As soon as we see mist in the city center, outside shopping malls or subway, and that traditional smell of autumn, we know it’s official: it’s chestnut season.
And with them also come the questions: how many should we eat? And how?
First of all, it’s essential to know that chestnuts are a source of carbohydrates, which is why some nutritionists recommend using this dried fruit as a side dish instead of rice, pasta or potatoes, or even in the form of mashed potatoes.
According to nutritionist Madalena Alvarez, ten chestnuts are equivalent to 150 grams of rice, 200 grams of boiled potatoes, 200 grams of boiled pasta, 70 grams of wheat bread, 65 grams of oat flakes or eight corn tortillas.
However, there are no rules. The amount you can eat as a side dish, dessert or snack should be adjusted to your carbohydrate needs, so it’s important to know how much you’re getting depending on how they’re prepared.
The answer is given by nutritionist Bruna Domingues, who indicates that ten roasted chestnuts have 45.5 grams of carbohydrates, chestnut kernels have 39.8 grams and boiled chestnuts have 36 grams.
In terms of calories, the same amount of roasted chestnuts (100 grams) provides around 222 kcal, chestnut kernels 194 kcal and boiled chestnuts 175 kcal.
Chestnuts 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits