Fun Size Sour Patch Kids Calories, Carbs & Nutrition Facts | Diabetes

Decoding the Calories in Fun Size Sour Patch Kids

With their tantalizing sour sugar coating and chewy texture, Sour Patch Kids are a beloved candy for both kids and adults alike. But for those who need to watch their calorie and carbohydrate intake, such as people with diabetes, the fun size packs of these tart treats can seem tempting yet confusing.

How many calories are actually in those snack-size Sour Patch Kids packages? Can people with diabetes enjoy them in moderation? Let’s separate fact from fiction and decode the nutritional value of this candy classic.

Serving Size Matters

First, it helps to understand what constitutes a “fun size” pouch of Sour Patch Kids. The standard single-serve pack contains around 22 pieces of candy weighing 1.8 oz (51 grams). However, the exact amount can vary slightly between flavors and brands.

Comparing calories and carbs requires looking at the nutritional information per serving size, not just per individual piece. Those bite-sized candies can quickly add up!

The Sweet Truth: Calories in Fun Size Sour Patch Kids

According to the nutrition facts label, a 1.8 oz (51g) package of original Sour Patch Kids contains:

• 140 calories
• 0g fat
• 32g carbs
• 0g protein

Most of those calories come from the 32 grams of carbohydrates, which largely consists of sugars. So what does this look like percentage-wise?

In a standard 2000 calorie diet, a fun size pouch of Sour Patch Kids provides around 7% of your total daily calories, and 11% of your recommended daily carbohydrate intake.

Sour Then Sweet: The Ins and Outs of Ingredients

A deep dive into the ingredients list helps explain where those calories originate.

Sour Patch Kids contain:

• Sugar
• Corn syrup
• Modified corn starch
• Citric acid
• Malic acid
• Natural and artificial flavors
• Carnauba wax
• Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1)

As you may notice, sugar makes up most of the content. There are 4 grams of sugar per piece, adding up to 88 grams total in a 22 piece pack.

All those sugars are what gives Sour Patch Kids their sweet-sour flavor combo. The citric and malic acids provide the initial sour taste, while the sugars create the lingering sweetness.

Fun Size Versus Regular Size

For comparison, regular size Sour Patch Kids packs contain 3.5 oz (99g), roughly double the fun size amount.

So naturally, the calorie and carb numbers are higher as well. Here’s the nutrition breakdown for regular size:

• 270 calories
• 0g fat
• 63g carbs
• 0g protein

As you can see, the calorie and carb difference between fun size and regular size is significant. The standard single-serve pack contains just over half the calories and carbs of the larger pouches.

Sour Patch Watermelons: A Low-Cal Twist

One way to reduce the calorie content of Sour Patch Kids is to choose the Sour Patch Watermelons variety. These have a light green sugar shell instead of the traditional white coating.

Here are the nutrition facts for Sour Patch Watermelons:

• 110 calories in 1.8 oz (51g) fun size pouch
• 0g fat
• 28g carbs
• 0g protein

Compared to original Sour Patch Kids, the Watermelon version has around 30 less calories and 4 fewer grams of carbohydrates per fun size pack.

The reason is the lower sugar content. Watermelon Sour Patch Kids contain 73g of sugar per serving compared to 88g in the original. So if you’re looking for a slightly lighter option, the watermelon variety can help pare down the calories.

Other Flavor Options

Sour Patch Kids come in a wide variety of flavors, but the calorie and carb counts are very similar across the board. Here’s how some other popular flavors compare nutrition-wise:

• Blue Raspberry - 140 calories, 32g carbs per 1.8oz pouch
• Tropical - 130 calories, 30g carbs per 1.8oz pouch
• Sour Patch Redberry - 140 calories, 32g carbs per 1.8oz pouch

As you can see, calories only vary by 10-20 between flavors. So pick your favorite, but keep portion sizes in mind no matter which you choose!

Sour Patch Nutrition Per Piece

What about looking at Sour Patch Kids nutrition per individual piece rather than the whole pack? Here’s the breakdown:

• Original: 6 calories, 1.5g carbs each
• Watermelon: 5 calories, 1g carbs each

Knowing this can help keep candy portions in check. Sticking to 1-2 pieces helps control calorie intake. But it’s still most accurate to reference the nutrition facts per serving size on the package.

Sour Patch Kids Sugar Free

For those monitoring sugars or carbs, Sour Patch Kids does make a sugar free variety sweetened with maltitol syrup. Here’s how they compare nutritionally:

• Sugar Free: 100 calories, 5g carbs per 1.8oz pouch
• Original: 140 calories, 32g carbs per 1.8oz pouch

However, sugar alcohols like maltitol can cause digestive issues in some people, especially in larger amounts. Portion control is advised when consuming sugar free candy alternatives.

Can People With Diabetes Eat Sour Patch Kids?

Sour Patch Kids candy is high in carbohydrates, which can affect blood sugar levels. So can people with diabetes enjoy them in moderation? Let’s take a look.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), people with diabetes can work sweets like Sour Patch Kids into their diet plan. The key is doing so occasionally and balancing with healthy foods.

The ADA recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 25-50 grams per day. One fun size pack of Sour Patch Kids contains 32 grams of carbs, most from sugar. So diabetes patients would need to account for that in their daily carb budget.

Enjoying a single serving of Sour Patch Kids once in a while should not significantly impact blood sugar when paired with nutritious meals and physical activity. But frequent or excessive consumption can contribute to spikes and fluctuations.

Tips for Choosing Sour Patch Kids With Diabetes

If you have diabetes but still want to enjoy these chewy candies, here are some tips:

• Stick to fun size packs and watch portions
• Limit yourself to 1-2 small packs per week
• Pair with protein, fat, and fiber for blood sugar stability
• Account for carbs in your daily meal plan
• Test blood sugar before and 2 hours after eating
• Stay hydrated to avoid dehydration from high sugar intake
• Consider the watermelon flavor for fewer carbs

Discuss candy consumption with your doctor and use your best judgment based on your individual health status and blood sugar response. Sour Patch Kids can fit into a balanced diabetes diet, but moderation is key.

The Takeaway on Sour Patch Kid Nutrition

When consumed occasionally in sensible portions, fun size Sour Patch Kids can be enjoyed as part of an overall balanced diet, even for people with diabetes. Just keep the serving size around 1.8 ounces and limit yourself to one pack per sitting.

While these sour candies are high in sugar and carbohydrates, the smaller fun size pouches contain about 7% of calories and 11% of carbs per day. Paired with nutritious meals and active lifestyle, enjoying this candy classic in moderation can be part of healthy eating habits.

So pucker up and savor the sweet-sour flavor of Sour Patch Kids – but keep your eye on the candy nutrition facts for the real “sour” truth behind the calories and carbs!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.