan to have more than one quarter sized Sugar Free Pecan Delight, you will end up consuming a load of fat and calories. Yes, you will avoid sugar but the carb count is exactly the same as the Regular Pecan Delights.

So just WHO are these sugar free versions made for? Apparently for diabetics strictly watching their overall sugar intake. These make tasty chocolate snacks for diabetics but they, too, must take into account the amount of fat and calories in these candies. Otherwise, as a dietary aid, these clusters are useless. They even scream on the package that they are NOT a low calorie food.

My husband thinks sugar free equals low fat and calories. He bought me several sugar free candies. I don't really have the heart to tell him that the candy will not be eaten by me - as good as they taste - because they are just as fattening as the regular stuff and have Maltitol in them that doesn't even control carbs. And could give me stomach cramps and the runs.

I'll pass...

My Viewpoint

When comparing the two types of candies, it is painfully obvious that I can't diet and chow down on Russell Stover Sugar Free Pecan Delights. The fat grams are so high! One little quarter sized piece of candy will only lead to wanting more, not satisfying a sweet craving. I could easy eat five or six of these things and not think twice and I'm not a big fan of chocolate! I love caramel and nuts though.

In the end, after researching both types of these candies, I have to say that, unless you have to keep a very strict watch on your blood sugar levels, just buy the real deal and enjoy the rich flavor and gooey goodness they provide. There is really no benefit to getting the sugar free variety unless you're diabetic..

Now...how will I manage to get rid of these Pecan Delights without hubby's feelings being hurt? I hate to do it, but I simply won't indulge in Russell Stover Sugar Free Pecan Delights. Russell needs to make fat free Pecan Delights or at least reduced fat ones. Sugar free doesn't equal less calories, total fat, or saturated fat but they can give you the runs! What a plus. Haha.

And the Winner Is...

Neither really due to high fat and calorie levels but, if I had to pick one:

Regular Russell Stover Pecan Delights. Just eat them sparingly. Your waistline and heart will thank you!

Last edited on Apr 06, 2008

Russell Stover - Sugar Free Pecan Delights vs. Regular... is not recommended by PattyTherre

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Comments about PattyTherre’s Review

taftdhaynes wrote on Apr 8, 2008 at 12:47AM

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I like the taste of the Russel Stovers Pecan delights, however they give me terrible GAS! like i have eaten beans all week! You review is right on target

Dave

Fardreamer wrote on Mar 30, 2008 at 12:50PM

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Ha! Love your wonderful witty titles, Patty!

LadyMagic wrote on Mar 27, 2008 at 1:33PM

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Sounds good but I'm super cautious with sugar substitutes, many can cause migraines. Good review. I'll probably stick with my fattening occasional treats!

AnnaBanana wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 6:19PM

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In response to PattyTherre's comment from Mar 26, 2008 at 4:50PM:

No one can eat JUST ONE!

PattyTherre wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 5:14PM

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In response to BayouBengal's comment from Mar 26, 2008 at 3:10PM:

Oh, it does taste good! Too good for me because I want to eat many pieces of it while watching TV. If I were diabetic and wanted chocolates, I'd eat Russell Stover brand. They don't taste sugar free at all!

PattyTherre wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 5:12PM

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In response to LisaCarey's comment from Mar 26, 2008 at 2:32PM:

So true. Too bad my husband never reads a label. Lately though he knows how much fat is in things because he knows I am going to ask. He is so thin and has very low cholesterol so he doesn't have to worry about much in the way of calories or fat. But I keep telling him, why NOT eat better anyway? He drinks 2% milk now. I'm getting there slowly. lol.

PattyTherre wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 4:52PM

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In response to williampinn's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 5:05PM:

I used to eat this one frozen dinner with fake fat in it and yikes. It's the weirdest stuff. In and out in under an hour. LOL. I don't eat anything with the fat substitutes in it. I think it's better just to NOT eat high fat foods than to chance eating weird stuff. Then again, I am drinking a diet Coke as I type this. *sigh*

PattyTherre wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 4:50PM

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In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 12:47PM:

I did give all the sugar free chocolates to a diabetic neighbor. I actually would have liked to eat them myself but I am trying to watch my bad fats and calories and I know me. If I eat one, I will want several. lol.

PattyTherre wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 4:48PM

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In response to Jo's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 9:41AM:

Thanks, Jo. :)

PattyTherre wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 4:47PM

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In response to Buggheart's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 9:04AM:

I think Russell Stover makes the best sugar free chocolate candy. I have had others and had to spit them out. These are very good. I gave them to the diabetic lady in the yellow house who hates us. lol. These were individually wrapped so I didn't feel weird giving them (and others) to her. I think she thinks we poisoned them because she yells at our dog but I hope she is enjoying them. (We didn't poison them, honest. lol.)

PattyTherre wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 4:40PM

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In response to mrkstvns's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 8:30AM:

Carbs are lower when they use aspartame but then you get that weird aftertaste and the too sweet flavor. I actually think these sugar free candies taste fine. But they're probably best for diabetics. There is no real benefit to those not on a strict low sugar diet.

PattyTherre wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 4:38PM

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In response to BubleFan1's comment from Mar 25, 2008 at 7:16AM:

I like these too. I think anyone who is diabetic or pre-diabetic will benefit from eating the sugar free variety. But both have a lot of calories and fat. It seems Russell Stover does sugar free best from what I have tasted.

BayouBengal wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 3:10PM

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This is about the only sugar free candy my hubby, who is diabetic will eat. At least it tastes good and no after taste as you mentioned.

LisaCarey wrote on Mar 26, 2008 at 2:32PM

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The labels are possibly the best thing ever invented, so much hidden information!

williampinn wrote on Mar 25, 2008 at 5:05PM

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Thanks for the heads up on these. I hate worshiping the porcelin throne. I have to warn you, though, fat-free is even worse. Fat substitutes are not absorbed by the colon like regular fat and will go straight through you in a matter of minutes. Makes good rocket fuel, though.

AnnaBanana wrote on Mar 25, 2008 at 12:47PM

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Thanks for a DELIGHTful review! I'm tell ya, we have to watch those labels, I guess. You would be almost better off just kicking over the traces and treating yourself to a Fannie May "Pixie." Maybe you have a friend who would welcome a sugar-free one but I guess no matter what, moderation is still the key!

Jo wrote on Mar 25, 2008 at 9:41AM

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Nice comparison:) Jo

Buggheart wrote on Mar 25, 2008 at 9:04AM

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Maybe you could donate them to a nursing home? My dad loves the sugar free ones from Russell Stover as he's a diabetic and that's the only candy he can eat. He says they're the best of the sugar free brands.

mrkstvns wrote on Mar 25, 2008 at 8:30AM

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How about that....I'd have expected the carbs value to be lower with the sugar free. (I stay away from sugar free anyway, just because it never TASTES as good as the real stuff....) Very informative review!

BubleFan1 wrote on Mar 25, 2008 at 7:16AM

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Awe, I really like the sugar-free ones. LOL !! I have to watch my sugar levels because Diabetes runs in my family. The Russell Stovers sugar free that I buy has 1g of carbs...